Archbishops Budzik and Kalinowski of Lublin have publicly backed Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś against attacks related to his interfaith work.
Joint Statement of Support
Archbishop Stanisław Budzik and Rector Ks. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski of the Catholic University of Lublin John Paul II issued a statement expressing their firm support for Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś in the face of what they call unjust attacks.
They emphasized that Cardinal Ryś’s efforts to promote Christian-Jewish dialogue align with Church teachings and the spirit of the Second Vatican Council’s declaration, *Nostra aetate*. They expressed regret that criticism of the Cardinal is based on unfounded accusations that harm both him and the Church’s efforts to build mutual respect.
Call to Visit Synagogues
The statement follows a decision by the Polish Episcopal Conference to read a special letter in churches on March 22nd regarding relations between Christians and Jews, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s historic visit to the Great Synagogue of Rome.
The letter quoted the Pope’s words from April 13, 1986, stating that “the Jewish religion is not for our religion external, but in a way internal.” Bishops urged the faithful to visit a synagogue on April 13th, following the example of Pope John Paul II, and to remember and connect with Jewish brothers and sisters.
“Israel, a Chosen People”
The bishops’ reference to Jews as “the chosen people” sparked considerable debate, drawing political commentary and criticism from some right-wing politicians, particularly given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Some priests publicly stated they would not read the Episcopal letter, arguing that referring to Israel as the chosen people contradicted Catholic Church doctrine. Much of the criticism in social media was directed at Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, Archbishop of Krakow and Chairman of the Committee for Dialogue with Judaism.
The *Nostra aetate* Declaration
The declaration *Nostra aetate* (“In Our Time”), concerning the Church’s relationship with non-Christian religions, was promulgated by the Second Vatican Council and announced by Pope Paul VI on October 28, 1965.
The declaration emphasized the importance of studying Judaism to understand the Holy Scriptures and the origins of Christianity, and it condemned all discrimination based on race, color, social origin, or religion.
Liturgical Changes Following *Nostra aetate*
The declaration led to liturgical and educational changes, including revisions to the “Prayer of the Faithful” during the Liturgy of Good Friday. Prior to the Second Vatican Council, the prayer included the phrase “*perfidis Judaeis*” (faithless Jews, or perfidious Jews), which was replaced with a prayer for Jews to grow in love for God’s name and fidelity to His covenant.
Related Incident and Editorial Information
A separate incident involving a broken arm sustained by Joanna after an altercation with a priest is mentioned, with a link to further reporting on Wyborcza.pl. The article was edited by Kamila Cieślik.