Some good news on Catholic-Jewish relations

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RNS reports this good news:

In the wake of controversies that have roiled longtime Jewish-Catholic relations, leaders from both faiths announced the launch of a new permanent dialogue between Catholics and Jews in the US.

Religion News Service reports that the joint project of the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center and the Anti-Defamation League, announced here Thursday comes at a time of significant tension between the Vatican and the international Jewish community.

Twenty-eight leaders joined for Thursday's launch at the John Paul Center, with plans to determine by May who will be included in the forthcoming dialogue. Hugh Dempsey, deputy director of the center, said it will include a wide range of Jewish organizations, scholars, and rabbinical associations as well as the Vatican and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said the dialogue began as leaders marked 30-days since the death of interfaith relations pioneer Rabbi Leon Klenicki.

But Thursday's meeting was also intended to respond to what he called the recent "mini-crises," Foxman said.

"We were concerned that they not build into a major crisis," he said.

Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley of Boston said most Catholics were alarmed by the recent crisis surrounding Williamson.

"Obviously, the whole church is very, very pained by the outrageous statements that he made and have been quick to disassociate ourselves from them," said O'Malley. "The Holocaust is certainly the greatest crime in the history of humanity and for anyone to try to diminish that or downplay it is absolutely outrageous."
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(read the complete report)