In response to Sara Maitland (24 October, Nostra Aetate) I would add that, although Christian and Jewish theologians and those who enjoy studying the Scripture in dialogue have certainly been greatly enriched through Jewish/ Christian encounter, there is still a long to go.
Many people are unaware of a problem with our scriptures and we are all conditioned by our individual experiences and past inaccuracies, lack of knowledge or sensitivity.
Time is limited and Jewish/ Christian relations are quite low on the agenda for the majority, including our parish priests, and most people are not able to go on study courses. Our parish priests have many concerns and may not have the background or have the time required to explain difficult texts in a homily.
I would like to recommend a book, When Catholics Speak about Jews by John Pawlikowski and James Wilde, written for pastors, catechists and anyone who wants to be better informed about how to handle complex scriptural texts. This book was written in order to help fulfil the requirements of Nostra Aetate. As the authors say, " tearing down old walls and building bridges takes time."
Gillian Meyer, Chair - Council of Christians and Jews Bexhill/ Hastings
Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex
Loading ...
