On the need to identity, deconstruct, and renovate inconsistent attitudes towards Jews in Catholic teaching

Abstract

Pope Francis’s recent reference to Mosaic law as not life-giving is the latest remark in a string of comments which evoke old stereotypes about Jewish law and the Pharisees. These comments invite Catholics to draw a straight line from greedy and exploitive people today to the Pharisees of the first century, and draw another line straight back to contemporary Jews. Besides their obviously problematic nature, these comments are disorientating, since in many respects, the Pope has committed himself to being a dependable friend of the global Jewish community. He has made efforts to nurture good relations with Jewish communal leaders, has made positive comments about contemporary Judaism, and has even co-authored a book with his friend Rabbi Abraham Skorka. Just last week, the Pope delivered a catechesis on Galatians 9 in which he declared that Catholics “must not...conclude that, for Paul, the Mosaic Law had lost its value; rather, it remains an irrevocable gift from God.” What are we to make of these contradictions?