Catholics reject evangelization of Jews

Solascriptura; after looking at my post I realize that I didn't do a good job of getting my message across: what I meant was that I agree with the Jewish mentality that xmas and easter are pagan (I worship at a Messianic Jewish synagogue) and that the church probably should avoid attempts at evangelizing the Jews (at least by targeting them). Why? Because I believe that "churchianity" mis-represents the Messiah Yeshua and his teachings. So in essence, the church sometimes does more harm than good. Paul said to make them jealous; we are not likely to make them jealous acting like pagans. What makes them jealous? keeping Torah, keeping the Feasts, using the name Yeshua (just to name a few). While I have a deep respect and love for the Jewish people, (I wouldn't worship with them if I didn't) they are not like other cultures, especially with regard to religion. To make matters even more confusing, there are differences between Reformed, Conservative and Orthodox Jews which add to the difficulty of witnessing. Bottom line: the Jews pay attention to our walk more than our talk.

 

I am comfortable with the Majesterium. I think the Boston Globe article skewed what the article says. But, the article also has a lot of double-talk, enough to eliminate the good that could be learned.

The Conference's letter is not binding on Catholics and seriously, the likelihood that Rome would approve it is nil.

The fact is, the Jew's covenant with God has been fulfilled through Jesus. They need Him.

 

I read it.

Like I said, it's full of double-talk. There are some things that were cleared up but some other things where I had to stop and think it can't be right.

Check out this article: http://www.catholicexchange.com/vm/index.asp?vm_id=1&art_id=15015

[ August 19, 2002, 07:57 PM: Message edited by: Astralis ]

 

Sorry for the double-post.

[ August 19, 2002, 07:57 PM: Message edited by: Astralis ]

 

This raises more questions in my mind. What was the covenant of the OT? Was it by faith or was it by works? If God's covenant with the Jews is still in effect, then they don't need Jesus Christ?

 

It isn't in effect. Jews need Jesus. The teachers at the school you went to are wrong.

 

CARDINAL ISSUES CLARIFICATION ON EVANGELIZATION OF JEWS

BALTIMORE, Aug 20, 02 (CWNews.com) -- Cardinal William Keeler of Baltimore has issued a statement of clarification regarding a document released last week on Catholic-Jewish relations. The cardinal's statement emphasized that the document, released by a joint committee of Catholics and Jews, was a working document rather than an authoritative statement of belief.

The August 12 statement, entitled Reflections on Covenant and Mission, said that "campaigns that target Jews for conversion to Christianity are no longer theologically acceptable in the Catholic Church." The document, put forward by a working committee sponsored by the US bishops' conference and the Jewish Anti-Defamation League, provoked a very sharp reaction from many Catholics, who argued that it clashed directly with previous statements of defined Church doctrine.

Cardinal Keeler, who co-chaired the committee that produced the document, remarked that the statement "does not represent a formal position taken by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops or the Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs. The purpose of publicly issuing the considerations which it contains is to encourage serious reflection on these matters by Jews and Catholics in the US."

The cardinal's statement continued: "These considerations provide a basis for discussing both the similarities and the significant differences between the Christian and Jewish understandings of the call given by the one God to both peoples."

 

Dual,

Your charity is amazing.

LaRae

 

Dual,

That's merely your opinion, you are putting yourself in the position of judging their intentions when you have no real way to know the whole story.

If you continually approach something assuming it's bad then you will never see any good in it.

Have you never heard of accepting something in good faith?

LaRae

 

Dual,

From my understanding of the original document and after discussing it elsewhere.....there is a difference in targeting groups for conversion and showing by actions what your Church teaches or if the situation arises, discussing what the Church teaches.

In this day and age most Catholics do not try to evangelize in the sense most other denominations understand this to be....you rarely ever hear of Catholics going door to door etc.

LaRae

 

There are some Catholics who go door to door but it's not like with other groups ...JW's etc.

You don't understand Catholic teaching which is why you don't understand how to read the document. It is written from a Catholic perspective.

ALL Salvation comes thru the Church. If you are saved you are saved thru the Church, irregardless if you are Catholic or Baptist etc. The Church has addressed the issue of salvation with Jews in the Catechism.

So based on the Church's teaching about Jews and Salvation this is why the Church says we are not to "target" Jews. You and I both know there are groups out there who set out to deliberately target JW's or Catholics or Mormons to bring them out of their Churches.

At the end of the day everyone is at the mercy of God.

LaRae

 

Dualhunter,

This is an ignorant statement. Because people may not do things like you don't assume they don't evangelize.

It was St. Francis who said "Preach the gospel everywhere. Use words if you have to".

 

This is a problem with Roman Catholics. They don't know what the gospel is. Do you?

 

Nimrod,

That's a fairly arrogant statment for you to make. Who are you to judge Catholics? I can assure you Catholics are quite clear on understanding the Gospel.

You can disagree if you want, think what you like but it is only your opinion.

LaRae

 

Arrogant Nimrod. You don't display any Christian charity by judging - especially baseless judging. Do you know the Gospel?