May 24, 2001

To: His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper

As you know, over a billion people watched the spiritual journey of His Holiness Pope John Paul II as he followed the steps of St. Paul in Damascus. Many saw or listened to his remarks in Damascus and those of President Assad of Syria. As you can readily appreciate, President Assad's virulent accusations against the Jewish People are extremely hurtful to us. They bring to the surface fears and remind us of the historical tribulations that have, until recently, defined the relationship between the Jewish community and the Christian Church. Further, he unfortunately misapprehends the doctrine of the Catholic Church, as we understand it, regarding the Jewish religion and completely misstates what we understand to be the Church's view of the historical events surrounding the life and death of Jesus.

We are concerned that many of those who heard President Assad's words may not be aware that his representation of church doctrine is inaccurate. Indeed, sadly he may, himself, not be aware of the revolutionary changes in Church thinking over the last 35 years. We are concerned that through ignorance of these recent teachings or through inadvertence or malicious intent, the misreading of Church doctrine here by a political figure could easily have baleful effects.

Specifically, we fear that many in the Muslim world may take these statements as an accurate reflection of Church teaching, thus making reconciliation and understanding between Christians and Jews, not to speak of Muslims and Jews, in the region, that much more difficult.

We are saddened that these events have become for some an occasion for "Pope-bashing," although it is obvious to us and to any fair-minded observer that responsibility cannot be placed on the Pope for the rhetoric of his hosts or of those accompanying him. Indeed, the Pope himself made clear his views on the proper relationship between religions including Christianity, Judaism and Islam when he stated, while in Syria, " We all know that real peace can only be achieved if there is a new attitude of understanding and respect between the peoples of the region, between the followers of the three Abrahamic religions. Step by step, with vision and courage, the political and religious leaders of the region must create the conditions for the development that their peoples have a right to, after so much conflict and suffering. Among these conditions, it is important that there be an evolution in the way the peoples of the region see one another, and that at every level of society the principles of peaceful coexistence be taught and promoted.”

We humbly request that you find a positive and concrete way for the Vatican to specifically correct the misreading of Church doctrine that we fear arose, during the Pope's recent visit to Damascus.

To in any way cast doubt on the Pope's total condemnation of anti-Semitism or his continuing personal efforts on behalf of Christian–Jewish reconciliation is to be completely ignorant of what the Pope has actually said and done during the course of his Pontificate. For example, in addition to his many statements, his speech to the Jews in Poland has made this clear. There he has said, “Be sure, dear brothers, that the Poles, this Polish Church, is in a spirit of profound solidarity with you when she looks closely at the terrible reality of the extermination - the unconditional extermination - of your nation, an extermination carried out with premeditation… The Polish pope has a particular relationship with all this, because, along with you, he has in a certain sense lived all this here, in this land."

We appreciate the efforts of the Catholic Church in recent years to state publicly the correct theological relationship of Catholics and Jews and to correct the errors of the "teaching of contempt." These efforts are evident to all in the Councilar document of Nostra Aetate at Vatican II, in the Guidelines, the Notes, the We Remember document, as well as the fundamental agreement between Israel and the Holy See.

We seek your thoughts on how to make certain these views are properly promulgated in all areas of the world. Please be assured of our continuing respect and friendship and collaboration in working together to bring about Catholic-Jewish reconciliation.

Rabbinic Committee for Interreligious Dialogue

Co-Chairmen

Executive Committee