Film at 11
OK, so Foxman is yet again angry at The Catholic Church. And we're suppose to care WHY?
Here's the blurb from the Jewish Anti-Defamation League;
New York, NY, February 5, 2008 …. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said the Vatican's changes to the Latin Good Friday prayer for the conversion of Jews amount to "cosmetic revisions" and the prayer remains "deeply troubling" because it calls for Jews to "acknowledge Jesus Christ as the savior of all men."
Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:
Alterations of language without change to the 1962 prayer's conversionary intent amount to cosmetic revisions, while retaining the most troubling aspect for Jews, namely the desire to end the distinctive Jewish way of life. Still named the "Prayer for Conversion of the Jews," it is a major departure from the teachings and actions of Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, and numerous authoritative Catholic documents, including Nostra Aetate.
ADL wrote to Pope Benedict on January 22 expressing concern that a revised Good Friday prayer that Jews abandon their own religious identity, would be devastating to the deepening relationship and dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people.
Now here's the prayer that has Abie's panties in a bunch --
May our God and Lord enlighten their hearts, so that they may acknowledge Jesus Christ, saviour of all men.
Let us pray.
Let us kneel.
Arise.
Almighty and everlasting God, who desirest that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of truth, mercifully grant that, as the fullness of the Gentiles enters into Thy Church, all Israel may be saved. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Alrighty... so the word "perfidious" was taken out. No big deal. All that word means is "faithless". As in faithless to Jesus Christ. That's not a snub, not an insult, not a damnation. It's just stating the theological fact that non-Christians have no faith in the salvific power of Christ. Period. And still, the likes of Abe Foxman pouts while he takes his swipes at Catholicism.
Gee, what a rotten thing for The Catholic Church to do... actually have the audacity to pray that non-Catholics accept Jesus Christ into their hearts as their Lord and Savior. How dare we.
How the heck can prayers hurt someone? If a Jewish person doesn't believe in the divinity of Jesus then he/she doesn't believe our prayers have any effect, anyhow. I have Baptist friends who are probably praying for me to abandon Catholicism. Their prayers don't offend me because I know that I am attending The Church that Christ founded. Therefore their prayers will have no effect on my decision to remain Catholic.
ReplyDeleteA buddy of mine sent the following email:
ReplyDeleteSometimes you run across an article that makes you either see double, spit your coffee out all over your key board, or makes you fall of your chair. I think this qualifies on all three accounts. If true, allow me to say that I despise this type of ecumenical trash! I can not begin to tell any of you how much I despise the ecumenical movement brought in by the Second Vatican Council. I believe it has done more to destroy the Church then just about anything else. And the destruction of the Roman Rite Mass is a direct result!
I looked up the Good Friday prayers in my Roman Missal (1962) that was authorised by Blessed John XXIII. Here is what the “The Great Intercessions” say for “The Conversion of the Jews.”
“Let us pray also for the Jews: that our God and Lord would remove the veil from their hearts: that they also may acknowledge our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Almighty and everlasting God, Who drivest not away from Thy mercy even the Jews: hear our prayers which we offer for the blindness of that people: that acknowledging the light of Thy truth, which is Christ, they may be rescued from their darkness. Through the same our Lord. Amen.”
As a side note, prayers are also included for Heretics and Schismatics. I just wonder if the Anglican community, all other Protestant denominations, and Greek and Russian Orthodox churches are up in arms too? Not hardly.
Here’s the bottom line: Do we or don’t we still believe in Christ’s Great Commission? Do we or don’t we believe that Christ is the savior of all mankind, and that no one, absolutely no one can be saved accept through Jesus Christ?
Lastly, I don’t give a damn what the Jews, Muslims, Orthodox, Protestants, Hindus, Buddhists, or Wiccans think about us, our Mass or our prayers for their conversion.
And to Mr. Abe Foxman: Go pound sand!
"Abie's panties in a bunch". Ha! like that one!
ReplyDelete"mercifully grant that, as the fullness of the Gentiles enters into Thy Church, all Israel may be saved."
ReplyDeleteGee, this sounds exactly slike something St Paul might say, like in Romans 11 & wsp vs 15.
So, we are praying according to God's word.
To those that don't like it, get over it.