Catholic-Jewish Committee ends meeting in Madrid

(Vatican Radio) Catholics and Jews are being urged to strive to build a world in which human rights are recognized and respected and where all peoples and societies can flourish in peace and freedom. This was one of the points of the Statement issued after the 22nd International Catholic-Jewish Liason Committee Meeting which concluded on Wednesday in Madrid. The Committee is the official forum for ongoing dialogue between the Holy See´s Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews and the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations.

The full text of the Statement is below


JOINT STATEMENT OF THE 22nd INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC-JEWISH LIAISON COMMITTEE MEETING, MADRID
OCTOBER 13-16, 2013
The International Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee (ILC) is the official forum for ongoing dialogue between the Holy See´s Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews and the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC). The 22nd meeting of the ILC took place in Madrid, Spain, from 13-16 October, 2013, hosted by the Spanish Bishops´ Conference and the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain. Jewish and Christian representatives from five continents attended the gathering. Ms. Betty Ehrenberg, Chair of IJCIC and Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Holy See's Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, co-chaired the meeting.
The theme of the meeting was ¨Challenges for Religion in Contemporary Society¨. These challenges were addressed in a series of presentations, discussions and workshops on the social, political, cultural, ethical, and religious circumstances in which men and women today seek to express their religious beliefs and follow the teachings of their religious traditions.
Our Shared Heritage
Jews and Christians share the heritage of the biblical testimony of God´s relationship with the human family throughout history. Our Scriptures bear witness to both individuals and the people as a whole being called, taught, guided and protected by Divine Providence. In light of this sacred history, Catholic and Jewish participants in the meeting responded to emerging opportunities and difficulties facing religious belief and practice in today's world.
Nearly fifty years ago the Second Vatican Council promulgated the Declaration Nostra Aetate, setting the Catholic Church on an entirely new path in its relations with the Jewish people. The establishment of the ILC as the instrument for formal relations between the Holy See and the international Jewish community is among the most significant fruits of Nostra Aetate. Open discussion in a spirit of mutual trust and respect characterized our meeting in Madrid and continues the progress made in teaching and implementing the principles enunciated in that fundamental Declaration. At this 22nd meeting, we reaffirmed the unique relationship between Catholics and Jews based on a common spiritual legacy and our shared responsibility to defend human dignity.
As Catholics and Jews we strive to build a world in which human rights are recognized and respected and where all peoples and societies can flourish in peace and freedom. We commit ourselves to strengthen our collaboration in the pursuit of an ever more just and equitable distribution of resources, so that all may benefit from advances in science, medicine, education and economic development. We see
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ourselves as partners in healing our created world so that it may reflect ever more brightly the original biblical vision: "And God saw all that God had made, and behold it was very good." (Gen. 1:31)
In small group discussions, the delegates examined the current rise of anti-Semitism, the growing phenomenon of the persecution of Christians in various parts of the world, and threats to religious freedom in many societies. In light of our shared religious ideals, we examined the real difficulties facing our religious traditions today, including violence, terrorism, extremism, discrimination, and poverty. We are deeply saddened to see God's name desecrated by evil couched in religious terms.
Religious Freedom
Encouraged in our work by Pope Francis' expressions of his concern for the universal welfare of all, particularly the poor and the oppressed, we share the belief in the God-given dignity of every individual. This requires that each person be accorded full freedom of conscience and freedom of religious expression individually and institutionally, privately and publicly. We deplore the abuse of religion, the use of religion for political ends. Both Jews and Catholics condemn persecution on religious grounds.
We call on political leaders and governments, on individuals, and on religious leaders and institutions to act to ensure the physical safety and legal protection of all who exercise the fundamental right to religious freedom; to protect the right to change or leave one's religious belief; to protect the right to manifest one's religious beliefs; to educate one's children in accordance with these beliefs. Among the religious claims under attack today that fall within the right to be protected are the right to religious slaughter, male circumcision, and the use and display of religious symbols in public.
Persecution of Christians
The ILC recommends to the Vatican Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews and IJCIC to work together on situations involving the persecution of Christian minorities worldwide as they arise; to call attention to these problems and to support efforts to guarantee full citizenship to all citizens regardless of religious or ethnic identity in the Middle East and beyond. Further, we encourage efforts to promote the well-being of minority Christian and Jewish communities throughout the Middle East.
