Catholic leaders warn against antisemitism in Holy Week liturgies

Catholic leaders have issued urgent warnings against antisemitism during Holy Week, emphasizing the Church’s longstanding teachings on the subject as the faithful prepare to commemorate Christ’s passion and death. The messages come amid concerns that some Catholic and Christian influencers are spreading antisemitic tropes, including the false accusation that Jews collectively killed Christ. These claims are explicitly rejected by the Church, dating back to the Council of Trent and further clarified at the Second Vatican Council.

Among those issuing statements were prominent figures such as Bishop Joseph C. Bambera of Scranton, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs; Archbishop Alexander K. Sample of Portland, chair of the USCCB Committee on Religious Liberty; Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, founder of the Word on Fire media nonprofit; and scholar Robert P. George. OSV News obtained a March 13 memo from Bishop Bambera to the nation’s bishops, outlining four essential teachings to be emphasized in Catholic preaching during Holy Week and Easter.

The memo draws heavily on the Vatican II document “Nostra Aetate,” which affirmed the shared spiritual patrimony between Christians and Jews and condemned antisemitism in all forms. Bishop Bambera cited the document and the 2015 reflection on it by the Vatican’s Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, emphasizing that “The Jews didn’t kill Jesus” and that “God’s covenant with the Jewish people has not been revoked, but continues.”

Additionally, Bishop Bambera referenced the commission’s guidelines on presenting Jews and Judaism in Catholic preaching and catechesis. He stressed that Catholics can appreciate the religious attachment Jews have to the land of Israel, but should interpret the re-emergence of a Jewish state in 1948 as a historical rather than theological event. He also reiterated the Church’s condemnation of hatred, persecution, and antisemitism directed against the Jewish people at any time and by anyone.

Bishop Bambera urged clergy to re-emphasize these foundational teachings regarding the Jewish people and the land of Israel. He noted that misleading statements by media personalities about the Church’s stance on these matters have been troubling not only to Catholics but also to Jewish communities. The memo highlights the importance of clear and accurate communication to combat misinformation and uphold the dignity of all people.

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