Panel reflects on Jewish-Christian ties

A quick joke: What do you get when you put a cardinal, a rabbi and a reverend in the same room? Last night in Irvine Auditorium, the 300 members of the audience learned that the answer was a thought-provoking discussion entitled "Developments in Jewish-Catholic Relations." The panel is one of three sessions on Jewish-Catholic relations being held on campus by Hillel and the Newman Center, the event's main sponsors. Connaissance co-sponsored the event. The panelists were Cardinal Edward Cassidy, the president of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, Rabbi James Rudin, the interreligious director of the American Jewish Center and Rev. Franklin Littell, professor of Holocaust Studies at Stockton College in New Jersey. Cardinal Cassidy made the trip from Rome to Philadelphia at the request of Music Professor Emeritus Tom Connolly, who has known him for 50 years. Prior to his current appointment in 1989, Cassidy served the Catholic Church around the world, holding such positions as the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the Republic of China. With his Australian accent and Italian suntan, Cassidy spoke of the developments that have resulted in an unprecedented level of understanding between Jews and Christians. "Over the past 30 years, most of the efforts were based on overcoming obstacles and building trust," Cassidy said. "We are now delving into our common spiritual riches, so that we may understand each other better." Although Pope John Paul II and the Second Vatican Council laid the groundwork for such advances, Cassidy was quick to mention that the efforts were mutual, and that concerns still remain. "We must keep closely in mind two distinct faith communities, and that the Jewish people have suffered at many times and many places," Cassidy said. Rudin went on to praise the Vatican's efforts during the collegial dialogue. Part of the tension between the religions stemmed from the fact that the Catholic Church had refused to acknowledge the Holocaust. Pope John Paul II recently reversed that decision. "I commend the Vatican for using the Jewish word 'Shoah' and not the English word 'Holocaust,'" Rudin said. "They have made sure that it can never be expropriated for any other purpose -- that 'Shoah' can only mean the extinguishment of the Jewish people." The extent of the current relations was underscored throughout the night. "There have been more positive Christian-Jewish relations in the past 35 years than the first 1900 years of Christianity," Rudin said. "Not that we are so good, but that relations were so strained." "Too often, there is not much interaction between the religious groups on campus," said College senior and event co-organizer Kira Rosen. "We want to spur people to talk about religion in an academic -- a comfortable -- context." The night concluded with the panel fielding questions regarding the beatification of the controversial Pope Pius IX and the role of religion in vice presidential hopeful Joe Lieberman's campaign.