Christian Conversion of Jews?

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In the aftermath of the Shoah and a renewed Christian appreciation of the Jewish people's covenantal life with God, the question has arisen if Christians ought to continue long-standing efforts to try to persuade Jews to accept baptism into the Christian community. In the Catholic community this question arose with particular intensity after the August 2002 publication of an American dialogue document called Reflections on Covenant and Mission and the February 2008 promulgation of a revised Tridentine Rite Good Friday prayer for Jews. Pope Benedict XVI addressed the question directly in a 2011 book. Most recently in a 2017 video, Pope Francis repeadedly stressed that dialogue becomes a sham if conversion is its goal. Other Christian communities, particularly in Evangelical traditions, have also been grappling with the issue. 

 

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List of articles in category Should Christians Seek to Convert Jews?
Title Date Author
"Neither of us attempted to convert the other." June 14, 2017 Written by Pope Francis & Rabbi Abraham Skorka
A Declaration concerning Christians and Jews as Witnesses of God's Faithfulness November 9, 2016 Written by The Evangelical Church in Germany
Jews and Christians: Perspectives on Mission September 1, 2011 Written by Lambeth-Jewish Forum
Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct June 28, 2011 Written by World Council of Churches, Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, World Evangelical Alliance
Covenant and Witness May 24, 2011 Written by Hebraic Heritage Christian Center
Church should not pursue conversion of Jews, pope says March 10, 2011 Written by John L. Allen, Jr.
The Times of the Gentiles March 10, 2011 Written by Pope Benedict XVI
Jewish outreach: No time to 'stand still' July 20, 2010 Written by Adam Miller, Baptist Press News
Absp Koch: Tridentine prayer not a call to mission to Jews July 17, 2010 Written by Patricia Biel, Le Temps
Catholics pray for 'Jews' conversion' April 4, 2010 Written by Lisa Palmieri-Billig
Should Jews proselytize? Should anyone? March 14, 2010 Written by Brad Hirschfield
Reflections on the August 2008 "Berlin Declaration on the Uniqueness of Christ and Jewish Evangelism in Europe Today" of the Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance March 2, 2010 Written by Executive Board, International Council of Christians and Jews
Letter from IJCIC to Pope Benedict XVI on His Visit to the Great Synagogue of Rome January 25, 2010 Written by Internation Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations
Reply from Cardinal George to Various Letters October 21, 2009 Written by Cardinal Francis George
Jewish Interfaith Leaders Respond to Bishops' Letter of Oct. 2 October 13, 2009 Written by National Jewish Interfaith Leadership
Bishops Clarify Statement on Dialogue with Jewish Community October 6, 2009 Written by USCCB Office of Media Relations
US Bishops' Reply to Jewish Letter of Concern October 2, 2009 Written by Francis Cardinal George, et al.
Statement of Principles for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue October 2, 2009 Written by Francis Cardinal George, et al.
Letter of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion to Several American Bishops September 15, 2009 Written by Sisters of Our Lady of Sion
Op-Ed: "A Precarious Moment in Catholic-Jewish relations" September 13, 2009 Written by ADL: Abraham H. Foxman
"A Counter-Revolution in Jewish-Catholic Ties" August 28, 2009 Written by J.J. Goldberg
"Vatican stays out of Catholic 'mission' conflict" August 25, 2009 Written by AP: Matthew Wagner
National Jewish Interfaith Leadership Letter on USCCB "Note on Ambiguities" August 18, 2009 Written by National Jewish Interfaith Leadership
Response to Statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on Covenant, Mission, and Dialogue July 8, 2009 Written by David Berger and Fabian Schonfeld
"Catholic-Jewish Dialogue Examines Note on Covenant and Mission" July 1, 2009 Written by USCCB Office of Media Relations
NCR: "New Rows Deepen Old Ruts in Catholic-Jewish Relations" June 23, 2009 Written by John L. Allen, Jr.
