Catholic leaders call on Christians to join fight against antisemitism

• Published date: 22 February 2023
• Publication title: Israel National News (Israel)

The event was hosted by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) to celebrate Monsignor Giuseppe Placido Nicolini's heroic actions in helping save hundreds of Jewish lives during the Holocaust by allowing Jews fleeing Nazi deportation to be housed in the Italian city of Assisi, what has been termed as the "Assisi Network."

"Sadly, in our day, we are witnessing a troubling increase in hate-filled anti-Semitic language and acts of violence against Jews in the U.S. and elsewhere," said Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago. "Christians can not just be alarmed by Antisemitism. We must look to the example of Bishop Nicolini and band together in a network of support and protection."

"We have come to recognize the deep harm that Antisemitism causes and a better understanding of its roots. We must create the kind of network in Assisi that saved the lives of Jews, but also saved the humanity of those who saved them."

The event highlighted the history of Catholic-Jewish relations since the Holocaust and the importance of strengthening those bonds in the face of rising Antisemitism.

"May today's event help us 'Never Again' to choose violence against our brothers and sisters in the human family," said Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. "'Never Again' to turn a blind eye to such violence being enacted in our midst."

"Each one must be our brother's keeper, and act accordingly," said Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus. "The Catholic Church condemns and combats Antisemitism in all of its forms and is totally committed in fighting it as one of mankind's oldest, most pernicious and most destructive forms of bigotry and hate."

"Combatting Antisemitism also means combating its causes and identifying them. These include social distress, uncertainty, fear, and the scapegoat mechanism," said Father Manuel Barrios, Secretary General of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union. "We must acknowledge that we are all brothers and sisters, we belong to the same human family and are called together to take care of one another. This is the cure for many of the evils that are afflicting our world today."

The mission of the CAM event centered...