The World : No Vatican Apology to Jews

The Roman Catholic Church is not ready to consider asking the forgiveness of Jews for centuries of religious persecution, said Cardinal Johannes Willebrands, co-chairman of a synod of bishops meeting at the Vatican. At a press conference, he explained: “We need much more confidence between the two communities (Roman Catholic and Jewish) before we feel a church declaration would be well understood and well received. . . . Otherwise, it would not be accepted as real.” He also said that the synod, convened to assess reforms initiated by the Second Vatican Council, is not the proper forum to consider the issue despite a petition from a group of Italians who called for the apology.