Page 14 - October 7 - Teresa Pirola

Today, no matter what their individual political beliefs or where they live, Jews are perceived by many as the root cause of the conflict in the Middle East and are the focus of blame for every problem befalling the Palestinians. At least, such views are widely tolerated, and met not with protest or counterargument, but with silence.
The public silence of so many Catholic leaders when confronted with the realities of October 7 and the suffering of Jewish communities raises the question: What effect has the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, notably Nostra Aetate, had over the past 60 years? Where does the Catholic Church stand today with regard to the antisemitic dynamics that have plagued it for centuries? I have personally felt the subtle lingering, conditioning effects of those centuries- old dynamics, the pressure—spoken or unspoken—not to advocate for Jewish communities when they are threatened. I understand how difficult it is for people to speak up due to their own distress and uncertainties and due to the fear of repercussions, imagined or real. In my writings, I have not always been successful in achieving a particular publishing goal. But for the most part, I have persisted.
Through my own interfaith relating, I have also come to appreciate anew the Jewish community in Australia. Walking with people from local Jewish communities, week by week after October 7, as they have processed the suffering in Israel and Gaza and were confronted with rising antisemitism at home, I have witnessed first-hand how deeply principled, disciplined, resilient and united is their leadership and their membership. When under threat, they have come together and focused on living their faith and their community life with ever deeper commitment to what it means to be a Jew, including outreach to the wider community. Where necessary,
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