Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) – In the attendance of six Cardinals of Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as leaders from the Latin American Jewish Congress, the Jewish-Catholic Encounter for Dialogue began on September 9, lasting 2 days. It is meant to be a permanent response to the call made at the Second Vatican Council, the document of Puebla issued by CELAM, and the Declaration “Nostra Aetate.” The Encounter was organized by CELAM (Latin American Bishops’ Council) and the Latin America Jewish Congress (CJL), in order to study the situation in the continent, in efforts to deepen their mutual knowledge and respect for one another (Jews and Catholics). The event was also supported by the Central Committee of the Jewish Committee in Mexico and the Mexican Bishops’ Conference. Among the participants in the encounter were: Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington; Cardinal Jorge Urosa of Caracas (Venezuela); Cardinal Francisco Robles Ortega of Monterrey (Mexico); Cardinal Odilo Sherer of Sao Paulo (Brazil); Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Rodriguez of the Dominican Republic, and Rabbis such as Marcelo Rittner, Abraham Palti, and Claudio Epelman, Director of the Latin American Jewish Congress. There were a total of 30 representatives from both religions. After two days of work on material regarding interreligious dialogue between Jews and Catholics, they issued a joint statement entitled the “Declaration of Mexico.”
“As Jews and Catholics, we should work together as brothers, created in the image and likeness of God. We should take an active role in civil society, so as to promote – within our status as believers and citizens – a more just and unified world, built upon the transcendental values common among our traditions,” the declaration says. It continues further along, talking about the need to respect human rights, above all the right to life. “In this sense, we can affirm the transcendental dimension of life and the importance of the family as the sanctuary par excellence, were love, compassion, unity, and ethics are transmitted, beginning at the smallest age to work in favor of social relations, without prejudices or violence, with justice and respect for every person, building the common good.”
The participants agreed to increase efforts in strengthening democracy, promoting an active and open citizenship, while asking that the state and civil society “take up their responsibility in policy-making, so as to work in favor of the common good, namely in terms of rights, freedoms, and values.”
The religious leaders also denounced some of the evils present on the continent, such as injustice, economic disparity, abuse of power, discrimination, and social exclusion, promising to work to eradicate them from society. “In this area, we should place special attention and dedication in protecting the most vulnerable: the child, women, elderly, sick, abandoned, marginalized, and defenseless.” They also promise to “fight all manifestation of anti-Semitism and any other forms of discrimination or marginalization for racial or religious reasons,” and ask that the State and society guarantee religious freedom. “It is with hope that we look forward to the next encounter, to strengthen each other in the fight for these goals that hold in common in our faith traditions,” the text concludes. This is the second continental encounter of this kind. The following will take place in three years. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 11/9/2008)
