October 28th this year was the 60th anniversary of the promulgation of the document Nostra Aetate. It was one of the last documents to be publicly and formally ratified at the Second Vatican Council but one which has significantly changed the Catholic Church’s relationship with people of faith. Like all Vatican Documents it is called by the first two words of the latin translation – Nostra Aetate – In Our Time and the first words of this short document set the scene “In our time when day by day mankind (sic)is being drawn closer together and the ties between different people are becoming stronger the Church examines more closely her relations to non – Christian religions.” This was a historic moment for a Church which because it had believed and preached no salvation outside the Church saw other faiths as being in error and worthy only of conversion.
At the heart of the document and its most developed section is the one on Judaism, though other sections do reflect on Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. The Church’s history of relations with the Jews had been an unhappy one to say the least. Forced sermons, legal restrictions, forced expulsions, accusations of being God – killers had led to the Jewish community living in isolation and being subject to violence and abuse at the hands of Christians. The Jews were regarded as perfidious – God had rejected them because they had rejected the Messiah and the Church was now the new People of God, the true inheritors of the Covenant.
This traditional teaching was turned on its head as the Church acknowledged that Jews and Christians share a religious bond and spiritual legacy. The Church decried hatred, persecutions, displays of antisemitism directed against Jews at any time and by anyone. Any sense of Jews being under a curse was rejected as was the accusation that they were responsible for the death of Jesus. There was no talk of the need to convert the Jews. Rather the document said that “the church awaits that day, known to God alone on which all people will address the Lord in a single voice and “serve him shoulder to shoulder”. There was no sense that God had repudiated the covenant with the Jews. They are still His chosen people for “God does not repent of the gifts He makes or of the calls He issues”
These were strong statements in the light of past history but some Jews were disappointed that there was no expression of sorrow or apology for past anti- Semitism. While some might have been disappointed others realised its significance in overturning centuries of anti-Jewish attitudes. Rabbi David Rosen, the American Jewish Committee's head of Inter-religious Relations and Adviser to the Rabbinate of Israel, speaking some years ago in Scotland, said that he did not know of any other document or action that had so transformed human relations as Nostra Aetate. For him Nostra Aetate “a monumental turnaround” unparalleled in history was a sign of hope that any relationship whether religious or political could be changed. Rabbi Rosen said: “There is no parallel in human history for the transformation that has taken place. From being a community seen as cursed by God, deserving of suffering and condemned to wander the world homeless, to a relationship of respect as the ‘elder brother’ of the covenant – never broken or to be broken – is a blessed transformation in our times.”
And so began the journey of interreligious dialogue where together faiths could share their wisdom and truth, a journey witnessed to by all the Popes since John XXIII and one which is now seen as intrinsic to the catholic faith. It is this journey that has been celebrated this past week in conferences and dialogues throughout the world. At the Vatican Conference, Walking Together in Hope, Pope Leo called Nostra Aetate a luminous document which “teaches us to meet the followers of other religions not as outsiders, but as travelling companions on the path of truth”. Addressing representatives of world religions, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, and Vatican and Church officials committed to interreligious dialogue, who had gathered in the Paul VI Hall to celebrate the anniversary of this historic Declaration the Pope continued “Today, your presence bears witness that this seed has grown into a mighty tree, its branches reaching far and wide, offering shelter and bearing the rich fruits of understanding, friendship, cooperation and peace.”
It would be very difficult for people of faith today to deny the need for interreligious dialogue and in all faiths there are those who in their commitment to it are a beacon of hope and in their dialogues show that a way of fellowship and harmony is possible across diversity and difference. Dialogue has its joys and its blessings but also its misunderstandings, difficulties and conflicts especially when associated with geo-political tensions but said the Pope “we must not allow political circumstances and the injustices of some to divert us from friendship, especially since we have achieved so much so far……Nostra Aetate reminds us that true dialogue is rooted in love, the only foundation of peace, justice and reconciliation, whereas it firmly rejects every form of discrimination or persecution, affirming the equal dignity of every human being. More than ever, our world needs our unity, our friendship and our collaboration. Each one of our religions can contribute to alleviating human suffering and taking care of our common home, our planet Earth. Our respective traditions teach truth, compassion, reconciliation, justice and peace. We must reaffirm service to humanity, at all times.”
