The following comment to my earlier post about the Pope’s demand that Bishop Williamson recant his denial of the Shoah, inspires me to publically seek partners among leaders of the Catholic Church, both clergy and lay, for a new kind of interfaith conversation. I look forward to the responses.

Gerard Nadal
February 5, 2009 10:58 AM
Rabbi,
This post, as your others, reflects that you are a man of prayer and deep reflection. The spirit of the Lord is clearly with you. Why are you not at the forefront of interfaith relations with my Church? Count me as one very grateful Catholic for your pastoral wisdom.
God Bless!

Dear Gerard,
Thanks for the exaggerated praise. I know that you offer it sincerely and that touches my heart very deeply, as well as giving me a goal.
I want to state publically that I share your desire for greater personal participation in work with your church. We must break out of the negotiating sessions and build genuine relationships which are deeper than whatever divides us. There will always be differences, even occasionally painful ones, in the relationship between Judaism and the Church. Such is the case with all siblings.
In fact, it is precisely because siblings love and need each other, that the divisions are so painful. But those divisions need not be divisive when we remind ourselves that the only thing bigger than our occasional pain and frustrations with one another, is the love shared between the siblings. I invite you and any other reader to help me make that happen.
If you open the doors into the Church, I pledge to walk through them wherever they exist and whenever I am able.
Blessings