Recent charges in sections of the Israeli press that Jews were being converted to Catholicism in Beersheba and that some of them were encouraged by the proselytizers to leave Israel and send their funds abroad were denied here today by Msgr: Antonio Vergani, representative of the Latin Patriarchate here.
Msgr. Vergani demanded that the government appoint a commission to investigate the charges. He denied reports about the number of alleged conversions, declaring that the Church does not grant aid to persons wishing to emigrate from Israel. He described the accusation about helping converts to transfer funds abroad as “a deliberate libel.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
