U.S. Bishops’ Chairman on Interreligious Affairs Responds to Recent Rise in anti-Semitic Actions Across U.S.

WASHINGTON—Inresponse to the recent rise in anti-Semitic actions that have taken placeacross the U.S., the Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski, Bishopof Springfield and Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Ecumenical andInterreligious Affairs, has issued the following statement expressingsolidarity and support for our Jewish brothers and sisters, while also callingfor the rejection of these hateful actions:   

On behalf of the Bishops and peopleof the Catholic Church, as the Chairman of the Bishops' Committee forEcumenical and Interreligious Affairs, I want to express our deep sympathy,solidarity, and support to our Jewish brothers and sisters who have experiencedonce again a surge of anti-Semitic actions in the United States. I wish tooffer our deepest concern, as well as our unequivocal rejection of thesehateful actions. The Catholic Church stands in love with the Jewishcommunity in the current face of anti-Semitism.

AsPope Francis recently said, "The grave danger is to disown our neighbors. Whenwe do so…we deny the most important Commandments of Jesus." Herein lies thedanger, dehumanization. But here we also find an opportunity: that the light ofthe love of neighbor may illuminate the Earth with its stunning brightness likea lightning bolt in the dark; that it may wake us up and let true humanityburst through with authentic resistance, resilience and persistence."

Iencourage everyone to remember their neighbor, to find the opportunities to belights of resistance, resilience, and persistence during these contentioustimes, especially with all our brothers and sisters of faith.

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Keywords: Pope Francis, Bishop Mitchell Rozanski, U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Committee on Ecumenical andInterreligious Affairs, anti-Semitism, solidarity, Jewish community.

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