Contemporary Catholic Approaches to the People, Land, and State of Israel

by Gavin D'Costa (Editor), H.B. Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Preface), Faydra Shapiro (Editor)

"This unique collection of essays from leading Catholic theologians from the United States, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, England, and the Middle East reflect on the theological status of the land of Israel. These essays represent an exhaustive range of views. None avoid the new Catholic theology regarding the Jewish people. Some contributors see this as leading towards a positive theological affirmation of the state of Israel, while distancing themselves from Christian Zionists. All contributors are committed to rights of the Palestinian people. Some affirm the need for strong diplomatic and political support for Israel along with equal support for Palestinians, arguing that this is as far as the Church can go. Others argue that the Church's emerging theology represents the guilt conscience of Europe at the cost of the Palestinian people. None deny the right of Jews to live in the land. Two Jewish scholars respond to the essays creating an atmosphere of genuine interfaith dialogue which serves Catholics to think further through these issues"--

336 pages, Paperback

Published April 29, 2022

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that could not have been published in the last 25 years due to the sensitivity of the topic and the ongoing establishment of trust to create dialogue between the Catholic Church, Israel, and Palestinians. But there’s just too many authors in the compilation who are still exemplifying that “conservative” stance that is just not ready to deal with the conflict at large. The book doesn’t feel as if it adequately addresses the neocolonialist suppression of Palestinians or the fundamental flaws that have deteriorated prior peace negotiations. Much of its theological basis revolves around the maintenance of the current Israeli state but it’s need for social and political reform, without ever questioning the very means for the foundation of the country itself. I think if Catholics are to be arbiters in the theological discourse, as the book would suggest, then the authors need to expand on their works to address their own faith’s role in colonialism and antisemitism (which, to be frank, does address the latter more directly than the former), while also expanding on their ideas of peace and reconciliation - meaning historically and structurally. Some of the authors seem open to such conversations, especially the Jewish reflective thinkers and those in the social justice sections. But some seem to continue to avoid the challenge, such as those who claim the theological must be separated from the political. But, overall, the book is a phenomenal insight into the Catholic theological juxtaposition over the land, state, and people of Israel.