The co-chairman of the World Jewish Congress has accused the Polish Catholic Church of being insensitive and anti-Semitic, and warned that there could be a complete suspension of relations between the Vatican and world Jewry if a Carmelite convent is not removed from the grounds of Auschwitz.
Dr. Gerhard Reigner’s comments came following suggestions that the Polish Roman Catholic Church may break an agreement — signed Feb. 22, 1987 — to have the convent moved by Feb. 22 of this year. The nuns have not yet vacated the grounds.
In an interview with the International Catholic Press Agency, Reigner warned there could be a complete suspension of relations between world Jewry and the Vatican.
Reigner believes that while the Vatican is in favor of removing the convent, the Polish Church is opposing the implementation of the agreement.
He has accused the Polish Church of being anti-Semitic and of not being willing to accept new ideas or teachings.
“I have the impression that the difficulties don’t come from the Vatican. To the contrary, they come from the Polish Church, that has not yet achieved every new theology begun by Vatican II,” Riegner said.
Word of the planned removal of the convent was announced last week by France’s highest-ranking Catholic prelate, Cardinal Albert Decourtray of Lyon, a sign considered by some Catholic and Jewish representatives to interfaith talks as further indication the controversial convent will be moved.
Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum, former chairman of the group that has been negotiating with the Vatican on this matter, said Wednesday that a meeting is scheduled this week among four cardinals, including possibly the pope, on how to proceed to make the transition.
Tanenbaum said the immediate problem is to find an interim place for the nuns to move once they move off the grounds of Auschwitz.
“Pressure from the Jewish community must continue,” Tanenbaum said, “but in order for it to be effective, it must be pointed, reasonable and moderate statements that will support our allies and friends in the Vatican and the Polish Church, and not paralyze their ability to function by playing into the hands of our worst enemies among the Polish Catholic traditionalists.
“I think it is possible to find a constructive resolution, and we simply have to use prudence and wisdom to bring about that result.”
(JTA staff writer Susan Brinbaum in New York contributed to this report.)
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