German Cardinal Reinhard Marx condemned anti-Semitism and called for Christians and Jews to unite against it during a Nov. 3 panel, the Jerusalem Post reports.
The German Bishops Conference and Orthodox Rabbinical Conference of Germany panel, which featured Central Council of Jews in Germany head Josef Schuster, European Commission Coordinator on Combating Anti-Semitism Katharina von Schnurbein, Orthodox Rabbi Conference’s Rabbi Julian Chaim Soussan and North Rhine-Westphalia Chief Minister Armin Laschet in addition to Marx – centered on rising anti-Semitism in Germany and Europe in light of the shooting at a synagogue in Halle during Yom Kippur. Marx, who is the head of the German Bishops Conference, said that he was concerned about more people delving into “conspiracy theories” from various “blogs” that radicalize them into becoming anti-Semites. He called for Christians and Jews to become allies.
“Anti-Semitism is an attack on us all,” Marx said. “Christians and Jews will never separate again. That, too, must be clear in our training centers. We need experience and sensitivity in this field.”
He also pointed out that “Jesus was a Jew, until the end. He never became a Catholic,” according to the Berlin Spectator.
Marx’s remarks echoed Christians United for Israel founder Pastor John Hagee’s comments during a panel at the 2018 Israel-American Council (IAC) conference. Hagee said that an anti-Semitic Christian is a “hypocrite,” arguing that anti-Semitism doesn’t comport with Christian values.
“A Christian is someone who’s driven by the love of God, and anti-Semitism is driven by hate,” Hagee said. “Love and hate do not come from the same blood.” He later added, “Judaism does not need Christianity to explain its existence. But Christianity cannot explain its existence without Judaism.”
StandWithUs CEO and Co-Founder Roz Rothstein tweeted, “Thank you, Cardinal Reinhard Marx (of Germany) for saying ‘Anti-Semitism is an attack on us all! Christians and Jews will never separate again,’ – wish there were more people like you.”
Thank you, Cardinal Reinhard Marx (of Germany) for saying “Antisemitism is an attack on us all! Christians and Jews will never separate again,” -wish there were more people like you. https://t.co/KOLNKoPh03
— Roz Rothstein (@RozRothstein) November 5, 2019
