Summary of Interest Group Focus:

Vatican II's Nostra Aetate marked the beginning of a transformation of Catholic approaches to Jews and Judaism.  After nearly two millennia in which the Church denied the ongoing validity of the Jewish People's covenant with God, the Council repudiated the deicide charge and affirmed that the Jewish People ever remain God's dearly beloved people.  In the post-conciliar period, the transformation of Catholic approaches to Judaism has continued, both at the level of official Catholic teaching and within the theological community.  This transformation of the Church's approach to Judaism has broad implications for Christian identity, theology and practice in addition to Christianity's lived relation with the Jewish People.  For centuries Christianity defined itself and developed its theologies in polemic opposition to Judaism.  A new relationship with the Jewish People and with Judaism requires a renewal and rethinking of Church identity and theology forged from post-conciliar developments and expanding historical knowledge which establish our current context.

Term: Three Years;  Meeting at 2008, 2009 and 2010 CTSA Conventions

2008:   Covenant & Mission - How Differing Understandings Affect Catholic Identity: An Ecclesiological Perspective in the Light of Post-Conciliar Approaches to Judaism

Ellen M.  Leonard, University of St.  Michael’s College & John D.  Dadosky, Regis College

2009:   Developments in Christology Based on Post-Conciliar Approaches to Judaism and Their Impact on Catholic Identity

Robert A. Krieg, University of Notre Dame & John T. Pawlikowski, Catholic Theological Union

2010:   The Mystery of Eschatological Fulfillment: Post-Conciliar Catholic Identity Reflecting Prophetic Commitment to and with the Jewish People in Covenant with God

Philip A. Cunningham, Saint Joseph's University

For further information please contact Group Coordinator:

Carol Ann Martinelli,  cmart26@attglobal.net