Germany / Italy: Jews are disappointed

Cathcon translation of Juden sind enttäuscht

The new version of the Latin intercession for the Jews in the so-called "extraordinary ritual" has met with irritation. The sentence offensive to Jews was deleted but the substance remains the same, said Roman Chief Rabbi Riccardo di Segni (on the left of the photo), quoted in the Italian daily newspapers. The Vatican has merely made cosmetic corrections. To quote Segni directly: "This is a fundamental obstacle for the dialogue between Jews and Christians, a step back by 45 years" (Il Messaggero). "I am very disappointed." (La Repubblica).

The Cologne Rabbi Netanel Teitelbaum initially agreed but stressed in an interview with Vatican Radio that: "I hope that it is not the intention of the other side to missionize. I hope that I have misunderstood. "

Dialogue can only be achieved if the Jews are accepted in their otherness. But the intercession goes further that the Jews should realise the truth of Christ, says the Rabbi. Teitelbaum, however, will not drive a barb into Jewish-Catholic relations.

"I am sure that the Catholic Church will find a way to explain, and I am sure that they will not violate Jewish feelings. That was certainly not the intention, but now we need a clear line. If the Jews should be taught the Christian Faith, why do you need to dialogue? "

Cologne's rabbi draws his disappointment, but also his hope, not least from the meeting with Pope Benedict during the World Youth Day in Cologne. Teitelbaum had welcomed the Pope here:

I still remember, at that time when Pope Benedict with us, there was in one of the speeches a quotation from the former honorary chairman of our community, which says: Let the Jews be good Jews and you be good Christians. That was a position that everyone should know his religion, but no other religion has the task to teach the other. "

If the Catholic Church returns to thoughts of conversion, this would put the current dialogue in question, added Teitelbaum.

-- The Vatican Secretariat of State had on Tuesday afternoon published the binding new version of the Good Friday intercession for the Roman Missal of 1962. Already in the old version, the words "faithless" (perfidus) or "unbelief" (perfidia) has been deleted. Especially after the Motu proprio in July 2007 and the giving of freedom to celebrate the Old Mass, so called, representatives of Judaism had called for an amendment of that prayer. Following the publication of the Latin prayer text from the Vatican, there are as yet no further comments.