http://news.smh.com.au/rabbis-dismayed-over-catholic-prayer/20080213-1rzf.html

A US assembly representing conservative rabbis worldwide is concerned about a revised Roman Catholic prayer calling for the conversion of Jews.

The Vatican has been asked to clarify the prayer's meaning.

The Rabbinical Assembly, which represents 1,600 Conservative rabbis worldwide, said it was "dismayed and deeply disturbed to learn of reports that Pope Benedict XVI has revised the 1962 text of the Latin Mass, retaining the rubric, 'For the conversion of the Jews.'"

Reforms in the 1960s led to the church dropping references to conversion of Jews in Good Friday prayers and were seen by many Jews and Catholics as "affirming that God's covenant with the Jewish people has never been revoked," the rabbis said.

They have institutionalised racism in Israel if you're not Jewish, so who really gives two runs about a prayer calling for conversion? Isn't that the goal of a Christian, to help people see the 'light' and accept Jesus as their saviour? That's just religious freedom isn't it?

They should stop being so offended, they get their own damn country and go around saying how they are God's chosen people and better than everyone else, they also get automated traffic lights in Bondi so they don't have to 'work' on Saturdays and press the button at the crossing.

Get over it. At least they're not calling for their extermination like certain others.

easel wrote on Feb 13^th, 2008 at 7:04pm:

They have institutionalised racism in Israel if you're not Jewish.

FACT.

also non jews cannot marry jews. you cannot own land if you are not jewish.

I always thought that 'Jewish' was a religion rather than a race. Even here in Queensland, some discrimination on the basis of religion is permitted- for example Catholic Schools can discriminate in favour of Catholic teachers.

wrote on Feb 19^th, 2008 at 1:36pm:

I always thought that 'Jewish' was a religion rather than a race. Even here in Queensland, some discrimination on the basis of religion is permitted- for example Catholic Schools can discriminate in favour of Catholic teachers.

Yes it is a religion, spanning many races, but the main and original race of jews is the Semetic or 'Arab'. Jews obviously consider their religion to be a 'race' judging by how they protect it so brutally.

The term 'Jewish' refers to both a religion and a race. You can be jewish in a racial sense but not in a spiritual sense, though the opposite is rather difficult.

OK, so maybe it's a different use of the word race from the conventional term. What about the black jews of Ethiopia? Are they members of the same Jewish race ? (you don't have to answer that)

Considering that it's matrilineal, I can't see how Judaism could possibly be defined as a race. The mitrochondrial DNA doesn't define racial characteristics.

In my view, there is only only race- the human race, but that shouldn't be used as an excuse to discrimnate between people who happen to look different. You can relax. I'm not a racist.

I get your point about the matrilineal thing. That is a more correct way of describing it than saying it is a race.

In my view, there is only only race- the human race

That's a species, not a race.

wrote on Feb 19^th, 2008 at 1:00am:

also non jews cannot marry jews. you cannot own land if you are not jewish.

First sentence is misleading, second sentence is wrong.

freediver wrote on Feb 20^th, 2008 at 11:58am:

I get your point about the matrilineal thing. That is a more correct way of describing it than saying it is a race. In my view, there is only only race- the human race That's a species, not a race.

The term species is unfortunate. We are too focussed in saving species as opposed to populations. You can blame Darwin for that.

My statement was not intended to be taxonomically accurate. I am perfectly aware of the distinctions.

Races are indistinct and have changed considerably in character over a relatively short time period. There is no such thing as a pure race. There never was. We are all related to each other.

The way the word tends to be used by the general public is misleading.  

The bible istelf outlines that it is not a necessity for jews to convert as they still have the old covenant with god.

the new covenant was made by jesus to be easier than the old one, and thats why we pray for the conversion of jews. The religion of judaism is almost impossible to fufill, christianity is alot more simple and human, they both have the same result (in catholic belief).

I dont see a need thuogh for the prayer,