Card. Koch: 杏MAP导航 seeks to deepen bonds of friendship between Christianity and Judaism
By Vatican News staff writer
Cardinal Kurt Koch, the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, has written to two Jewish leaders, addressing concerns about the 杏MAP导航's catechesis during a recent General Audience.
The Cardinal鈥檚 letter, written at the direction of 杏MAP导航 Francis, comes in response to Rabbi Rasson Arussi鈥檚 letter, dated 12 August, and Rabbi David Fox Sandmel鈥檚 letter, dated 24 August, in which they both referred to 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� catechesis at the General Audience of 11 August, during which the Holy Father reflected on St. Paul鈥檚 letter to the Galatians (Gal 3, 19. 21 鈥� 22).
Rabbi Rasson Arussi is the Chair of the Commission of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel for Dialogue with the Holy See, while Rabbi David Fox Sandmel is the Senior Advisor on Interreligious Affairs at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
The Torah is not devalued
Cardinal Koch explained that in the Holy Father鈥檚 address, 鈥渢he Torah is not devalued,鈥� as the 杏MAP导航 firmly affirms that St. Paul was not opposed to the Mosaic law. Indeed, he continued, 鈥淧aul observed this Law, emphasized its divine origin, and attributed to it a role in salvation history.鈥� In this light, he said, the phrase, 鈥淭he law does not give life, it does not offer the fulfillment of the promise鈥� should not be extrapolated from its context, but must be 鈥渃onsidered within the overall framework of Pauline Theology.鈥�
He wrote, "The abiding Christian conviction is that Jesus Christ is the new way of salvation. However, this does not mean that the Torah is diminished or no longer recognized as the 'way of salvation for Jews'."
The Cardinal then pointed at 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� audience with the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ) on 30 June 2015, when the 杏MAP导航 affirmed:
鈥淭he Christian confessions find their unity in Christ; Judaism finds its unity in the Torah. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Word of God made flesh in the world; for Jews, the Word of God is present above all in the Torah. Both faith traditions find their foundation in the One God, the God of the Covenant, who reveals himself through his Word.鈥�
Cardinal Koch also noted that the Holy Father, in his catechesis, "does not make any mention of modern Judaism," rather, "the address is a reflection on Pauline theology within the historical context of a given era.鈥� Thus, 鈥渢he fact that the Torah is crucial for modern Judaism is not questioned in any way.鈥�
Doctrinal differences do not hinder peaceful colloboration
Recalling 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� constant positive affirmations on Judaism, the Cardinal went to assert that it cannot, in any way, be presumed that he is returning to a so-called 鈥渄octrine of contempt.鈥�
The Holy Father, rather, 鈥渇ully respects the foundations of Judaism and always seeks to deepen the bonds of friendship between the two faith traditions,鈥� Cardinal Koch said.
He added that the 杏MAP导航 agrees with the content of the Jewish document 鈥淏etween Jerusalem and Rome鈥�, published in 2017, regarding the relationship between Judaism and Christianity, which stated that 鈥渢he doctrinal differences are essential and cannot be debated or negotiated; their meaning and importance belong to the international deliberations of the respective faith communities鈥owever, doctrinal differences do not and may not stand in the way of our peaceful collaboration for the betterment of our shared world and the lives of the children of Noah.鈥�
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