Thursday, May 29, 2014

Is Pope Francis Hiding The Cross Before the Chief Rabbis? Inclination to Zionism

(Jerusalem)  Pope Francis hid his pectoral cross in order not to “insult”  the Chief Rabbi of Israel? He certainly offered at the grave of Theodor Herzl, a recognition previously inconceivable for the Catholic Church, including obeisance to Zionism. A recognition that the Church refused for over a hundred years for theological reasons. What are Pope Francis’ objective with it? Was the role of Rabbi Abraham Skorka especially to achieve the recognition previously refused by previous popes  of Zionism?

Meeting with  Chief Rabbi and the Hidden Cross

On Monday, Pope Francis paid the two Chief Rabbi’s of Israel a "courtesy call". The encounter took place in the Heichal Shlomo Center next to the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem instead. Contrary to expectations, both Chief Rabbis had appeared, and the Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef.
His father, Ovadja Joseph,  who was   from 1973-1983 Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, had in 2009 as head of the ultra-Orthodox Shas movement  had forbidden Sephardic Jews from attending any meetings with Pope Benedict XVI.   Holy Land  (see separate report 700,000 Orthodox Jews at the Funeral of Grand Rabbi - Ovadja Josef Denounced Meeting with Benedict XVI as  "idolatry". ).
While his father as head of the anti-Zionist Shas movement refused a meeting, the son took part, considering   his institutional role as Chief Rabbi and thus as one of the two Israeli constitutional judges.

"Crucifixes Are an Insult to Jews"

Both incumbent Chief Rabbis, the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau and the Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Joseph are sons of former Chief Rabbis. From the father of David Lau, Israel Meir Lau, Chief Rabbi of 1993-2003 comes the statement: "Crucifixes are an insult to Jews. The cross is against the Jewish religion and the sight of the cross is forbidden for a Jew."
Did Pope Francis therefore hid his cross during his meeting with the Chief Rabbi? Or was it just a coincidence that the cross slipped just at this meeting behind the cincture?  During the meeting with the Chief Rabbis, the papal pectoral cross was behind the cingulum, so that, in any event, it was not even partially visible as a cross.

Sensational Bow of a Pope Before Zionism

Certainly not a coincidence, however, was the reverence that  Pope Francis demonstrated to Zionism before the meeting with the Chief Rabbis. The Pope put flowers down on the grave of Theodor Herzl, who is honored in Israel as the "Father of the Fatherland". Such recognition of Zionism, a political movement of Judaism, had still been made by no pope, because it has to do with politics and not religion. So the visit of the Pope in the Holy Land was paved by incoherence and other controversial statements that is precisely expressed in its preferred, though not theologically easily understandable attitude towards Judaism. Since the Holy Land trip it may  his  attitude is now favorable towards  Zionist Judaism. The role of his rabbinical friend Abraham Skorka seems to have been decisive for this recognition of Zionism.

The Church Rejects Zionism

The question is not trivial, since Pope Pius X in 1904 met with Theodor Herzl and rejected the creation of a Jewish state for theological reasons and this attitude of the Catholic Church has been determinative  ever since (see report  Pius X and Theodor Herzl - Gesture of Apology by Pope Francis ? ). The State of Israel was never officially been recognized by the Catholic Church, as also a part of Judaism rejects Zionism today. It was not until 1984, that the State of Israel was first mentioned by John Paul II in a papal encyclical. Only in 1994 diplomatic relations were established between Israel and the Holy See. Pope Benedict XVI. 2009 had   complied with all diplomatic usage to visit the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem.  However, from a recognition of Zionism or a visit to the grave of Theodor Herzl was not considered.  Zionism is a certain political movement within Judaism. For this reason alone, the popes refused recognition in the past, which would have at least met interference in political affairs.
But Pope Francis apparently wants to make policy, as his invitation by Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Abu Mazen shows in the Vatican. Thus, Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu, the "hawks"  in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Islamist Hamas movement which controls the Gaza Strip, were ignored. Whether the papal political activism will be successful remains to be seen. The question of what significance an invitation to   "common prayer," which appears to be the facade for  negotiations,  will form without falling into a soup of religious syncretism.
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Images: Screenshots
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
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19 comments:

  1. And so saith the Lord: "...Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:33)

    "...He that shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation: the Son of man also will be ashamed of him, when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. " (Mark 8:38)

    "...He that shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him the Son of man shall be ashamed, when he shall come in his majesty, and that of his Father, and of the holy angels." (Luke 9:26)

    "He that believeth in Him is not judged. But he that doth not believe, is already judged: because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God. " (John 3:18)

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    1. MOURNING AND WEEPING IN THIS VALLEY OF TEARS

      I could swim in the tears I shed
      but the thing is : I can’t swim
      I will soon float on my waterbed
      for my cup is filling to the brim

      Didn’t you say : you would follow Me
      on the Way to the Cross
      that was planted on Calvary
      don’t look at it as being dross

      This is the best investment
      you could ever have made
      give it a reassessment
      and all your sorrows will fade

      I know all too well deep in my heart
      that nothing happens without Your consent
      sometimes though it can be very tart
      and You, went through it till the end

      Daughter, take up your cross after Me
      and keep walking in My Footsteps
      that’s how you will win the Grand Prix
      without driving any extra laps.

