Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., April 03, 2008 Adar2 28, 5768 | | Israel Time: 11:29 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 05:56 01/04/2008 Vatican looks to assuage Jews' anger over controversial prayer By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI  The Vatican is expected to issue a statement next week in which the Catholic Church will make it clear that the resumption of the use of an old Latin prayer by Pope Benedict XVI during mass on Easter Sunday last month is not an attempt to call on Jews to convert, or a sign that the church intends to initiate missionary efforts among Jews. The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, which concluded in 1965, decided that the Jews should not be blamed for killing of Christ and initiated prayers in local languages, rather than the Latin that was customary until then. About a year and a half ago, Benedict XVI announced that Catholic communities could resume use of the traditional Latin mass if they so wished. The decision angered many Jewish groups because the Latin wording of the Easter mass included a line that called on God to "shed light into the eyes" of Jews so that they would recognize Christ as the messiah. Advertisement Some Jewish groups regarded this development as a resumption of missionary efforts among Jewish communities. The Chief Rabbinate of Italy, as well as the leadership of German Jewry, announced that they are cutting off ties with the Catholic Church until the wording of the prayer was changed. Related articles: Rebel Catholics: Pope caved on prayer to convert Jews Rabbis fear prayer to convert Jews will harm ties with Vatican Vatican rejects criticism of new prayer for Jewish conversion Pope nixes reference to Jews` `blindness` over Jesus in prayer Bookmark to del.icio.us   Devil's weed New campaign equates smoking pot with terrorism. Bad company A BBC poll says Israel world's most hated country after Iran.   1.   Much ado about nothing 03:39  |  Baz Mann 01/04/08   2.   Vatican must accept Jesus 04:05  |  Jeff 01/04/08   3.   controversial prayer 04:17  |  Eytan 01/04/08   4.   Just read the prophesies in the Old Testament and compare 04:42  |  Eli 01/04/08   5.   Catholic church has nothing to do with Christ 06:20  |  wilson Blaise 01/04/08   6.   What the @#!@%$^%* 06:30  |  Sean 01/04/08   7.   This Catholic prayer is evil. 07:13  |  Haldrik 01/04/08   8.   We say just as bad 07:28  |  Sharon 01/04/08   9.   errr 08:23  |  Mahatma 01/04/08   10.   Jews recognize Christ as their messiah. There is no other way. 09:33  |  Yaakov Sullivan 01/04/08   11.   il papa 09:40  |  george 01/04/08   12.   Why is this a controversy? 09:47  |  Artsuhtaraz 01/04/08   13.   The power of a prayer 10:20  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 01/04/08   14.   OT: PENGUINS. ENJOY! 10:21  |  Clickfool 01/04/08   15.   Vatican prayers for conversion of Jews to Christ 10:31  |  Yohan 01/04/08   16.   Repackaging the same message 12:05  |  Joseph 01/04/08   17.   to Nr1 12:08  |  Harry 01/04/08   18.   to number eight 12:37  |  rob of melbourne 01/04/08   19.   That so called `light` ... 12:43  |  Edith 01/04/08   20.   #4 Those prophesies are no proof 12:46  |  Edith 01/04/08   21.   When it comes to semantics the real catholics... 12:49  |  Edith 01/04/08   22.   # 21, EDITH 13:32  |  indrajaya 01/04/08   23.   # 12 WE JEWS CAN PRAY THE CATHOLICS SEE THE LIGHT AND STOP 14:09  |  petra 01/04/08   24.   # 7 HALDRIK AMEN AMEN BROTHER. 14:12  |  Petra McIntyre 01/04/08   25.   Jews are getting to be just as bad as Moslems 15:27  |  Stephen of New York 01/04/08   26.   #2 Jeff 15:28  |  Boycott 01/04/08   27.   No evil 15:30  |  Gling 01/04/08   28.   Give it a rest Vatican 15:46  |  Natallie Durson 01/04/08   29.   Pope bashing 15:55  |  Rob 01/04/08   30.   Latin Prayer 16:01  |  Don 01/04/08   31.   Menahoth 43 16:09  |  Steven 01/04/08   32.   Vatican DOES accept Jesus 21:35  |  Gene Church 01/04/08   33.   Catholic Church IS the Church of Christ 21:46  |  Gene Church 01/04/08   34.   This Catholic Prayer IS NOT evil 21:52  |  Gene Church 01/04/08   35.   Sharon, thank you 21:54  |  Gene Church 01/04/08   36.   Margie, I believe you are mistaken 21:58  |  Gene Church 01/04/08   37.   Harry, this is revisionism 22:04  |  Gene Church 01/04/08   38.   Catholics will continue as they have 22:09  |  Gene Church 01/04/08   39.   Petra McIntyre, I can partially agree... 22:11  |  Gene Church 01/04/08   40.   Don, Catholics do view Catholicism as superior 22:18  |  Gene Church 01/04/08   41.   Will it be a real statement? 22:37  |  debunker 02/04/08   42.   Different strokes for different folks 05:29  |  PK 03/04/08   43.   A Parable:Romans crucified Jesus, Romans destroyed 2nd Temple.. 05:39  |  PK 03/04/08

Today Online Al Qaida's no. 2 vows to attack Jews worldwide Responses: 25 Top Palestinian official calls for halting peace talks with Israel Responses: 13 Ari Shavit: Barak must come clean - there will be no peace in our time Responses: 4 U.S. Reform leader: Alliance with Evangelicals is bad for Israel Responses: 32 Haifa doctors get 2-month suspension for wrongful hysterectomy Responses: 8 Rosner's Domain Israel Factor: McCain-Barak, the dream team Israelis approve of U.S. leadership (WTR) Poll: Who'll win the Jewish vote in PA? Rosner's Guest: Easier for two Jewish parents to raise Jewish kids Clinton and Obama voters support Israel in similar numbers More Headlines 10:38 Al Qaida No. 2 vows to strike Jews worldwide 10:40 Israel fears Syrian army moves may signal Hezbollah attack 10:42 Senior Palestinian: We need to halt talks with Israel 10:57 'Allying with Christian Zionists is bad for Israel' 10:46 Wiesel, Dershowitz want U.S. to boycott Durban conference 10:01 U.S. diplomats: Saudi Arabia likely to join nuclear arms race 10:49 Haifa doctors get 2-month suspension for wrongful hysterectomy 00:46 Israel says has removed 50 'dirt mound' roadblocks in W. Bank 06:29 Haaretz columnist Sayed Kashua shortlisted for int'l literary award 10:49 Rivals Beinisch, Friedmann join forces to shoot down 'court of economics' 04:38 Police sources: AG's delay in Natan-Zada lynch case due to politics 06:39 First J'lem forum for Diaspora, local philanthropists Previous Editions Select Day 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Behind the Z Word Scholarly essays, commentary, podcasts, blogs and much more. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestini