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The
Pope and Jewish Christian Relations
No
Going Back
a
new book published to coincide with Pope Benedict XVI's visit to
Israel
In
May 2009 Pope Benedict XVI travels to Israel and the Holy Land,
an event which will be will be of great significance for all people
of goodwill in the region - indeed, in the world.
Much has changed since the visits of his predecessors Pope Paul
VI in 1964 and Pope John Paul II in 2000. Vatican II and the actions
of the late John Paul II did much to impact positively on Christian-Jewish
relations and the recent archival information about the actions
of Pope Pius XII during the Holocaust has also contributed to good
feelings. But these days Christians and Jews face new challenges.
The rise of radical Islamic fundamentalism, the war in Lebanon and
the invasion of Gaza, the re-wording of the Good Friday prayer by
Pope Benedict XVI and the lifting of the excommunications of four
traditionalist Roman Catholic bishops, one of whom denies the Holocaust,
have aroused consternation among Jews and Catholics, as well as
among other Christians.
More than 35 women and men - from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim
traditions and from various places around the world - accepted an
invitation to write an essay-letter responding to the question:
If you had five minutes with Pope Benedict XVI, what would you to
say to him? Their contributions are challenging and insightful,
introducing the reader to a range of views and opinions.
All writers were asked to include questions for discussion and suggestions
for further reading that might expand and enrich the reader's insights
into the complexity of some of the issues addressed in the book.
No going back is therefore a useful resource for classes,
discussion groups and personal study on interreligious dialogue,
Christian-Jewish relations and the leadership of the Jewish and
Catholic communities.
Further information
can be obtained from:
www.holocaustcentre.net
www.aegistrust.org
KOL Israel news
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