Catholic Doctrines on the Jewish People after Vatican II

Description

In this timely study Gavin D'Costa explores Roman Catholic doctrines after the Second Vatican Council regarding the Jewish people (1965 - 2015). It establishes the emergence of the teaching that God's covenant with the Jewish people is irrevocable. What does this mean for Catholics regarding Jewish religious rituals, the land, and mission? Catholic Doctrines on the Jewish People after Vatican II establishes that the Catholic Church has a new teaching about the Jewish people: the covenant made with God is irrevocable. D'Costa faces head-on three important issues arising from the new teaching. First, previous Catholic teachings seem to claim Jewish rituals are invalid. He argues this is not the case. Earlier teachings allow us positive insights into the modern question. Second, a nuanced case for Catholic minimalist Zionism is advanced, without detriment to the Palestinian cause. This is in keeping with Catholic readings of scripture and the development of the Holy See's attitude to the State of Israel. Third, the painful question of mission is explored. D'Costa shows the new approach safeguards Jewish identity and allows for the possibility of successful witness by Hebrew Catholics who retain their Jewish identity and religious life. Cover Catholic Doctrines on the Jewish People after Vatican II Copyright Dedication Preface Acknowledgements Contents 1: The Catholic Doctrine of God’s Irrevocable Covenant to the Jewish People Introduction Methodology and Magisterial Authority Two Basic Doctrines: God’s Irrevocable Covenant with Biblical Jewish People; Applicable to Rabbinic Jewish People Fulfilment and Supersessionism—the Same Species? Conclusions 2: The ‘Ceremonial Law’: Dead and Deadening or Alive and Life-Giving? Introduction Bruce Marshall’s Depiction of the Catholic Problematic Israel of the Flesh and the Irrevocable Jewish Covenant Do Previous Magisterial Teachings Contradict Recent Magisterial Teachings? Resolving Marshall’s Conundrum through the Fulfilment Thesis Conclusions 3: The Church and the Biblical Promised Land Introduction Key Terminology Regarding this Question The Promise of the Land: Biblical Considerations Hermeneutics for Reading the Old and the New Testaments Land in the Old Testament The Temple and Jerusalem The Land in the Old Testament—continued Land in the New Testament The Temple and Jerusalem in the New Testament Conclusions 4: The Church and Minimalist Catholic Zionism? Introduction The Actors on the Stage Vatican Diplomacy and the Land of Israel The Telos of Catholic Theological Teachings about the Land Conclusions 5: Catholic Mission to the Jewish People? Introduction Defining the Terms Arguments against Mission to the Jews Critical Reflections on the Arguments The Significance of the Jewish Ecclesia/Hebrew Catholics Conclusions 6: Conclusions of a Tentative Post-Conciliar Theology of the Jewish People Bibliography Biblical Index General Index