Commission Studying Vatican Archival Material on Holy See's Role in World War II and the Holocaust Issues Second Statement

WASHINGTON (May 8, 2000) -- The International Catholic Jewish Historical Commission to review Vatican archival material relating to the Holy See's role during World War II and the Holocaust concluded a four-day meeting in London on May 7.

The Commission said it had made "substantial progress," reached agreement on basic issues, and that a report on the work done thus far will be completed this summer.

"Collaborating as Catholic and Jewish scholars on a difficult and controversial subject, we are confident that our work will contribute to a deeper understanding of this painful subject," commission members said. "We hope that our combined effort will take the discussion beyond the realm of heated polemics. We remain committed to full openness in the examination of the archival record."

Members of the Catholic-Jewish Historical Commission are Dr. Eva Fleischner, Professor Emerita of Montclair State University in New Jersey, Reverend Gerald P. Fogarty, SJ, Professor of Religious Studies and History, University of Virginia, Dr. Michael R. Marrus, Professor of History and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto, Reverend John F. Morley, Associate Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Seton Hall University, Dr. Bernard Suchecky, Researcher at the Department of Social Sciences, Free University of Brussels, Belgium, Dr. Robert S. Wistrich, Professor of History and holder of the Neuberger Chair in Modern Jewish Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

The Coordinators are Dr. Eugene Fisher, Secretariat of the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, National Conference of Catholic Bishops (USA), on behalf of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, Seymour D. Reich, Chairman of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC), and Dr. Leon A. Feldman, Professor Emeritus of Hebraic Studies, Rutgers University, Secretary of IJCIC.

The full text of the statement appears below:

Second Statement of The International Catholic-Jewish Historical Commission

"The International Catholic-Jewish Historical Commission to review Vatican archival material relating to the Holy See's role during World War II and the Holocaust has just concluded a four day meeting in London.

Appointed by the Holy See's Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews and the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC), we first met in New York in December 1999.

We began our work with the proposal put to us by Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy, President of the Holy See's Commission, to examine critically the eleven volumes of archival material published by the Vatican between 1965-1981.

We have made substantial progress.

After intensive study and evaluation we have reached agreement on basic issues, and are now preparing a report, to be completed this summer, on the work done thus far.

Collaborating as Catholic and Jewish scholars on a difficult and controversial subject, we are confident that our work will contribute to a deeper understanding of this painful subject. We hope that our combined effort will take the discussion beyond the realm of heated polemics.

We remain committed to full openness in the examination of the archival record."