Wonderfully strong, inspiring and encouraging words for those of us engaged in dialogue. We have come a long way but we have still further to travel. This week is Interfaith Week in Scotland and there will be many interfaith events which offer the opportunity to all to enter into the world of dialogue. Hopefully more and more people will do so knowing that in doing so they are sowing seeds of hope, peace and reconciliation in our land and in our world.
At the heart of the document and its most developed section is the one on Judaism, though other sections do reflect on Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. The Church’s history of relations with the Jews had been an unhappy one to say the least. Forced sermons, legal restrictions, forced expulsions, accusations of being God – killers had led to the Jewish community living in isolation and being subject to violence and abuse at the hands of Christians. The Jews were regarded as perfidious – God had rejected them because they had rejected the Messiah and the Church was now the new People of God, the true inheritors of the Covenant.
This traditional teaching was turned on its head as the Church acknowledged that Jews and Christians share a religious bond and spiritual legacy. The Church decried hatred, persecutions, displays of antisemitism directed against Jews at any time and by anyone. Any sense of Jews being under a curse was rejected as was the accusation that they were responsible for the death of Jesus. There was no talk of the need to convert the Jews. Rather the document said that “the church awaits that day, known to God alone on which all people will address the Lord in a single voice and “serve him shoulder to shoulder”. There was no sense that God had repudiated the covenant with the Jews. They are still His chosen people for “God does not repent of the gifts He makes or of the calls He issues”
These were strong statements in the light of past history but some Jews were disappointed that there was no expression of sorrow or apology for past anti- Semitism. While some might have been disappointed others realised its significance in overturning centuries of anti-Jewish attitudes. Rabbi David Rosen, the American Jewish Committee's head of Inter-religious Relations and Adviser to the Rabbinate of Israel, speaking some years ago in Scotland, said that he did not know of any other document or action that had so transformed human relations as Nostra Aetate. For him Nostra Aetate “a monumental turnaround” unparalleled in history was a sign of hope that any relationship whether religious or political could be changed. Rabbi Rosen said: “There is no parallel in human history for the transformation that has taken place. From being a community seen as cursed by God, deserving of suffering and condemned to wander the world homeless, to a relationship of respect as the ‘elder brother’ of the covenant – never broken or to be broken – is a blessed transformation in our times.”
And so began the journey of interreligious dialogue where together faiths could share their wisdom and truth, a journey witnessed to by all the Popes since John XXIII and one which is now seen as intrinsic to the catholic faith. It is this journey that has been celebrated this past week in conferences and dialogues throughout the world. At the Vatican Conference, Walking Together in Hope, Pope Leo called Nostra Aetate a luminous document which “teaches us to meet the followers of other religions not as outsiders, but as travelling companions on the path of truth”. Addressing representatives of world religions, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, and Vatican and Church officials committed to interreligious dialogue, who had gathered in the Paul VI Hall to celebrate the anniversary of this historic Declaration the Pope continued “Today, your presence bears witness that this seed has grown into a mighty tree, its branches reaching far and wide, offering shelter and bearing the rich fruits of understanding, friendship, cooperation and peace.”
It would be very difficult for people of faith today to deny the need for interreligious dialogue and in all faiths there are those who in their commitment to it are a beacon of hope and in their dialogues show that a way of fellowship and harmony is possible across diversity and difference. Dialogue has its joys and its blessings but also its misunderstandings, difficulties and conflicts especially when associated with geo-political tensions but said the Pope “we must not allow political circumstances and the injustices of some to divert us from friendship, especially since we have achieved so much so far……Nostra Aetate reminds us that true dialogue is rooted in love, the only foundation of peace, justice and reconciliation, whereas it firmly rejects every form of discrimination or persecution, affirming the equal dignity of every human being. More than ever, our world needs our unity, our friendship and our collaboration. Each one of our religions can contribute to alleviating human suffering and taking care of our common home, our planet Earth. Our respective traditions teach truth, compassion, reconciliation, justice and peace. We must reaffirm service to humanity, at all times.”
Wonderfully strong, inspiring and encouraging words for those of us engaged in dialogue. We have come a long way but we have still further to travel. This week is Interfaith Week in Scotland and there will be many interfaith events which offer the opportunity to all to enter into the world of dialogue. Hopefully more and more people will do so knowing that in doing so they are sowing seeds of hope, peace and reconciliation in our land and in our world.
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