Cardinal Says Dignitatis Humanae and Nostra Aetate Non-Binding

Catholics must accept Vatican II, including on Judaism, cardinal says

By Cindy Wooden
May-17-2012

ROME (CNS) -- The Catholic Church's relationship to Judaism as taught by the Second Vatican Council and the interpretations and developments of that teaching by subsequent popes, "are binding on a Catholic," said the Vatican official responsible for relations with the Jews.

Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews and a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, spoke to reporters May 16 after delivering a speech on Catholic-Jewish relations in light of Vatican II's declaration "Nostra Aetate" on the church's relations with non-Christian religions.

The afternoon speech followed Cardinal Koch's participation in a meeting of the doctrinal congregation to examine the latest progress in the Vatican's reconciliation talks with the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X.

"There are questions to clarify in discussions with this community. I can't say more than that," he told reporters, echoing a Vatican statement saying the reconciliation talks are ongoing.

In addition to the highly publicized position of Bishop Richard Williamson, an SSPX bishop who denies the Holocaust, public statements by the society's superior general, Bishop Bernard Fellay, leave in doubt whether the society as a whole accepts the entirety of "Nostra Aetate," including its condemnations of anti-Semitism and of the idea that the Jews were to blame for the death of Jesus.

"All the doctrinal decisions of the church are binding on a Catholic, including the Second Vatican Council and all its texts," Cardinal Koch said when asked if the SSPX would be expected to accept all the teachings of Vatican II. "The 'Nostra Aetate' declaration of the Second Vatican Council is a clear decree and is important for every Catholic," he added.

At the same time, Cardinal Koch said, "it is very necessary to make clear the difference between the position of the Society of St. Pius X and the negation of the Shoah (the Holocaust), which is a position that has no place in the Catholic Church. It is very clear."

Following the revelation of Bishop Williamson's comments about the Holocaust, SSPX leaders issued a statement saying his position in no way reflected the views of the society. "I'm very happy about this," Cardinal Koch said. "The Holy Father has spoken clearly about this position of Williamson, that it's not possible, there is no place for deniers in the Catholic Church."

In his speech at Rome's Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Cardinal Koch said "Nostra Aetate" is "the 'foundation document' and the 'Magna Carta' of the dialogue of the Roman Catholic Church with Judaism."

The declaration highlighted the Jewish roots of Christianity and took "an unambiguous position against every form of anti-Semitism," he said.

The church's theological reflection on its Jewish roots, as well as on the relationship between God's covenant with the Jewish people and the new covenant instituted by Christ have been developed further and authoritatively by Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, he said.

God's plan of salvation for humanity began with his covenant with the Jewish people and if Christianity ignores that, he said, "it is in danger of losing its location within salvation history."

Cardinal Koch said that for Pope Benedict, the key to the theological understanding of the importance of a relationship with Judaism and Jews is that the Bible is one book detailing the entire history of salvation.

While Catholics profess that, in the end, all salvation will be accomplished through Jesus Christ, "it does not necessarily follow that the Jews are excluded from God's salvation because they do not believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah of Israel and the son of God," the cardinal said. "That the Jews are participants in God's salvation is theologically unquestionable, but how that can be possible without confessing Christ explicitly is and remains an unfathomable divine mystery."

The cardinal said, "The Catholic Church neither conducts nor supports any specific institutional mission work directed toward the Jews," but that does not exclude Christians bearing witness to their faith "in an unassuming and humble manner."

From Fatima Network
So that is why apostacy is especially relevant in our time to remember Our Lord said “When the Son of Man comes again, will He find faith on the earth?” and He said, apparently referring to the same age, that “if it were possible even the elect would be deceived.” So how are we to avoid being deceived by the appearance of Catholic teaching, which is in reality not Catholic teaching but in fact the opposite of it? We’re to avoid being deceived by holding on to — with all our might, with all our heart, strength and will, and our mind especially – the infallible definitions. These cannot fail; by holding on to them, we will then hold on to the Catholic Faith. If we don’t hold on to them, we could well be deceived along with everybody else. That is why it is important for us to remember that Our Lady spoke about the dogma of the Faith. The dogma of the Faith is defined by solemn Catholic definitions.

Q: Why wasn’t Pope John Paul II more clear with his warning?

Just like his statement in 1982, the Pope did not say that the Faith would be undermined, but he did say that the basis of our salvation was being undermined. But what is the basis of our salvation? It is our faith. We have to understand that the Pope is telling us these things, but yet not that openly.

On the one hand, the Pope feels he has to speak because — like Our Lady — he cannot remain silent; and he is speaking very publicly and he is speaking in a very public place, among devoted servants of Our Lady – that is, before the crowd in Fatima, before a million people in 1982 when he talks about the basis of our salvation being undermined. He also talks about the apocalyptic menaces – or almost apocalyptic menaces – looming over mankind in 1982. In the year 2000, he speaks about “one-third of the stars of heaven”. But he doesn’t speak that clearly that the average person can understand without just a little bit of explanation. The Pope is telling us that the Third Secret concerns the dangers to the Faith and that one-third of the Catholic clergy are involved. However, the Pope does not say these things directly – but in a somewhat hidden manner, in language for the learned to grasp. He may not want to turn off the simple folk without them being given a chance for an explanation.

