World Religions News

A Jewish woman burned to death on American soil. The violence wasn't random. It was ideological, premeditated, and still, almost no one says her name.

The post A Deafening Silence appeared first on Jewish Journal.

Whether you are planning a Fourth of July barbecue, an outdoor Shabbat or picnic-style meal, “light and delicious” is the goal.

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(RNS) — Some of my best friends are Christian ministers.

Could I pander any better than that?

My colleagues and I forged these friendships — not despite our theological differences, but because of them. Our differences are a sidebar because we share a larger worldview of service to both a community and a tradition.

Most of those clergy friendships are with mainstream, liberal Christian ministers, but I have also had relationships with evangelical ministers. We certainly disagree theologically, but we have great fun talking about methods of reaching out to our people. They have been among my teachers. 

When I learned of the death of the Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, at the age of 90, I tried to imagine what a relationship with him would have been like. I can imagine us talking about what it means to be a minister and to manage a religious community.

We lived in entirely different worlds — a world that “The Righteous Gemstones” satirized. In 1986, for example, I earned about $40,000. In that same year, he earned an estimated $142 million. 

Swaggart fell victim to his own hypocrisy and public disgrace, and his career never quite recovered. But his teachings constitute a master class in how some Christians relate to Judaism, how Jews can respond, and how Jews and Christians can walk and work together to heal the fissures that still exist. 

On the one hand, Swaggart praised Judaism. In 1986, for example, after a speech at his Family Worship Center, he said:

“I love the Jewish people. … When you have true love for a people … it comes as an abrupt shock when they don’t reciprocate …”

Why didn’t the Jews reciprocate Swaggart’s love adequately? Perhaps it was because he came after the television producer Norman Lear’s brand of Judaism:

“Norman Lear, I’m told, is an atheistic Jew. There’s nothing in the world any greater than to be a Jew, and nothing in the world any worse than being an atheistic Jew.”

Atheist or not, Lear was one of the most iconic secular Jewish figures of our time. He contributed immeasurably to our culture.

Christians need to understand a very simple, powerful truth: Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. It is simultaneously a religion and a people. For us, it’s “all in the family.”

But what was the meaning of the Jewish people to Swaggart? In his words:

“The Jewish people were raised up for the very purpose of bringing the Son of God into the world. Unfortunately, they did not recognize Him when He came, or, if they did, they refused to admit it and demanded that He be crucified as an imposter. For that act, they have suffered untold agony for nearly 2,000 years and have been scattered all over the world.”

To him, the entire purpose of the Jewish people was merely to have been “the womb of the Messiah.” Beyond that, there is not much use for us. And, beyond that, we have the old deicide charge — that the Jews, at the very least, collaborated in the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, and their suffering over the ages is apt punishment for their rejection of his message.

This is classic Christian theological anti-Judaism. The vast majority of Christians have abandoned this toxic theology. But some, alas, have not. It is the ever-present next horizon in interfaith conversation. 

Then, there were Swaggart’s views on Israel. He said in June 2024:

“All Jews in the world will accept Christ as their Savior and their Lord, realizing that the one whom they crucified was, in reality, their Messiah. … The formation of Israel as a state was and is a harbinger of this coming event. Truly, as it has been stated, Israel is God’s prophetic time clock.” 

Like other evangelical preachers, Swaggart spoke and wrote about the coming battle of Armageddon — “a battle designed to completely destroy Israel; however it is also designed for a far more important reason. It is for the Evil One, Satan himself, to become the god of the Universe …”

This is what many — but not all — Christian Zionists believe. Christian lobbyist Ralph Reed once told me that most Christian Zionists he knows support Israel because of the words of Genesis 12, God’s call to Abram/Abraham: “I will bless those who bless you. And curse the one who curses you.”

” … And, Rabbi,” he said to me, “We want that blessing!” 

This is the public face of Christian Zionism. I welcome such support, but not all of it is kosher. Some Christian Zionists see the establishment of the state of Israel as the first step in a great, eschatological drama that includes an apocalyptic war at the end of time.

