Israel's chief rabbinate severs Vatican ties

[RJ Connors]

Now here is an an interesting article that I'm not quite sure what to make of it.

Source: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D960BMO80&show_article=1

Israel's chief rabbinate servers Vatican ties

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's chief rabbinate severed ties with the Vatican on Wednesday to protest a papal decision to reinstate a bishop who publicly denied 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust.
The Jewish state's highest religious authority sent a letter to the Holy See expressing "sorrow and pain" at the papal decision. "It will be very difficult for the chief rabbinate of Israel to continue its dialogue with the Vatican as before," the letter said. Chief rabbis of both the Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews were parties to the letter.

The rabbinate, which faxed a copy of the letter to The Associated Press, also canceled a meeting with the Vatican set for March. The rabbinate and the state of Israel have separate ties with the Vatican, and Wednesday's move does not affect state relations.

Pope Benedict XVI, faced with an uproar over the bishop, said Wednesday he feels "full and indisputable solidarity" with Jews and warned against any denial of the full horror of the Nazi genocide.

The remarks were his first public comments on the issue since the controversy erupted Saturday.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the Vatican hoped that in light of the pope's words, "the difficulties expressed by the Israeli Rabbinate can be subjected to further and deeper reflection."

Lombardi expressed hope that dialogue between the two parties can continue "fruitfully and serenely."

Oded Weiner, the director general of the chief rabbinate's office, welcomed the pope's remarks, calling them "a big step toward reconciliation."

(con't)http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D960BMO80&show_article=1

[HeresyLives]

1. But, but, the Pope just pledged solidarity!

January 28, 2009

Pope pledge solidarity with world's Jews

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict says he feels "full and indisputable solidarity" with the world's Jews and warns against any denial of the full horror of the Holocaust.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2009/01/28/8175571-ap.html

[Faygo Kid]

3. He must have known of this reaction - it was inevitable.

What did he expect when he reinstated the guy?

[Igel]

9. That he was helping to resolve a schism and allow

some Catholics to return to the fold, based upon their adherence to church doctrine.

It was an internal matter. Acceptance of a historical fact is not a religious doctrine, and if somebody is going to take communion, for instance, the Holocaust isn't in the catechism.

[monmouth]

2. I did that years ago and I'm Catholic. This Pope is a real problem....n/t

[The Magistrate]

4. That Does Seem To Be True, Ma'am

The Cardinals made a stunningly poor choice this time.

[monmouth]

5. When I saw him wearing those Pradas I knew we were in big trouble....n/t

[acmavm]

6. That's funny. But regardless of what it was that tipped you off, it was

right on the money. I cannot understand this guy. I mean ever for the Catholic Church, he's a real pistol. (I'm a Catholic school educated 'lapsed' Catholic myself.)

[monmouth]

8. He has an enormous ego, loves to be a little outrageous to get the

attention (note the Pradas again). The Cardinals are not amused I'm sure.

[anonymous171]

7. Same here. Maladict is as regressive as they come. nt

[Aristus]

10. I'll bet that's just what the old Nazi was hoping for.

I can suggest a place he can put that miter... :hurts:

[shrike]

11. The Church's criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza probably don't help

JPII opened up dialogue with the Muslims, and Ratzinger has continued that tradition. I'm not saying the reinstatement of the Bishop in question wasn't a factor, but there's probably more going on here that meets the eye.

Remember that there's also gamesmanship and politicking with this sort of thing. Always has been with the Vatican and Israel. Did you know that Golda Meir called Pius XII "a shining beacon" (or words to that effect, for the Jewish people? Yes, that Pius XII. Words and gamesmanship, it's been going on for a long time.