Two Jews Resign From Suspended Vatican Commission

JERUSALEM, Nov 2, 01 (CWNews.com) - Two Jewish members of a Catholic- Jewish commission examining the Vatican's actions during World War II have resigned their positions, the Jerusalem Post reported on Friday. However, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the papal nuncio in the Holy Land, said resigning from a commission who work has been suspended is nothing more than propaganda.

Hebrew University professor Robert Wistrich and Bernard Suchecky of the University of Brussels announced their resignations, saying the Vatican had obstructed their inquiry into the Vatican's actions during the Holocaust by not opening up confidential records.

The joint commission was established in 1999 with the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations appointing three members and the Vatican appointing three. Their mandate was to study the available records and publish a report, but almost immediately the group focused on unpublished material in the archives, much of which pertains to sensitive, sacramental matters. The commission suspended its work in July when it was refused access to those records.

Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs
2. november 2001