wfn.org | B'nai B'rith Welcomes New President of Vatican Commission for Relations With Jews

["David Michaels" <dmichaels@bnaibrith.org>]

>B'NAI B'RITH INTERNATIONAL

>NEWS RELEASE

>Contact:  Sharon Bender
>202-857-6699 or sbender@bnaibrith.org

B'NAI B'RITH WELCOMES NEW PRESIDENT OF VATICAN COMMISSION FOR RELATIONS WITH 
JEWS

(Washington, D.C., July 1, 2010)-B'nai B'rith International looks
forward to working with the Vatican's newly appointed president of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and its Commission for
Religious Relations with the Jews. Bishop Kurt Koch of Switzerland was
officially appointed to the position that is the main conduit between
the Catholic Church and the Jewish community.

In a letter to Koch, B'nai B'rith President Dennis W. Glick and
Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin noted that B'nai B'rith
has "been especially committed to the development of genuine friendship
between Christians and Jews. In particular, through both ongoing
dialogue and practical cooperation at all levels, and with clergy as
well as laity, we have maintained Catholic-Jewish engagement as a
foremost imperative."

Koch assumes the post being vacated by Walter Cardinal Kasper, who
retired in June. B'nai B'rith enjoyed a positive working relationship
with Kasper and credited the "bold introspection and positive, proactive
outreach of Catholics" with the dramatic improvement of Catholic-Jewish
relations in less than half a century.

"Notwithstanding all difficulties-and some do persist-the remarkable
transformation of Catholic-Jewish relations, surpassing reconciliation,
mutual regard and even close partnership," has been historic, Glick and
Mariaschin wrote.

The letter concluded by noting Koch has been serving the Catholic Church
in Basel, Switzerland, where Theodor Herzl first articulated his vision
for a Jewish homeland, and expressed the hope that the good will of the
past would continue.

B'nai B'rith International, the Global Voice of the Jewish Community, is
the oldest and most widely known Jewish humanitarian, human rights, and
advocacy organization.  For 166 years, BBI has worked for Jewish unity,
security, continuity, and tolerance.  Visit http://www.bnaibrith.org. 
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