Cahtolic Church is one of Israel's strongest defenders

Submitted by Thomas and Mallory Danaher (United States), May 10, 2008 at 14:24

Re: Israel's Predicament at 60: World's worst neighbourhood"

I object to your stating, " The Left includes ...a more polite centre ..mainline churches..."

As young Catholics, we were raised to believe it is our mandate to protect the Jewish people. Catholics consider Jews as brothers. Each Holy Mass includes a reading from the books of the Old Testament plus numerous references to: Jerusalem; the Jewish people; "Oh Israel, Oh Israel", etc. which are constantly invoked throughout each and every celebration of our Holy Mass.

Other Christian denominations speculate that the establishment of the Jewish state is a pre-condition to the return of the Messiah. This surely is a prime example of Christian reverence for the history of Israel, for Israel now in her struggles and the future we, as Christians, project for Israel... a full realization of that State as a protected entity with all the rights and privileges of any country.

Unfortunately there are numerous deluded, misguided folks who establish and attend "liberation theology churches" which are totally off-the-wall. These people cannot possibly call themselves Christians. Jesus is a Jew, all twelve Apostles were Jews and the first many thousands of Christians were Jews.

In fact, there was great strife within the ranks of early Christendom as to whether the Jews (ie new Christians) would all+ow gentiles to join Christianity. Peter and Paul would not allow such exclusiveness as Jesus commanded them to "go forth and teach all." Thus, to this day, true Christians rather specialize in deep empathy toward our brothers, the Jews. No true Christian is ever anti-Semitic -- it is an oxymoron.

We are Mallory and Thomas Danaher. We met you briefly at Restoration Weekend in 2007 at The Breakers. My wife, Mallory, a member of the Board of DHFC, accosted you just as you were to enter your vehicle for your final departure and pummeled you with her admiration and devotion to your writings.

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