Church of England repents of past anti-Semitism that led to Holocaust

The tool for teaching on Christian-Jewish relations, which has been three years in the making acknowledges the substantial role Christian theology has played in the stereotyping and persecution of Jewish people which ultimately led to the Holocaust.

The document, “God’s Unfailing Word” is the first authoritative statement on the subject from the Anglican Church and speaks of historic attitudes towards Judaism which have provided a “fertile seed-bed for murderous antisemitism”.

The Church’s Faith and Order Commission urges Christians to repent not only for the “sins of the past” but also to challenge active attitudes and stereotypes towards their Jewish neighbours.

“The attribution of collective guilt to the Jewish people for the death of Christ and the consequent interpretation of their suffering as collective punishment sent by God is one very clear example of that,” the report states.

“Within living memory, such ideas contributed to fostering the passive acquiescence if not positive support of many Christians in actions that led to the Holocaust.

“Christians have been guilty of promoting and fostering negative stereotypes of Jewish people that have contributed to grave suffering and injustice.”

The document encourages Anglicans to savour and respect the “unique” connection between the two faiths in their worship of one God, referring to the Christian-Jewish…