SIR – Your report, “No institutional mission to Jews” (December 18), is welcome but (as also in much media reporting of the recent Vatican document) omits a significant part of the story. The new document, far from being a “breakthrough”, is actually a return to apparently forgotten medieval practice based on Augustine’s interpretation of Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
Augustine taught at length that there should be no proselytising of Jews – especially in his book Against Faustus the Manichaean – and this teaching was followed by many medieval popes (often to the irritation of less theologically informed bishops).
Whether or not those who drafted the present document were aware of this important teaching of the Church from at least the early 5th century, the fact that it is not mentioned in the document indicates at best a cavalier and sadly misleading attitude to the history of theology and Catholic practice.
Yours faithfully,
John Rist (Professor)
Cambridge
SIR – That the Bishops of England and Wales reportedly thought better of petitioning Rome to introduce married priests is great news (Report, December 11).
The Catholic Church in this country has provided a home to married Anglican clergy disgruntled by the introduction of women priests since the mid 1990s. Some of these have been lucky enough to be ordained as Catholic priests, often with very short periods of formation. The relatively large numbers moving across from the Cof E to the Catholic Church give a false impression of the availability of potential married clergy.
The concession granted to married Anglican clergy must be remembered for what it was: a pragmatic solution to help those in a tricky position. It is not the thin end of the wedge. Priestly celibacy is a treasured possession that, if lost, will never be regained. Catholic lay people should reflect on this in relation to how the priesthood is regarded and discussed.
Yours faithfully,
W J Farren
Sevenoaks, Kent
SIR – Is “years of war” in Syria and Iraq really the best America can do? In Syria it has powerful Western and regional allies and at least partial or potential cooperation from Russia, China, Iran and, yes, Bashar al-Assad himself. One reason why the Iraqi army, fully backed by the West apart from ground troops, cannot defeat ISIS is that it was broken up by the US after Saddam Hussein was overthrown.
There seems to be a grave danger of essentially the same thing happening in Syria. David Cameron has acknowledged that the Syrian army must lead its country’s ground assault on ISIS, when it finally comes. However, he also says that first Assad must step down and the Syrian army must be reformed. There seems a high probability that these conditions will never be met.
If it becomes clear that they are making further progress impossible then they should be abandoned.
Yours faithfully,
Brendan O’Brien
London N21
SIR – Amid the storm of protest over views expressed by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump – that Muslims should be temporarily barred from entering the United States – an online petition with a burgeoning signature tally calls for his being banned from visiting the UK. While Mr Trump’s response, that Britain is in denial over its “massive Muslim problem”, is both inflammatory and certainly wide of the mark, it might nonetheless give us pause for thought.
The phrase “in denial” would appear to pinpoint exactly Britain’s approach to the long-term implications of our rampant abortion culture. By acquiescing in the dehumanisation and destruction of unborn children at a rate of 500 (approximately two large primary schools) every single day, over a period of decades, how can anyone be surprised to see a dramatic transformation of the ethnic and religious make-up of our country?
Moreover, how is it justified to lay the blame for this on Muslims or any other community which chooses to adopt a more humane approach to their own children? It should be recalled that in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, only the stubborn perseverance of Christian reformers such as William Wilberforce was sufficient to break down a similarly blinkered British attitude towards the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade.
Yours faithfully,
James Bruce
Berwick-upon-Tweed,
Northumberland
SIR – Early in December I had the honour of attending in Walsingham the 100th birthday Mass of recently appointed Mgr Augustine Hoey. The Mass, celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, was a truly beautiful occasion. For me the most moving part was the “lecture” given by Mgr Augustine: it was much more than a homily. He spoke with passion about the state of worship in Walsingham, and the lack of united prayer from the various Christian faiths in the holy village.
For those with access to a computer, please go to YouTube.com and enter “Monsignor Hoey”, and listen to him calling him for more unity. I am convinced I have met and heard the words of a man who in time will be recognised as a saint.
Yours faithfully,
Kevin Greenan
London SW1
SIR – In her article (December 11) Mary Kenny wrote: “I was the guest of a successful Christian Evangelical television service called SAT-7… The channel was started in 1998 with a $12 million grant from an American donor.” SAT-7 is, in fact, a fully ecumenical TV network with staff and presenters from all denominations.
From its foundation it has been overseen by an international board which includes senior Catholic and Orthodox clergy, and programmes are designed to serve the whole Church in the Middle East and North Africa.
The network began broadcasting in 1996 but without any multi-million dollar donation. The amount quoted was a very rough estimate of the value of our Lebanon studios which are loaned to us free of charge by a US donor.
Yours faithfully,
Lindsay Shaw
Online and press communications officer of SAT-7,
By email
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