Why should we worry about that now? This theology has present-day, real-world implications. It aligns itself with the worst versions of Jewish Zionism: an apocalyptic longing for the entirety of the land of Israel, and some very problematic policies.

Christian Zionists want God’s blessing, as promised to Abraham? Great. Come and get it. There is enough of God’s love to go around. 

But, to Swaggart’s disciples and colleagues: Don’t make the Jewish people a plaything in your end-of-days fantasy. You think that Oct. 7, 2023, had theological meaning for you? You are free to do so, of course. But Israel means the promise of life, not fantasies of death.

Swaggart was certainly one of the most colorful and most problematic religious figures in recent American history. I would like to imagine God greeting him and saying: “Jimmy, Jimmy, you got a whole lot of stuff wrong. … But I still love you.”

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — As record‑breaking heat waves scorch much of Europe — with triple‑digit temperatures, wildfires and deaths reported — the Vatican on Thursday (July 3) released a new liturgy for the Mass reflecting concern for the environment, offering prayers, readings and hymns that highlight the church’s responsibility to protect the Earth.

This new Mass “can be used to ask God for the ability to care for creation,” said Cardinal Michael Czerny, who heads the Vatican’s Dicastery for Integral Human Development, at a press conference.

The new Mass, Pro Custodia Creationis (For the Care of Creation), was initially ordered by Pope Francis, who made the environment a major theme of his papacy and the subject of his second encyclical, “Laudato Si’,” subtitled “On Care for Our Common Home,” in 2015.  

Pope Leo XIV has signaled that creation care will be a key area of interest for him as well and a point of continuity between Leo and his predecessors on social issues, especially the environment. Leo will celebrate the new Mass privately on Wednesday at the Borgo Laudato Si’, an eco-village Francis commissioned in the gardens of the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.

Pro Custodia Creationis will be added to the existing list of 17 Masses for special civil needs, which also include Masses for the harvest, rain and migrants, and it’s inspired by Francis’ “green” encyclical, which is celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year.

A collaboration between Czerny’s department, which is concerned in part with how climate change impacts vulnerable populations, and the Dicastery for Divine Worship, the new Mass is also inspired by St. John Paul II’s message for the World Day of Peace in 1990, which emphasized the relationship between humanity and creation.

“In a world where the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters are the first to suffer the devastating effects of climate change, deforestation and pollution, care for creation becomes an expression of our faith and humanity,” Czerny said.

At the start of the Mass, the entrance antiphon, the liturgy focuses on creation as a reflection of “the glory of God,” explained Monsignor Vittorio Francesco Viola, secretary of the Vatican’s liturgical department, at Thursday’s press conference.

The celebration culminates in the Eucharist, Viola explained, adding that after Communion, the prayer focuses on humanity’s connection with God, neighbors and the Earth, which was broken by sin according to Laudato Si’.

One reading from the Gospel of Matthew describes how God provides for “the lilies of the field and the birds of the air,” showing that God cares for all of creation. Another reading from the same Gospel tells of Jesus calming the storms. Both readings, Viola explained, focus on Christian believers’ responsibility to preserve the environment and push back against some Catholic interpretations of Genesis as empowering humans to subjugate nature to their own advantage.

Saying “this Mass is a reason for joy,” Czerny said, it “calls us to be faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us – not only in daily choices and public policies, but also in our prayer, our worship and our way of living in the world.”

Pope Leo XIV receives a drawing from a girl participating in the “Estate Ragazzi in Vatican” summer camp on July 3, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 3, 2025 / 14:00 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV visited the Paul VI Hall on Thursday to meet with about 310 children and adolescents participating in the “Estate Ragazzi in Vaticano” (summer camp for kids at the Vatican).

In addition, another 300 children and adolescents from Ukraine, hosted by Caritas Italy during the summer, participated in the encounter with Pope Leo XIV.

This is the sixth edition of this summer camp for the children of employees of the Holy See. The theme this year is “When the Other Person Is Everything.”