ADL Troubled by U.S. Bishops' Statement that Appears to Green Light Missionizing of Jews June 22, 2009 Written by Anti-Defamation League
"Revised Catholic Statement on Conversion Worries Jews" June 19, 2009 Written by RNS: Kevin Eckstrom
"USCCB Clarifies Key Points From Reflections On Covenant And Mission Statement (2002)" June 18, 2009 Written by USCCB Office of Media Relations
"A Note on Ambiguities Contained in 'Reflections on Covenant and Mission'" June 18, 2009 Written by Committee on Doctrine and Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, USCCB
Statement of the Jewish Members of the Discussion Group "Jews and Christians" June 16, 2009 Written by Jewish Members of the "Jews and Christians" Discussion Group of the Central Committee of German Catholics
Address to Pope Benedict XVI May 12, 2009 Written by Yona Metzger
"An Open Message to the Pope" May 11, 2009 Written by Shear Yashuv Cohen
"The Church's Commitment to Christ and the Christian-Jewish Dialogue" May 5, 2009 Written by Chairman of the German Bishops Conference
Preface to the 2nd Edition of "No to Mission to the Jews - Yes to Dialogue between Jews and Christians" May 4, 2009 Written by Hanspeter Heinz
Catholic Church Sticks to its Position on Mission to the Jews April 16, 2009 Written by Gernot Facius
"The Church's Confession of Christ in the Christian-Jewish dialogue" April 14, 2009 Written by Gerhard Ludwig Mueller
"No to Mission to the Jews, Yes to Dialogue Between Jews and Christians" March 9, 2009 Written by Discussion Group "Jews and Christians," Central Committee of German Catholics
"The Berlin Declaration on the Uniqueness of Christ and Jewish Evangelism in Europe Today" August 22, 2008 Written by Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance
Letter from the Secretary of State of the Holy See to the Chief Rabbinate of Israel May 14, 2008 Written by Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone
"Striving for Mutual Respect in Modes of Prayer" April 16, 2008 Written by Walter Cardinal Kasper
Communiqué from the Secretariat of State on the Tridentine Good Friday Prayer April 4, 2008 Written by Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone
"Judaism's Way to Salvation" March 29, 2008 Written by Christoph Cardinal Schönborn
The Gospel and the Jewish People - An Evangelical Statement March 28, 2008 Written by World Evangelical Alliance
New Tridentine Rite Good Friday Prayer for Jews February 5, 2008 Written by Benedict XVI
"Reflections on Covenant and Mission" July 1, 2005 Written by Edward Idris Cardinal Cassidy
"The Relationship of the Old and the New Covenant as One of the Central Issues in Jewish-Christian Dialogue" December 6, 2004 Written by Walter Cardinal Kasper
Joint Statement October 19, 2004 Written by Vatican-Israeli Rabbinate Bilateral Commission
"To the Editors" Correspondence between Avery Cardinal Dulles and Luke Timothy Johnson February 28, 2003 Written by Avery Cardinal Dulles and Luke Timothy Johnson
"Christians and Jews: Starting Over — Why the Real Dialogue Has Just Begun" January 31, 2003 Written by Luke Timothy Johnson
Jewish Week: "Conversion Diversion" November 15, 2002 Written by Eric J. Greenberg
"The Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews: A Crucial Endeavour of the Catholic Church" November 6, 2002 Written by Walter Kasper
"Covenant and Mission" October 21, 2002 Written by Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J.
"Theology's 'Sacred Obligation': A Reply to Cardinal Dulles" October 21, 2002 Written by Mary C. Boys, Philip A. Cunningham, and John T. Pawlikowski
Thoughts on Jews and Judaism (interview excerpts) October 6, 2002 Written by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
"All Israel Will Be Saved" October 6, 2002 Written by Francis Martin
Reflections on Covenant and Mission August 12, 2002 Written by BCEIA-NCS Consultation
Statement on Jewish-Christian Dialogue June 25, 1996 Written by New York Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic Bishops
Resolution on Jewish Evangelism June 12, 1996 Written by Southern Baptist Convention
"Study Outline on the Mission and Witness of the Church" March 28, 1977 Written by Tommaso Federici