      Always keep your handkerchiefs or tissues handy
      Rita Biesemans, December 13 2013

      Delete
  2. I'm afraid the Crucifix is missing from much of what the Pope says and does (which I find to be very political and worldly and often in apparent opposition to the Deposit of Faith). At best, the Faith in its objective substance is very obscured by what he says and does. Dear Lord, guide him.

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    1. 20+ years ago when I was first in the Country, some of my colleagues were wearing a Cross (-so do I- with my Star of David and my 10 commandments for I'm a catholic jew, so is my family). I had a lot of Mormon colleague-nurses too. One day I asked one of them : " Mormons say they are christians, how come that I never see a mormon wear a Cross ? " They answered : " oh NO NO we don't because the cross reminds us of HIS DEFEAT. "
      How can one call him/herself a christian if you don't understand THE DEATH OF JESUS ON THE CROSS !!!!! Riki

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  3. This tendentious post ignores two facts:
    (1) Pope Francis did not hide his cross during his meeting with the Chief Rabbis. For evidence, see http://tinyurl.com/mhg5zpb
    (2) The Vatican, by way of the Joint Declaration of the 18th International Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee, has expressly declared its "total rejection of anti-Semitism in all its forms, including anti-Zionism as a more recent manifestation of anti-Semitism." See http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/relations-jews-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20040708_declaration-buenos-aires_en.html

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    1. The question mark in the above post poses the question as to whether Francis hid his pectoral cross, but offers evidence of other issues which would be just as problematic and are in the same vein.

      I’m skeptical about your ability to read obscure legal documents at the Vatican website or even assess their doctrinal value.

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    2. The Joint Declaration does not speak for the Vatican or the Church. The Joint Declaration also espouses the completely heretical view: " recognition of the unique and unbroken covenantal relationship between God and the Jewish People." It sure looks like his pectoral cross is covered to me in all three pictures.

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    3. Perry, are you sure you are understanding the whole hasbara thing correctly? With the liberals having switched their mindless bias from Jews (after decades) to Muslims, do you really think you should be antagonizing Christians?

      You know that the days when you could win any "debate" by yelling out about Nazi anti-Semitic blah blah blah ad nauseum are drawing to a close, right?

      Delete
  4. Hasbara propagandist puppy Dane,
    Those are neither "facts" per say nor Dogmatic, especially.
    zionism IS Antichrist, FACT

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  5. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2639420/Pope-Francis-bows-head-prayer-Western-Wall-leaving-note-calling-peace-Christians-Muslims-Jews.html
    The photo with David Lau is telling

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  6. At least Pope Francis is old. He'll be 78, he's been sick at least 3 x in his one year as pope...supposedly each time with a "cold" or "flu". You can't catch the flu 3x in one year! Moreover, he doesn't look good.
    How much longer the Church has to suffer this man, only God knows. But I don't think it's too long.
    I have a feeling that Benedict XVI might (might), out live Francis. Maybe then we'll get a Catholic Pope.

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    1. THE CHURCH IN GETHSEMANE
      -----------------------------------------------
      The Ship of Peter is torn apart
      Martyred in its Holy Teaching
      It sinks and sinks, no work of art
      The bottom though never reaching

      Dissidents are screaming loud
      Leaving behind an awful niff
      Pretending to be proudly stout
      Gearing the Ship into a cliff

      Jesus shows His wounded Heart
      Smitten with a deadly dart
      Peter the Rock in desolation
      Deploring severe desecration

      Wake up, you Christian Brother
      Show now your truthful face
      With Mary our Heavenly Mother
      We'll reach that Peaceful Place

      In allegiance to the Holy Father (this was still Benedict XVI )
      United in prayer and fasting
      No victory will claim, but rather
      Satan's defeat be everlasting.

      Rita Biesemans, 01-02-2011

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  7. Francis promotes religious indifferentism & syncretism
    http://youtu.be/RcnEuEOc_vI

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  8. http://callmejorgebergoglio.blogspot.mx/2014/03/i-spy-with-my-little-eye-something.html

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  9. Tancred, here are some more photos:
    http://www.gazettenet.com/home/12129193-95/pope-wraps-up-mideast-pilgrimage

    You'll notice the one where the cross has slipped out of its hiding place because Francis is leaning forward over the model, so apparently he means to covers it with his hand.

    From the article: "JERUSALEM — Pope Francis wrapped up his Mideast pilgrimage Monday with a balancing act of symbolic and sometimes spontaneous gestures..."

    Well, the writer got that part right more than he intended to :)

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  10. The tinyurl pic offered by perry dane may be photo-shopped. This pic is in the same place and time frame depicted in the pic "with David Lau" that anonymous posted from the Daily Mail.

    If both pic are legitimate, should we infer that Mr. Lau is whispering "Hide your Crucifix." or "Show your Crucifix."? Which is more probable?

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    1. Sorry, wrong guys as David Lau.

      Point still stands, though.

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  11. Perry Dane, the photo you linked was photo shopped, I saw the original and his cross was hidden.

    ReplyDelete