Continued from p. 1 is that the responsibility for Christ's death falls upon sinful mankind. It was to atone for the sins of every man that the Son of God willingly offered Himself on the Cross. The part the Jewish leaders of Christ's day played in bringing about the crucifixion does not exclude the guilt of all mankind.
But the personal guilt of these leaders cannot be charged to the whole Jewish people either of His time or today. It is therefore unjust to call this people "deicide" or to consider it "cursed" by God. St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans. declared that God has not rejected the people whom He has chosen.
The document goes on to affirm that the Church can never forget that it was from Abraham's stock that Christ, His Blessed Mother and the Apostles were born.
In keeping with its objectives. the Council document does not deal with the various causes of antiscmitism. However. it does indicate that the sacred events of the Bible and. in particular. its account of the crucifixion, cannot give rise to disdain or hatred or persecution of the Jews.
Preachers and catechists. the text states. are admonished never to present a contrary position; furthermore, they are urged to promote mutual understanding and esteem.
The Secretariat statement accompanying the document says that the draft cannot be called proZionist or anti-Zionist since it considers these as political questions and entirely outside of its religious sco pc.
In fact, any use of the text to support partisan discussions or particular political claims or to attack the political claims of others would be completely unjustified and contrary to every intention of those who have composed it and presented it to the council.