Chronology:
-- On June 18, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a document entitled “A Note on Ambiguities Contained in ‘Reflections on Covenant and Mission.’”
That document implied that the covenant with the Jewish people had been fulfilled in
Jesus in such a way as to imply that the Sinai covenant was no longer alive and that Jews do not live a covenantal life. The document spoke of dialogue as providing an occasion for “implicit” invitation to conversion.
--On July 8, leaders of the Rabbinical Council of America and the Union of Orthodox
Jewish Congregations of America (the major Orthodox organizations) wrote a letter objecting to these points, and saying that they make dialogue impossible.
--On Aug. 18, the national interfaith leadership wrote a letter to the USCCB, stating that the “Note” “appears to posit that the Mosaic covenant is obsolete and Judaism no longer has a reason to exist.” Speaking of the point about dialogue as an occasion for an
“implicit” invitation, the letter said, “once Jewish-Christian dialogue has been formally characterized as an invitation, whether explicit or implicit, to apostatize, then Jewish participation becomes untenable.” In this letter, leaders of the American Jewish
Committee, the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, the National Council of
Synagogues, the Orthodox Union and the Rabbinical Council of American make it clear that if the USCCB does not respond adequately, they will cut institutional ties with the
US Conference of Catholic Bishops.
-- On Aug. 27, the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy gave the “Recognitio” for a change to the U.S.Catholic Catechism for Adults. The changed text, which omitted an earlier reference to the Mosaic covenant and its enduring validity for Jews was not in itself offensive. However, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released at the same time, a “Backgrounder,” explaining that the clause had been omitted because of the danger of Catholics believing that “one of the former covenants imparts salvation without the mediation of Christ.” Although they cite Romans 9, there is the same implication present in the June “Note” that the Mosaic covenant is no longer valid.
International Implications
This crisis is international as well as local. The “Note” was actually prompted by the orders of the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith, first under the present Pope and most recently under Cardinal Levada. Furthermore, because some of the Jewish institutions represented are actually international and because IJCIC is also involved, the crisis is international, and not simply a matter of the American context. Finally, nearly half the world’s Jewish population lives in the U.S. It has close ties to Israel, of course, but also
Jewish communities in other countries.
Local Implications:
If the bishops’ response remains as it is, this will affect the writing of religious education materials for a wide variety of programs at all levels, from kindergarten all the way through adult education. It will also impact the training of seminarians.

The national Jewish interfaith leaders have said that, if the bishops’ response is not adequate, they will break ties with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Many programs at the diocesan level (educational, social justice, etc.) are collaborative, run by dioceses conjointly with Jewish organizations. If the Jewish organizations cut ties with the USCCB, those programs will end.
USCCB Replies to Requests for Clarification:
The bishops are preparing a response to the Jewish community that will be released by the end of this week. As you can imagine, many individuals and groups have sent written requests for clarification of the “Note” and “Recognitio” and “Backgrounder.” No responses have been given to these communications. However, people have approached staff members and others responsible for the earlier documents in private conversations as well as public meetings. The clarifications given are:
--The Mosaic covenant endures in so far as it is part of the “promises” fulfilled in Jesus.
Emphasis is placed on the covenant with Abraham and Sinai is seen as part of that, and thus fulfilled in Jesus.
--Faithful Catholics are always and in every circumstance to extend the invitation to baptism.
--When people inquire about the many Church documents released since Nostra Aetate, as well as papal statements, particularly those of John Paul II, they are told:
-Nostra Aetate is a minor conciliar document
-Subsequent documents are not authoritative
-Papal statements on the relationship of Judaism and Christianity are not
authoritative
Recommendation of the International Team:
The international team has worked very intensely, beginning on July 20. We monitored the situation, and came to the conclusion that we should recommend to you that you write the bishops and staff people as outlined above. I prepared a draft of a letter and submitted it to the team for their corrections, and then sent it to you and Maureen. I am sending it again as an attachment to the e-mail for you and the rest of the leadership team to use if it is helpful.
I am also attaching a list of the bishops and clergy to whom the letter should be addressed, along with their fax numbers. These are the people who have been directly involved in writing the “Note” and the “Backgrounder,” as well as the Bishops
Commission for Ecumenism and Interreligious Affairs.
I realize that the general team has only just returned from summer work, holidays and retreat. Please let me know if you have any questions. Please let us know of your decision.
With deep appreciation and much love to all of you,
Celia (for the international team)