The Popes Against the Jews: The Vatican's Role in the Rise of Modern Anti-Semitism [Hardcover]

His errors include:

* Assuming that the current Pope must be behind everything done by Catholics living in Rome. For example, re-read his assertion that the Popes must have agreed with all the antisemitic statements in "Civilta Cattolica" -- it makes no sense. CC was a newspaper published by the Jesuit Order, not the Vatican, and certainly not the Pope himself. Do you think John Paul II personally approves of every article in Commonweal today?

* He describes how Pope Pius IX was at first very friendly to Jews and abolished the ghetto in Rome. Then came the revolutions of 1848, and the Pope was kicked out of Rome. The revolution eventually subsided and the Pope was allowed to come back to the Vatican. Upon his return, Pius IX was furious at the Jews of Rome and re-established the ghetto laws. Why? Kertzer doesn't say. Surely an obvious possibility is that many Roman Jews had been involved in the revolution. (This is in many _other_ history books, and I hardly think it's slanderous -- most people I know would become revolutionaries if kept in a ghetto.) This incident (and many similar ones) show that Kertzer simply wants to record anti-Jewish things done by the Popes and others at the Vatican, without explaining the reasons for these actions. (I am NOT saying that the deeds of any Jews justified the response! Even if every Jewish person in Rome was involved in the revolution, which they weren't, that wouldn't justify the ghetto. But if you don't mention these actions at all, the story doesn't make any sense.)

I certainly don't think Kertzer has malicious motives. And there is some good history in his book. But if you want to see a more balanced picture, I suggest you start with Hannah Arendt's classic "The Rise of Totalitarianism, Part One: Antisemitism".

In precise and penetrating studies of recently revealed, previously sealed, archives of the Catholic Church, Kertzer shows that the innate vilification, condemnation and de-humanisation of the Jews by the Catholic Church did nothing but endorse the racial anti-Semitism of the Nazi regime and that it is ludicrous to suggest that such a policy could have had any other consequence than to assist in the extermination of the Jewish people.

These anti-Jewish sentiments are shown to have existed at the highest levels within the Catholic Church. Kertzer also reveals how the ancient ï¿Blood Libel', the evil, abhorrent, ancient myth of Jews using the blood of Christian children to make Matzos at Passover, was widespread within the Vatican. (A myth still propagated in areas of the Mid-East to this day.)

This study shows how the Vatican's recent official statement absolving itself of any involvement is preposterous in face of the vast amount of evidence available. Evidence that the Vatican, in sitting in judgement upon itself, chose to overlook.

What is especially disturbing is that the book describes a human institution consisting of Popes, Cardinals, Bishops, Inquisitors, Monks and Parish Priests, that in following the aforementioned principles actually believed & were convinced that they were doing God's work. Commendably, Kertzer also mentions the many figures who struggled in vain to change the Vatican's policy against the Jews.

The author shows that even if, as the Vatican claims, they never approved the extermination of the Jews or indeed opposed it, their teachings and actions helped make it possible.

This book needs to be read by Christian and Jew alike and faces issues that must be addressed head-on by the Vatican and the Christian Church as a whole if Catholic-Jewish relations are ever to be fully normalized. Might I respectfully suggest some further reading for those with an interest in this subject, in highlighting three other books,-

"A Moral Reckoning: The Role of the Catholic Church in the Holocaust and Its Unfulfilled Duty of Repair" by Daniel Jonah Goldhagen, "The Anguish Of The Jews" by Edward H. Flannery & "Hitler's Cross: The Revealing Story of How the Cross of Christ Was Used As a Symbol of the Nazi Agenda" by Erwin Lutzer.

Well written & highly recommended.

This book traces the difficulties placed on Jews by the Catholic hierarchy during the last 300 years. The evidence is largely provided by official texts and records from the Church itself. These records were sealed in the Vatican archives and previously unavailable.

Initially, these difficulties ocurred in the Papal States, which were areas in Italy ruled by the Popes. Jews were segregated in ghettos, prevented from working, and made to participate in Christian religious ceremonies. Jewish children were taken from their families and brought up Catholic.

Later, the Papal States became independent, over the vigorous opposition of the Popes. Catholic newspapers became an important method of disseminating information harmful to Jews. All of the pillars of modern anti-semitism were prominently discussed in these newspapers. The papers appeared in France, Austria, Germany, Italy and elswhere in Europe, well into the 20th century.

Topics included Jewish conspiracies against European governments, hostility toward Christians, the need for Christian blood in religious ceremonies, obsession with money and power, and other negative topics.

There were also racial topics, such as a terrible Jewish odor, even evident in people generations removed from their Jewish forbears. In addition, men wanting to become Jesuit priests had to prove they had no Jewish ancestors in the previous five generations. Sadly, these rules and discussions endured well into the 20th century. The Jesuit requirement, which was dropped in 1946, was cited by nazi's as support for their perverse racial theories.

The Catholic Church itself was adept at minimizing the responsibilty for the consequences to Jews that have grown out such policies and publications.

Fortunately, the current Pope seems to recognize the damage accruing to the church by those who seek to hide past actions. Spiritual growth depends on facing such things. As it is said, 'The truth will set you free...'

The facts found in the Vatican archives are well researced and well reported by Mr. Kertzer. A rewarding read.