The Rise of Anti-Semtism
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As Pope Francis has repeatedly said, "a Christian cannot be an anti-Semite." We encourage all religious leaders to continue to be a strong voice against this sin. The celebration of the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate in 2015 is a privileged moment in which to reaffirm its condemnation of anti-Semitism. We urge that anti-Semitic teachings be eliminated from preaching and textbooks everywhere in the world. Similarly, any expression of anti-Christian sentiment is equally unacceptable.
Education
We recommend that all Jewish and Catholic seminaries include instruction about Nostra Aetate and the subsequent documents of the Holy See implementing the Council's Declaration in their curricula. As a new generation of Jewish and Catholic leaders arises, we underscore the profound ways that Nostra Aetate changed the relationship between Jews and Catholics. It is imperative that the next generation embrace these teachings and ensure that they reach every corner of the world.
In the face of these challenges, we Catholics and Jews renew our commitment to educate our own respective communities in the knowledge of and respect for each other. We agree to cooperate to improve the lives of those on the margins of society, the poor, the sick, refugees, victims of human trafficking, and to protect God's creation from the dangers posed by climate change. We cannot do this alone; we call on all those in positions of authority and influence to join in serving the common good so that all may live in dignity and security, and so that justice and peace may prevail.
The agenda of the ILC meeting and a list of participants and presenters are attached.
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LISTA PARTICIPANTES - DELEGACIÓN CATÓLICA
International Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee
Madrid, 13 – 16 de octubre 2013
Invitados directamente por la Pontificia Comisión par las Relaciones Religiosas con el Judaísmo:
Cardenal Kurt Koch – Presidente de la Pontificia Comisión
Obispo William Francis Murphy –Rockville Centre - NY
Obispo Heinrich Mussinghoff – Aachen (Alemania)
Obispo Brian Farrell – Vicepresidente Pontificia Comisión
Obispo Giacinto Marcuzzo – Nazaret –Patriarcado Latino – Católico
Metropolita Emanuel - Patriarcado Ecuménico – París (Francia
P. Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM –Custos Terrae Sanctae
Rev. Joseph Sievers – Pontificio Instituto Bíblico
Rev. Lawrence Frizzell -Instituto de Estudios Judeo-Cristianos – New Jersey
Rev. Pier Francesco Fumagalli - Director Biblioteca Ambrosiana
P. Christian Rutishauser S.J. Provincial de Suiza
P. Norbert Hofmann SDB - Secretario Pontificia Comisión
Dr. Hans Hermann Henrix Academia Episcopal de Aachen (Alemania)
Invitados por la Pontificia Comisión par las Relaciones Religiosas con el Judaísmo a propuesta de la Conferencia Epsicopal Española:
Cardenal Antonio Mª Rouco Varela – Arzobispo de Madrid
Cardenal D. Luis Martínez Sistach –Arzobispo de Barcelona
Arzobispo Braulio Rodríguez Plaza –Arzobispo de Toledo
Arzobispo F. Javier Martínez Fernández –Arzobispo de Granada - Comisión CEE
Obispo Román Casanova Casanova – Comisión CEE
Obispo D. Alfonso Carrasco Rouco –Obispo de Lugo
Obispo D. Juan Antonio Martínez Camino - Secretario CEE
Obispo César A. Franco Martínez – Comisión CEE
Rev. Javier Mª Prades López – Rector San Dámaso
Rev. Patricio de Navascués Benlloch - Profesor San Dámaso
Rev. José Miguel García Pérez - Profesor san Dámaso
P. José Ramón Busto Saiz, S.J.- Profesor Comillas
Doña Mayte Rodríguez _Directora Centro de Estudios Judeo-Cristianos
Rev. Silverio Nieto Núñez - Profesor Comillas - CEE
Rev. Manuel Barrios Prieto – CEE - responsable de la organización en Madrid
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List of Participants – IJCIC Delegation
International Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee
Madrid, 13–16 October 2013
Delegates
Ms. Betty Ehrenberg – Chair, IJCIC – World Jewish Congress
Mr. Martin Budd – Vice Chair, IJCIC – Anti-Defamation League
Rabbi David Sandmel – Treasurer, IJCIC – Central Conference of American Rabbis
Mr. Michel Azaria – France
Rabbi Yehuda Benguigui – Marbella, Spain
Dr. David Berger – Rabbinical Council of America
Rabbi Alvin Berkun – Rabbinical Assembly
Rabbi Richard Block – Central Conference of American Rabbis
Mr. Jeremy Jones – American Jewish Committee – Australia
Rabbi Eugene Korn –Israel Jewish Council on Interreligious Relations
Rabbi Gustavo Kraselnik – Panama
Rabbi Richard Marker – Rabbinical Assembly
Mr. Nuno Wahnon Martins – B’nai B’rith International
Rabbi Joel Meyers – World Jewish Congress
Rabbi Dan Polish – Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi David Rosen – American Jewish Committee
Rabbi Isaac Sacca – Argentina
Rabbi David Saperstein – Union for Reform Judaism
Rabbi Michael Schudrich – Poland
Mr. Mauricio Toledano – Secretary General, Federación de Comunidades Judías en España
Observers
Mr. Oren Bar El – Ministro Consejero, Israeli Embassy in Madrid
Ms. Flora Berkun
Mr. Raphael Cohen – Marbella, Spain
Ambassador Zion Evrony – Ambassador of Israel to the Holy See
Dr. Mirele Goldsmith
Ms. Lila Korn
Mr. Uriel Macias – Spain
Ms. Astrid Misrahi – Spain
Ms. Marina Lara Rodriguez – Centro de Estudios Judeo Cristianos
Ms. Adina Suberi – World Jewish Congress
Ms. Esther Sutton Dabah – Argentina