Pope Francis has spoken out against an attack on a gathering at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Several people died in the attack. Francis also expressed his “closeness” to the Jewish community and the people of that city, and prayed for all the victims and their relatives. “May the Most High receive the dead in his peace, Read more
A Jewish group is questioning moves to beatify the wartime head of Poland’s Catholic Church. The American Jewish Congress is reacting to the Pope’s signature last Monday on a decree recognising the “heroic virtues” of Cardinal August Hlond (1881-1948). Hlond was the highest ranking church official in Poland from 1926 to 1948. He is credited Read more
Jewish leaders have joined Catholic bishops in Poland to urge Catholics and Jews to rebuild dialogue and fight prejudice. The Polish Bishops’ Conference describes anti-Jewish rhetoric in Poland as being “contradictory to the principles of Christian love of one’s neighbour.” A group of Polish rabbis responded, saying they “deeply appreciate” their condemnation of anti-Semitism. They Read more
Condemnation from around the world over a new law on criminalising those who implicate Poland in responsibility for Holocaust crimes has drawn a strong response from a Polish archbishop. Archbishop Waclaw Depo of Czestochowa says the new law’s critics are trying to “alter historical truth”. The law imposes fines or up to three years’ jail Read more
Anti-semitism is on the rise in Sweden. Church and state leaders have spoken out against the violence. There have been many attacks against the Swedish Jewish community over the past few years, with two during the past week. It is thought the most recent events are connected with United States President Donald Trump’s recognition of Read more
German head of state President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has spoken out about the way social media is being used to promote anti-Semitism through “hate tirades” in Germany and across Europe. Speaking after a ceremony celebrating the centenary of a synagogue in the southern German town of Augsburg that survived the Nazi regime, Steinmeier said: “The social Read more
Anti-semitism and the Church of England’s role is embarrassing, says the Archbishop of Canterbury. Jewish leaders praised the Archbishop, Justin Welby. He admitted the Church “compounded the spread” of anti-Semitism. Welby’s comments appear in a booklet called ‘Lessons Learned’. This is a collection of essays produced by the Holocaust Educational Trust and Community Security Trust. Read more
Anti-semitism claims are being inflated by Israel’s allies. An employee of a state-funded charity in Belgium says the aim is to distract from the allies’ treatment of Palestinians. Brigitte Herremans, who works for Catholic organisations Broederlijk Delen and Pax Christi, made the comments on Flemish Radio 1. Read more
Anti-Semitism is back, something that should compel Christians and Jews to work together because the problem affects them all. This was one of the messages aired during a recent seminar held by the Yad VaShem memorial at the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem. “Evil cannot be overlooked. You cannot put your head in the Read more
Three directors of religious studies from New Zealand Catholic schools took an opportunity in January to study the Jewish Holocaust. The Holocaust Centre of New Zealand awarded scholarships to Adele Churchman of Roncalli College in Timaru, Colin Macleod of Kavanagh College in Dunedin and Dan Stollenwerk from St Peter’s College in Auckland. The three visited Read more