Pope Assures Jewish Leaders of Commitment By DANIELA PETROFF Associated Press Writer
6:54 AM PDT, June 9, 2005 VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI held his first meeting with an international Jewish group Thursday, assuring them he will continue his predecessors' efforts to improve relations between Catholics and Jews. Benedict acknowledged that the history of their relations has been "complex and often painful" but that he was convinced their "spiritual patrimony" could guide them toward a "future of hope." Since his election as pope April 19, the German-born Benedict has reached out to the Jews and denounced the crimes by the Nazis. He served in the Hitler Youth organization as a teenager and later deserted from the German army in the waning days of the war. Benedict noted that this year is the 40th anniversary of a declaration by the Second Vatican Council that shaped Catholic teaching toward Jews, deploring anti-Semitism and persecution. "At the very beginning of my pontificate, I wish to assure you that the church remains firmly committed ... to implementing this decisive teaching," the pope said. He also pledged to "continue on the path" of Popes Paul VI and John Paul II in improving Catholic-Jewish relations. Benedict said it was important for neither side to forget the past, stressing the need for a "continued reflection on the profound historical, moral and theological questions" raised by the Holocaust. Edgar Bronfman, president of the World Jewish Congress, said in a statement after the meeting that he was confident that under Benedict's leadership "the Catholic Church will continue to build upon its growing relations with the Jewish community." Rabbi Israel Singer, chairman of the World Jewish Congress, said Benedict, in his previous post as head of the Vatican's doctrinal office, provided the theological framework for the steps forward in relations during the papacy of John Paul. As part of joint humanitarian projects, Singer said Catholics and Jews will work together in providing relief for Africa. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-vatican-jews,1,428 2268,print.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Take a look at donorschoose.org, an excellent charitable web site for anyone who cares about public education! http://us.click.yahoo.com/_OLuKD/8WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
