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	Sunbury Rabbi: Good Friday Sermon Twists Historic Hurts By Rick Dandes Daily Item April 2, 2010 http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/local_story_092201648.html UNITED STATES -- A Sunbury rabbi reacted swiftly Friday evening to statements made by Pope Benedict's XVI's personal preacher at a Good Friday service, when he compared the allegations that the pontiff has covered up sex abuse cases to the "more shameful aspects of anti-Semitism." How terribly sad and unfortunate that Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa chose to invoke the horrors of violent anti-Semitism in order to defend the Pope during his Good Friday message, said Rabbi Nina H. Mandel, of Congregation Beth El. The Catholic Church and the Vatican have faced tremendous criticism in recent weeks, she noted "On a day when Christians meditate on the life and death of Jesus, provocative statements such as this miss out on an important opportunity to reach out to the victims of sexual abuse by priests with a message of justice and compassion," Mandel said. "Victims of abuse should feel empowered to safely pursue justice, not be likened to hateful killers as the remarks imply." Mandel wondered if the reverend was implying that, because of criticisms and challenges to the Church's position in some cases of sexual abuse, Catholics everywhere are in danger of being systematically rounded up and murdered? Certainly this kind of hyperbole only provides an unnecessary distraction and provocation for the Pope at this time, she said. "Veiling his remarks as a quote 'from a Jewish friend' seeks to legitimize an argument that no Jewish person would in good conscience make and draws parallels to vastly different circumstances," she said. "His invoking of anti-Semitic violence on Good Friday conveniently and ironically ignores the fact that, from medieval times until the last century, Good Friday sermons by parish priests across Europe incited some of the most brutal of that very violence he references." Clergy of all faiths have a sacred responsibility to use the power of their position wisely, Mandel added. "Abuse of that power is historically at the root of most institutional religious scandals. Rev. Cantalamessa has used the power of his sermon on this holy Christian day in a way that damages all whom his message reaches." There is no shortage of hate and injustice in the world, she said. "We need not look for ways to add more. At this season of liberation and redemption for Christians and Jews, may our ways be ways of peace."
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