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Interfaith Conference Draws Together Catholic
and Jewish Scholars
By James Borden '04
 An
interfaith conference took place from June 20 to 21 at Villanova
University attended by members of the Catholic Scholars Group and the
Jewish Scholars Group. The seminar, "Inter-religious Learning: Christians
and Jews Teaching About the Other" was held to promote understanding between
the two faiths and was sponsored by the Connolly Foundation; part of a
larger grant called "For I Am Joseph Your Brother."
Fayette Veverka, associate professor of
theology and religious studies at Villanova, coordinated the program.
The facilitators were Mary C. Boys and Sara Lee, professors from The Union
Theological Study and Hebrew Union College, respectively.
The conference began on Thursday afternoon
with an orientation and introduction, followed by group seminars about
the participants thoughts regarding faiths other than their own. After
a break for dinner, a discussion ensued during which attendees talked
about the historical and theological context of the intermingling of the
two religions. Among the topics presented were the historical barriers
between Judaism and Christianity and whether or not this type of workshop
could have taken place in generations past. The evening ended with a brief
lecture on the changes in the Catholic world since Vatican II, and a discussion
of what has changed about the relationship between Catholics and Jews.
Friday morning began with a Psalm Study,
followed by an exercise titled "Typical Questions" wherein the participants
were able to discuss a variety of theological perceptions. Among the topics;
Christians need to worship Jesus as God, and whether or not Christians
and Jews believe in the same God. In the afternoon, a number of
statements prepared by both Scholars Groups were read to the attendees,
touching upon such subjects as to how the Bible both connects and separates
Jews and Christians and how Christians should not target those of the
Jewish faith for conversion. Afterwards, the conference broke up into
separate groups to talk about the statements and the impacts that they
may have upon their communities of faith.
The final statements presented coincided
with the closing message of the program itself; that Christians and Jews
need to work together in order to establish a more just and peaceful world.
Although both faiths believe that only God can bring ultimate peace and
ultimate justice, they believe that by working with those who have been
unjustly
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