Christian Anti-Semitism: Past History, Present Challenges: Reflections in Light of Mel Gibson\u27s The Passion of the Christ

A contemporary film on anti-Semitism describes this centuries-long social disease as a shadow over the cross. Recent Catholic documents have spoken in even stronger language. In 1989 the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace insisted that Harboring racist thoughts and entertaining racist attitudes is a sin. And it clearly included anti-Semitism in its list of continuing manifestations of racist ideologies that are to be regarded as sinful. In point of fact, it terms anti-Semitism the most tragic form that racist ideology has assumed in our century. My assignment here today is to present an overview of post biblical anti-Semitism, following up on Professor Hamm\u27s analysis of forms of anti-Semitism in the New Testament

Benedict XVI and the Jews: Change or Continuity?

3rd Annual Lecture in Jewish-Christian Engagement… Rev. John Pawlikowski, Professor of Social Ethics at the Catholic Theological Union; Director of the Catholic-Jewish Studies Program at the Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Center, Chicago.https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/bennettcenter-posters/1271/thumbnail.jp

Mapping H4K20me3 onto the chromatin landscape of senescent cells indicates a function in control of cell senescence and tumor suppression through preservation of genetic and epigenetic stability

Background: Histone modification H4K20me3 and its methyltransferase SUV420H2 have been implicated in suppression of tumorigenesis. The underlying mechanism is unclear, although H4K20me3 abundance increases during cellular senescence, a stable proliferation arrest and tumor suppressor process, triggered by diverse molecular cues, including activated oncogenes. Here, we investigate the function of H4K20me3 in senescence and tumor suppression. Results: Using immunofluorescence and ChIP-seq we determine the distribution of H4K20me3 in proliferating and senescent human cells. Altered H4K20me3 in senescence is coupled to H4K16ac and DNA methylation changes in senescence. In senescent cells, H4K20me3 is especially enriched at DNA sequences contained within specialized domains of senescence-associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF), as well as specific families of non-genic and genic repeats. Altered H4K20me3 does not correlate strongly with changes in gene expression between proliferating and senescent cells; however, in senescent cells, but not proliferating cells, H4K20me3 enrichment at gene bodies correlates inversely with gene expression, reflecting de novo accumulation of H4K20me3 at repressed genes in senescent cells, including at genes also repressed in proliferating cells. Although elevated SUV420H2 upregulates H4K20me3, this does not accelerate senescence of primary human cells. However, elevated SUV420H2/H4K20me3 reinforces oncogene-induced senescence-associated proliferation arrest and slows tumorigenesis in vivo. Conclusions: These results corroborate a role for chromatin in underpinning the senescence phenotype but do not support a major role for H4K20me3 in initiation of senescence. Rather, we speculate that H4K20me3 plays a role in heterochromatinization and stabilization of the epigenome and genome of pre-malignant, oncogene-expressing senescent cells, thereby suppressing epigenetic and genetic instability and contributing to long-term senescence-mediated tumor suppression

Book Review: Walking Together

Joseph Sievers and Miriam Girardi, eds., Walking Together: Jews and Christians in Dialogue in Rome, Jerusalem, and Buenos Aires; Camminare insieme: Ebrei e Cristiani in dialogo a Roma, Gerusalemme e Buenos Aires. Rome: Tipografia Citta Nuovà della P.A.M.O.M, 2013. Pp. 219 (111 [English]; 108 [Italian]), 17 Euros

Moving the Christian-Jewish Dialogue to a New Level: Can it Happen?

No abstract is available

Le pape Jean-Paul II et les relations entre les chrétiens et les juifs : Son héritage, nos défis

Jean-Paul II s’est exprimé et a publié plus dans un but constructif que n’importe quel pape avant lui. Il considérait le judaïsme comme partie intégrante de l’identité chrétienne. Pour lui, l’Église et le peuple juif sont profondément liés, mais il n’a hélas jamais développé cette thématique de façon compréhensive. Sa vision n’a donc jamais pénétré complètement la théologie chrétienne. Il a aussi fait preuve d’une grande considération pour les liens du peuple juif avec Israël et a finalement établi des relations formelles entre l’État juif et le Vatican. De même il a montré beaucoup de sensibilité envers la souffrance du peuple juif pendant la Shoah, ainsi que ses remarques introductives au document de 1998 sur la Shoah, We Remember le prouvent clairement.John Paul II spoke and wrote more in a constructive vein than any other Pope in history. He saw Judaism as integral to Christian identity. For Him the church and the Jewish People are deeply bonded. Unfortunately he never developed this theme in a comprehensive way. Thus his views never penetrated overall contemporary Christian theology. He also showed great appreciation for the Jewish People’s link to Israel and finally established formal relations between the Jewish state and the Vatican. He likewise demonstrated a deep sensitivity for Jewish suffering during the Shoah as his introductory remarks for the 1998 Vatican document on the Shoah We Remember clearly reveal