Pojęcie antysemityzmu w deklaracji Nostra aetate

Abstract

The question of anti-Jewish attitudes has been frequently taken up in the official Catholic-Jewish dialogue. Not only the sources of the anti-Jewish prejudices but even the terminology pose another problem. The modem official documents of the Church on the Jews and Judaism employ the terms „anti-Judaism” and „anti-Semitism” The term „anti-Judaism” is used to describe the old theology of the Passion, which maintained that the Jewish people as a whole was responsible for the Crucifixion and which gave rise to the theory of substitution, the replacement of old Israel by real Israel, the Church. At present the term „anti-Semitism” describes the anti-Jewish attitudes, the sources of which are in the economical, political, sociological prejudices and racial theories. The official Catholic-Jewish dialogue began after the publication of the Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions „Nostra Aetate” by the Second Vatican Council in October 28, 1965. This document prepared by the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity, condemns the anti-Jewish attitudes in the words: „In her rejection of every persecution against any man, the Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by the political reasons but by the Gospel’s spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone” The article explains the meaning of the word „anti-Semitism”, which is used in the Vatican declaration. In the first place it analyses the Conciliar and post-Conciliar statements made by cardinal Augustin Bea, the head of the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity, who was responsible for the presentation of the projects of „Nostra Aetate” at the Council. Then the pronouncements of other Conciliar Fathers and the explanations of the Secretariat are examined. The term „anti-Semitism”, as used in the declaration, first of all comprises the anti-Jewish attitudes and the prejudices of the Christians, which had been inspired by the wrong conceptions of the Passion, mentioned above. The declaration rejects those attitudes and explains that only the Jewish authorities and some people who followed their lead demanded the death of Christ. „Nostra Aetate” also emphasizes that Christ underwent His passion and death freely, for the sake of sinful mankind. The article states that the meaning of the term „anti-Semitism” used in the declaration can be fully realized only in the context of the whole declaration and of the discussion conducted by the Conciliar Fathers.