Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yonah Metzger Shlita has come out publicly against Pope Benedict XVI for signing a ‘decree of virtue’, a move that brings Pope Pius a step closer to sainthood (beatification). Pius is infamous for his inaction during WWII, permitting the Church to remain silent amid the ongoing Nazi atrocities.
Rav Metzger explained the new classification, uplifting the late pontiff’s status is more than symbolic, since he is viewed as an anti-Semite, one “who did not lift a finger to help the Jewish People” during the Holocaust. Rav Metzger added that the decision by the Church will make continued dialogue difficult since Israel cannot continue as if nothing happened. The move inflicts pain on the Jewish People, elevating Pius to such a level despite his behavior during the war, exhibiting insensitivity towards the Jews.
Rav Metzger explained that while dialogue between Israel and the Church must continue, he cannot do so as if nothing has happened and things will not be as they were as a result of the Church’s actions. The Chief Rabbi made his remarks on Kol Chai Radio.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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8 Responses
I would not expect different from the church, or in particular, this pope who also has been involved with antisemitism in as extreme a form as possible. BUT, since the church likes to fancy itself oh-so-good, why promote someone with a questionable background as to whether he was filled with “love” for everyone.
It’s none of our business who the Pope makes into a saint. He can’t tell us whose P’sak Halacha to follow. Stay out of his business and let him stay out of ours.
I beg to differ with Rav Metzger; nothing good will come out of arguing with the Pope in business that does not concern us
What the church does should be irrelevant to us… Its Eisav…get it???
1. Beatification is not sainthood
2. It’s none of our business
3. He saved many Jews; what evidence does Metzger have that he could have done more without endangering Catholics?
#’s 2, 3, and 4, have no opinion on the subject?
יא בָּגְדָה יְהוּדָה, וְתוֹעֵבָה נֶעֶשְׂתָה בְיִשְׂרָאֵל וּבִירוּשָׁלִָם: כִּי חִלֵּל יְהוּדָה, קֹדֶשׁ יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר אָהֵב, וּבָעַל, בַּת-אֵל נֵכָר. Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which He loveth, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
יב יַכְרֵת יְהוָה לָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂנָּה, עֵר וְעֹנֶה, מֵאָהֳלֵי, יַעֲקֹב; וּמַגִּישׁ מִנְחָה, לַיהוָה צְבָאוֹת. {פ} 12 May the LORD cut off to the man that doeth this, him that calleth and him that answereth out of the tents of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.
Why deal with cherubim and sepharim? Have you not known how to call a no-god by name? If you tell me what a cherubim is Ill tell you what a saint is.
Moshe and His Name made the image of man. Moshe wrote the past present and future as directed by Hashem. Why argue cherubim vs sepharim you have had no understanding of either one.