Catholics, Jews find common ground

Sydney
2 June 2002

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Catholics, Jews find common ground

Australia can be a leading example of how Jewish and Catholic leaders can work together to contribute to a better society, according to representatives of both communities.

Participants in the fifth annual Conversation between representatives of the Aust ralian Catholic Bishops Con ference and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry said the meeting was inspiring.

They agreed that public debate on major issues with regard to ethics, social justice and public policy would benefit from joint input by the Catholic and Jewish communities.

They found the two groups held similar attitudes towards stem-cell research, for example, although there is also some divergence of views, as outlined by Rabbi Raymond Apple, Senior Rabbi at Sydney’s Great Synagogue, and Fr Gerald Gleeson, ethicist from the Catholic Institute of Sydney.

They found common ground, too, in attitudes towards the environment and the importance of marriage.

The meeting - co-chaired by the Catholic Bishop of Townsville, Bishop Michael Putney, and the president of Jewish umbrella body, Jeremy Jones - focused on the international relationship between Catholics and Jews and the ethical challenges faced by them, particularly in the light of advances in medical technology.

Cardinal Edward Cassidy and Mr Jones led discussion on the way in which the Catholic-Jewish international dialogue has developed, especially during John Paul II’s papacy.

Cardinal Cassidy, who recently retired as Prefect of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, played a key role in formulating Vatican policy relating to the Jewish people.

The other participants in the Conversation were Diane Shteinman, Laurie Rosen-blum and Peta Pellach (from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry) and Bishop Peter Ingham, Bishop Ted Collins and Bishop David Cremin plus Michael Brown from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.