Sister Lucy said over and over again that in this time of confusion, this time of “diabolical disorientation”, there would be persons of high authority within the Church – persons who have heavy responsibility (to be clear, cardinals and bishops and priests) who would be “blind and leaders of the blind”. It is a spiritual chastisement for our sins of not listening to the warning already published at Fatima.
It comes to our knowledge and attention that the Pope does not feel that he can speak freely, because he is surrounded somewhat by priests, bishops and cardinals who are undermining the Faith, who are part of that one-third. But the Pope either doesn’t know who they are or he does know who they are, but he doesn’t feel that he can speak safely and survive to the next day. Whatever his reason, he is not speaking that clearly — but he is speaking clearly enough that we can figure it out. Jesus told His disciples on one occasion, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (i.e.: let him who has ears to hear, let him understand).

otremer6 wrote:Koch isn't happy about SSPX reconciiliation you say?

That's news to me.

While the cardinal described the Old Catholics as having an "insignificant role" in global Christianity today, he said the vitality of the SSPX forces the church "to demonstrate that their protests are unjustified. One can only hope this will happen."

"Strangely enough, the two most controversial documents" for the SSPX -- those on religious freedom [Dignitatis humanae] and on relations with non-Christians [Nostra aetate] -- "do not have a binding doctrinal content, so one can dialogue about them," the cardinal said. "So I don't understand why our friends in the Society of St. Pius X concentrate almost exclusively on these two texts. And I'm sorry that they do so, because these are the two that are most easy to accept if we consider their canonical nature" as non-binding, he said.

otremer6 wrote:+Brandmuller may disagree with the SSPX, but he acknowledges that they have the right to challenge this.

We're talking about a man who refers to the TLM as "the real Mass".

In any event, as I said, the Pope is offering them to right to challenge Vatican II.

After all, how many Bishops (supposedly in union with Rome) in the world actually honor the documents?

George Brenner wrote: There are two hillsides not far from each other. On one stood the devil who screamed with venomous anger: " I will destroy your Church"

On the other hillside stood Jesus, Pope Eugene IV, Pope Benedict XVI and
Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen. Jesus asked Rabbi Cohen: "Who do you say that I am?" at which the Rabbi replied------------------------------------------- Jesus then asked Pope Benedict XVI: " And who do you say that I am" at which Pope Benedict XVI replied_______________________________________________________________________________________________

George Brenner wrote: Hi DeSelby.

Who can be sure of the exact points of contention for SSPX to receive canonical status. It seems that there are some who would not allow or want the Society of St. Pius X to be in full Communion unless they say in public that the Jews do not have to convert to Catholicism. I do not grasp who the "some" are.

George Brenner wrote:
The co-chairman of the Bilateral Commission of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel is urging Pope Benedict to state publicly that Jews need not convert to Catholicism. Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen, who addressed the Synod of Bishops last October, writes:

"In the Second Vatican Council and the Nostra Aetate document, it was made clear that no efforts would be made by the Catholic Church to convert Jews. Rather, the Jewish people should continue the faith of its forefathers as expressed in the Bible and rabbinic literature. The Jewish people remain a people of God’s covenant, a people chosen by God to give the world the Bible. Put simply, the Catholic Church accepted the theological principle that Jews need not change their religion to merit redemption."

George Brenner wrote:
I believe that just as Saint Peter answered Jesus when asked " Whom do men say that I am?"
that Pope Eugene IV and Pope Benedict XVI would answer the same as did Saint Peter.

" 27And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. And in the way, he asked his disciples, saying to them: Whom do men say that I am? 28 Who answered him, saying: John the Baptist; but some Elias, and others as one of the prophets. 29 Then he saith to them: But whom do you say that I am? Peter answering said to him: Thou art the Christ."

As far as for Rabbi Cohen's answer, I have no idea how he would exactly answer the question or even if he would but would like to know.

George Brenner wrote:
The great struggle between good and evil is unfolding as always right before our eyes. Our Holy father needs much grace and prayers. I can not quite find the words to fully develop what is at work here, but I am very troubled.

JMJ,

George

George Brenner wrote: Hi DelSelby,

I had posted my last post(some of my thoughts and others from other blogger comments) on Lionel's blog before I posted on this forum. Someone on this forum told me that Lionel posted on this forum at one time but no longer was allowed to. Is this true? I do not know what the circumstances were or if it is any of my business. Lionel and I both have a deep love for Father Leonard Feeney and we have exchanged e mails. My wife and I had spent a couple days with Father and I have several of his books. My interest in joining this blog was primarily to discuss , learn and exchange thoughts on the deep crisis in the Church over the last half century. In regards to the No Salvation Outside the Catholic Church, I have found MRyan to be a deep inspiration in my Catholic life. DeSelby, I believe that you answered my very first post on this forum.


JMJ,

George

George Brenner wrote: Hi DeSelby,

RE: Father Leonard Feeney

I was so young at the time; only 22 and my wife 21. It was very spiritually rewarding and really deepened my Catholic Faith. Here below is my post from last year as sent from me to God.


My God, there are so many people through my years that have helped me to compile my book of life. In the prayers that I say daily, there is one priest that I pray to not knowing for sure that he is with you now. I sure do think so ! My wife and I were blessed to spend two days with him in 1971. You know everything that we talked about. His love for You and Our Church was something I had never experienced before or since. I wish I could remember more but what I took away was spiritually lifechanging. If he is with you, please tell Father Leonard Feeney that George said Hi and thank him for the way he touched my life and ask him to please pray for me and my loved ones. If he is purgatory and I have any prayer credits in my account today, please apply them to his soul for he is anxious to see you. I would beg and implore Holy Mother Church to start the process of cause for the purpose of Sainthood for Father Leonard Feeney.

JMJ,

George

DeSelby wrote:
I was considering addressing some of the things from the other post but, really, what is the point?