The Catholic Definition of Antisemitism

Vatican II

The definition of antisemitism is rather vague. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance defines antisemitism as the following:

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”[1]

“A certain perception of Jews” seems to be purposefully vague, and I would surmise is done so for political purposes. I think Joe Sobran was correct when he said, “an anti-Semite used to mean a man who hated Jews. Now it means a man who is hated by Jews.”[2] In other words, the modern term is used to shut down criticism of Jews. This was acknowledged by Israeli politician Shulamit Aloni. She said, “It’s a trick. We always use it. When from Europe, somebody criticizes Israel, we bring up the Holocaust. When, in the United States, people are critical of Israel, then they are anti-Semitic.”[3]

The Catholic Church has used the term antisemitism in official magisterial documents, particularly the Vatican II document Nostra Aetate. It reads,

Furthermore, in her rejection of every persecution against any man, the Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel’s spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.[4]

The Church does not here understand antisemitism in the vague way just mentioned by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Rather, it seems to have something more concrete in mind. However, this document does not define the term antisemitism. To understand how the Catholic Church understands this term as used in Nostra Aetate, we need to look to prior statements made by Catholics.

A draft encyclical of Humani Generis Unitas stated, citing a decree from the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office,

The Catholic Church habitually prays for the Jewish people who were the bearers of the Divine revelation up to the time of Christ; this, despite, indeed, on account of their spiritual blindness. Actuated by this love, the Apostolic See has protected this people against unjust oppression and, just as every kind of envy and jealousy among the nations must be disapproved of, so in an especial manner must be that hatred which is generally termed anti-Semitism.[5]

During Vatican II, Cardinal Meyer said,

I do not think that it is enough to say that the Church deplores and condemns hatred and ill-treatment of the Jews, simply because “it seriously condemns injustices inflicted anywhere.” Justice demands that we clearly turn our attention to the gigantic force of the evils with which people have afflicted the Jews throughout the ages. These particular afflictions, that the Jewish people suffered, demand that we in a particular way also condemn every type of antisemitism, just as our earlier text already did, where it states, “so that with a maternal spirit it more greatly deplores and condemns hatred and persecution of the Jews, that took place in the past and in our own time.”[6]

Bishop Elchinger asked for the following to be inserted in Nostra Aetate:

Moreover, just as [the Church] seriously condemns injustices perpetrated against people in every place, so it deplores and condemns even more the hatred, ill-treatment, and persecutions of the Jews that they call antisemitism, whether inflicted at one time or in our time.[7]

With all this being said, we can understand the Catholic definition of antisemitism as being a hatred of Jews and what follows from hatred, such as persecution and ill-treatment of Jews. This does not mean that criticism of Jews is a form of antisemitism. If this were the case, Jesus would have to be condemned as an antisemite. He said to Jews, “You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.”[8] He said this because they were trying to kill him.[9] In more modern times, we can see measured criticism of Jews combined with condemnation of antisemitism in a 1936 pastoral letter by Cardinal Hlond:

It is a fact that Jews are waging war against the Catholic Church, that they are steeped in free-thinking and constitute the vanguard of atheism, the Bolshevik movement, and revolutionary activity. It is a fact that Jews have a corruptive influence on morals, and that their publishing houses are spreading pornography. It is true that Jews are perpetrating fraud, practicing usury, and dealing in prostitution. It is true that, from a religious and ethical point of view, Jewish youth are having a negative influence on the Catholic youth in our schools. But let us be fair. Not all Jews are this way. There are very many Jews who are believers, honest, just, kind, and philanthropic. There is a healthy, edifying sense of family in very many Jewish homes. We know Jews who are ethically outstanding, noble, and upright. I warn against that moral stance, imported from abroad that is basically and ruthlessly anti-Jewish. It is contrary to Catholic ethics. One may love one’s own nation more, but one may not hate anyone. Not even Jews.[10]

[1] https://holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definition-antisemitism

[2] http://www.sobran.com/fearofjews.shtml

[3] https://www.wrmea.org/israel-palestine/to-silence-critics-of-israel-the-term-anti-semitism-is-being-trivialized.html

[4] https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html

[5] https://www.ccjr.us/dialogika-resources/primary-texts-from-the-history-of-the-relationship/hgu1938

[6] https://www.ccjr.us/dialogika-resources/documents-and-statements/roman-catholic/second-vatican-council/na-debate/v21964sept28

[7] https://www.ccjr.us/dialogika-resources/documents-and-statements/roman-catholic/second-vatican-council/na-debate/v2-1964sept29a

[8] John 8:44.

[9] John 8:39.

[10] https://www.unz.com/ejones/another-canonization-gets-vetoed/