Comments on: Pope’s prayer change disappoints Jews, some traditionalist Catholics

By: victor

victor — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:42:29 +0000

The Holy Father is entirely faithful to the Gospel and the Tradition of the Church – as with the apostle St Paul – in love desiring Israel would recognise their own Messiah. Wheres the problem with that?

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:58:43 +0000

Rob, the Jews thank God for not making them Gentiles, as was pointed out above. That’s about as offensive as it gets. So there’s no need for your hypothetical.

By: Steve Nicoloso

Steve Nicoloso — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:40:33 +0000

Rob:

“If, at every service, Jews prayed for Catholics to see the error of their way and reject the false Mesiah,…”

Then I, as a Catholic, would not be at all offended. Really… I mean that. In fact I would consider this likely to be a necessary and coherent corollary to their faith. I doubt many Catholics would be so offended; though perhaps a few militantly secularist Catholics would be… in precisely the same way that they are offended that their own Church prays for the conversion of Jews. But then… secularist Catholics are more or less co-religionists with secularist Jews anyway.

Of course, the particular prayer in question is emphatically NOT uttered at EVERY Catholic service, but rather only in the Good Friday liturgy and only in certain (still relatively rare) uses of of the Latin rite.

By: Bosco Peters

Bosco Peters — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:44:07 +0000

Here is a recent history of this prayer:
http://www.liturgy.co.nz/worship/matters .html

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:44:27 +0000

I am a Jew. I ask this out of respect and not anger: If, at every service, Jews prayed for Catholics to see the error of their way and reject the false Mesiah, would you not find it offensive? I try very hard to respect your belief that the Mesiah has come. Is it too much to ask that you respect my belief that he has not?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 10:37:45 +0000

Jews have no right to interfere with Catholic worship, just as Catholics have no right to interfere with Jewish worship. The prayer never should have been changed, especially considering all the Jewish prayers that are offensive to non-Jews and all the insulting language in the Talmud that is directed at non-Jews. It seems that these Jews who are upset by the prayer just want special treatment, and I find it to be disgustingly arrogant.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:35:33 +0000

The real shame of all of this, is that there is a general lack of respect for the idea that G-d provides many avenues to coming to know Him/Her. What provides a meaningful relationship for me, may not provide a meaningful relationship for you. Though I left Christianity many years ago, I still respect the faith and piety of those who adhere to hit. Teaching the “Good News” of Gospels need not mean getting everyone to be theologically aligned. It may mean to simply live and act in a way that brings others to realize the Divine in us all through our actions, and to lift up the fallen to see their own Divinity. Why must we constantly feel that our personal truth has to be everyone’s truth for it to be valid. Live as if your theology is true; be an example; don’t worry about whether the next guy is a Jew, Muslim or Christian. Worry about intolerance that leads to dehumanizing and stripping away the Divinity assigned to every human being as we are all made in the Image of G-d (Genesis, Chapter 1).

By: ssoldie

ssoldie — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:51:26 +0000

The Holy Father reiterated the truthful teaching and tradition of The Holy Roman Catholic Church in his revision of the Good Friday prayer for the Jews. Those who are opposed to it,reread it carefully. It is most wonderful. Lets not forget that the first Catholics were Jews,Jesus, his mother Mary, his earthly father Joseph, and the Twelve Apostles.

By: Vatican Diplomacy

Vatican Diplomacy — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:17:40 +0000

The Pope did a change in a good way.

So now… what about the Talmud’s words on Jesus and Mary?

One way informations

How many people knew this?

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:29:11 +0000

The pope is probably among the most peaceful, unassuming and humble men on the planet – - despite being the intellectual superior of the vast majority of his carping critics. His words are far more understanding than those of the perpetually outraged Abraham Foxman.

But being peaceful does not require him to deny the identity of Jesus Christ and he will never do that. Jewish people really have no business telling Christians how to pray. And when will they give up their obnoxious prayer thanking God for not making them Gentiles? Maybe Abe Foxman can get a press release out on that in the spirit of ecumenical dialogue.