AmericanPapist Comments
I wonder why I don't feel angry about this. It just seems so meaningless.
I do feel angry about this! There is a host of meaning about Jews burning New Testaments in the Holy Land! It is outrageous and should be a "heads up" that this is how too many Israelis treat Christians (even if they are the right-wing Christians vs. the right-wing Jews). The Church in Israel is discriminated against and this has come up time and time again. Not the least problem is the Israeli government refusing visas to Catholic Church priests and seminarians to travel between the State of Israel, the West Bank and Jordan. And Israel has a peace treaty with Jordan! This matter has been brought up several times between the Holy See and the State of Israel. No change.
This burning of the books (how ironic!) took place a couple of weeks ago and has been virtually ignored by the MSM.
Thank you for posting it.
But, I do disagree with you on one thing: this is NOT a "minor incident," it is part of a pattern that has led to the reduction of the Christians in the Holy Land from 20 per cent of the population to less than 2 per cent.
This incident in no way represents the way most Israelis feel about Christians. The fact that the incident occurred is unfortunate, but viewed in context, it was not simply an act of anti-Christian sentiment. It was a reaction to the community of Messianic Jews who actively proselytize in the Jewish community. I am not saying it was right, but it is understandable. Messianic Jews are Christians who still want to be considered Jews. If you don't see a problem here, go back and read the Acts of the Apostles. It is also worth noting that there has been considerable outrage from the Jewish community about the incident.
Yes, the fact that Christians are leaving the Holy Land should be a concern to the Church. But why are Christians also leaving Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt in droves? Surely it is not because of Israeli antipathy towards them. The fact is that Christians have more rights and are treated far better in Israel than anywhere else in the Middle East.
They'll stop it when they realize most Christians won't care that much. No-one can hurt the Word of God. He has suffered, died, risen and can never die again. Alleluia!
If they really feel stroppy, they can try burning a stack of Korans and see what happens.
What suprises me about this news article is the fact that it says
"[the incident] has concerned evangelical Christians [...], who visit Israel by the hundreds of thousands."
As if Catholics did not visit Israel or were not concerned. I'm sure the Pope would have s thing or two to say about incidents like this one.
I think the concern for evangelicals is that they actively engage in proselytizing Jews and are seen by many Jews as having the ulterior motive of making converts rather than being concerned about the well being of the Jews or Israel. I don't think that is a completely fair characterization, but it seems to be the dominant perception of many Jews in Israel and elsewhere. Catholics, on the other hand, are not seen as actively seeking converts from the Jewish community and so they don't pose much of a threat to Jewish identity. It was, after all, not a group of Catholics who were handing out New Testaments, but Messianic Jews, who are associated with evangelicals. I am curious, though, as to what you think the Pope would have to say about this incident.
I'm disturbed by this report. It's the kind of thing I'd expect from "Islamic extremists" (aka terrorists) but not from Jews, even of the most Orthodox variety.
I didn't mean to say that I could see the Pope directly responding to this particular issue. What I was trying to point out is that there's a general tenor of Papal statements regarding religious quarrels worldwide. The Pope has not shied away from preaching that acts of violence have no room in the message of God - I don't think his opinion is considerably different on the burning of New Testaments. All that I say in the context of being surprised that the news story talks about the concern of "Evangelical Christians" only.
Did this have anything to do with the condemnation by Australian Jews of the New Testament's accoun?
What is disturbing, if it is true, is that a deputy mayor has agitated students to do this.
I hope Israelis en masse condemn this.
Meanwhile, Israelis should also remember that if it were not for the support of influential evangelicals in the USA, they'd probably all be speaking Arabic now if not seeking refugee status in Europe.
An American soldier recently used a Koran as target practice at a firearms shooting range in Iraq.
It doesn't make it right, but Americans do it too.
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