Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Top Vatican official says controversial Latin prayer for Jews could be dropped - Haaretz - Israel News

Haaretz : By The Associated Press

ROME - The most senior official in the Vatican after the Pope suggested yesterday that a highly controversial prayer for the conversion of the Jews could be dropped from the re-introduced Latin-language rite.

Speaking at a news conference, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone was asked about Pope Benedict's recent decree allowing a wider use of the old Latin missal, or prayer book, that was phased out after the reforms of the so-called Second Vatican Council.

Jewish leaders sharply criticized the decree, which revived the possible use of a passage from the old Latin prayer book for Good Friday calling for Jews to be converted. ...

Bertone said the prayer that many Jews have found offensive could be substituted with one introduced into church rituals in the 1970s and which makes no reference to conversion of Jews.

Given the sensitivity of the issue, one wonders why this was not more fully considered and implemented before the Pope's announcement, rather than floated at this point.

I have read reports, not fully confirmed, that the restoration of the Latin rite does not apply to the Easter weekend liturgy. It is peculiar that there is so much speculation and apparent confusion about Vatican policy on the issue following the Pope's announcement.

No comments: