Vatican II and the Jews

I've begun this blog simply to discuss, defend, and explain Vatican II to those who would attempt to show it as Heretical, and the beginning of an Apostate Church.

I will begin by systematically working my way through the following article provided by Most Holy Family Monastery.

http://www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/8_VaticanII.pdf

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Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence, Bull Cantate Domino, 1442, ex cathedra: “…the holy Roman Church, founded on the words of our Lord and Savior, firmly believes, professes and preaches one true God, almighty, immutable and eternal, Father, Son and Holy Spirit… Therefore it [the Holy Roman Church] condemns, rejects, anathematizes and declares to be outside the Body of Christ, which is the Church, whoever holds opposing or contrary views.”

Matthew 10:33- “But he that shall deny me before men, I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Vatican II Declaration, Nostra Aetate (#4): “Although the Church is the new people of God, the Jews should not be presented as rejected or cursed by God, as if such views followed from the holy scriptures.”

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Presented by the Dimonds as one of the most specific Heresies of Vatican 2. To which I provide the following.

Nostra Aetate (#4): Even though the Jewish authorities and those who followed their lead pressed for the death of Christ (see Jn 19:6), neither all Jews indiscriminately at that time, nor Jews today, can be charged with the crimes committed during his passion. It is true that the church is the new people of God, yet the Jews should not be spoken of as rejected or accursed as if this followed from holy scripture. Consequently, all must take care, lest in catechizing or in preaching the word of God, they teach anything which is not in accord with the truth of the Gospel message or the spirit of Christ.

Indeed, the church reproves every form of persecution against whomsoever it may be directed. Remembering, then, its common heritage with the Jews and moved not by any political consideration, but solely by the religious motivation of Christian charity, it deplores all hatreds, persecutions, displays of antisemitism directed against the Jews at any time or from any source.

If we provide more of the body of Nostra Aetate, I would offer that the intention of the article is not to remove the idea that the Jews are guiltless and worthy of Salvation, rather we can not use there errors as reason to ostracize them in society. Nostra Aetate clearly writes 'it deplores all hatreds, persecutions, displays of antisemitism directed against the Jews at any time or from any source.' This becomes even more striking when you consider the Proximity of Vatican II to the Holocaust of WWII. I would offer that Vatican is speaking out, quite plainly, in response to the devastation inflicted. In no place from the provided information by the Dimonds does Vatican II Sanction the Jewish religion, or affirm their Salvation. It defends there rights as Humanity.

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But here’s the bombshell: In Nostra Aetate #4 (Vatican II’s Decree on Non-Christian Religions) to declare exactly the opposite, Vatican II uses the same verb! Vatican II uses “reprobati,” which is the past participle passive of reprobo – the very same verb that the Council of Florence used! This means that Vatican II and the Council of Florence are talking about the exact same thing – they use the exact same verb – and they teach exactly the opposite! The Catholic Church

defines that all individuals (Jews, etc.) who have a view contrary to Faith in Christ or the Trinity the Church “reprobat” (rejects). Vatican II tells us that the Jews should not be considered as “reprobati” (as having been rejected). Vatican II could hardly contradict Catholic dogma any more precisely!

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This would be a bombshell if, in fact, Florence and Vatican II were speaking of the same issue. But, if we are to understand as I have explained above, Florence and Vatican II are related only in the sense that they relate to the Jews, not to the issue of salvation for the Jews, this issue is defused. To take what the Dimond's offer, we could easily see the Heresy of Vatican II, but to look at Nostra Aetate and understand that Vatican II is condemning the marginalization of the Jews, we not only reconcile the Vatican Teaching with Florence, but eliminate a possibly heretical teaching as well.