On July 3, shortly before noon, at the end of the audiences, the Holy Father continued with the tradition of visiting these little ones. He was received by the summer camp volunteers and later he spoke with the children, responding to some questions.

As he spoke with them, the pope shared some memories from his childhood, such as attending Mass, where he met other children and friends, but above all “the best friend of all, Jesus,” the Holy See said in a statement.

The pontiff also spoke about diversity and acceptance, and offered a few words of welcome in English to the Ukrainian children, emphasizing that “it’s important to respect one another, look beyond differences, to build bridges, create friendship; we can all be friends, brothers, sisters.”

Responding to a question about war, he explained that even from a young age, it is necessary to learn to be builders of peace and friendship, to not get into wars or conflicts, and to never promote hatred or envy.

He noted that “Jesus calls us all to be friends” and advised the children to “learn from a young age to have mutual respect, to see the other person as someone like myself.”

The children and adolescents offered the Holy Father some gifts they had made during the summer camp as well as drawings and artwork made by the Ukrainian children and adolescents.

At the end of the encounter, after taking group photos with them, Pope Leo XIV invited them to pray the Hail Mary together and gave his blessing to all those present.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Complaint Department

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CAIRO (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for a new 60-day ceasefire with Hamas and that Washington would work with both sides during that time to try to end more than 20 months of war in Gaza.

Neither side has accepted the proposal announced Tuesday by Trump, who has admonished Hamas that if the militant group does not buy into the offer, its prospects will get worse. It’s not clear what conditions Israel agreed to.

The efforts to reach a truce are unfolding in the wake of powerful Israeli and American strikes on nuclear sites in Iran, which has long supported Hamas, and just days before Trump is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington.

Here’s a look at the situation and the challenges it might present.

Details are murky

Details of the proposed ceasefire are just beginning to emerge. But rather than being completely new, the potential deal seems to be a somewhat modified version of a framework proposed earlier this year by Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Trump said Tuesday in a social media post that Qatar and Egypt have been working on the details and would deliver a final proposal to Hamas.

An Egyptian official involved in the ceasefire talks told The Associated Press that the proposal calls for Hamas to release 10 more hostages during the two-month period — eight on the first day and two on the final day. During that period, Israel would withdraw troops from some parts of Gaza and allow badly needed aid into the territory.

The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. The group is believed to still have some 50 hostages, with fewer than half of them thought to be alive.

The Egyptian official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters, said a sticking point over how aid would be distributed had been resolved with Israel.

He said both sides have agreed that the United Nations and the Palestinian Red Crescent would lead aid operations and that the Israeli- and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund would also continue to operate.

Hamas has been weakened

The unraveling of Iran’s regional network of proxies, capped by the blow inflicted on Iran during the recent 12-day war with Israel, has left Hamas weaker and more isolated in the region. Iran was a key backer of the militant group, but its influence has waned, and it’s now preoccupied with its own problems.

At the same time, Trump has made it clear to Israel that he wants to see the Israel-Hamas war end soon. While he has been supportive of Netanyahu, Trump had tough words for Israel in the opening hours of last week’s ceasefire with Iran, when he pressured Israel to scale back its response to an Iranian missile attack. That could help persuade Hamas to embrace a deal.

A diplomat briefed on the talks said there is now a “big opportunity” to reach an agreement. “The indications we’re getting are people are ready.”

He said Trump’s harsh talk toward Israel has “given a bit of confidence to Hamas” that the U.S. will guarantee any future deal and prevent a return to fighting. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because he was discussing behind-the-scenes diplomatic contacts.

Israeli military positions and future talks pose obstacles

The Egyptian official said Israel has not yet agreed to a proposal to withdraw its forces to positions held in early March after a previous ceasefire officially expired. Since then, the Israeli army has seized large swaths of Gaza to put pressure on Hamas, and it’s not clear whether Israel is ready to return to those same positions.

An Israeli official characterized the agreement as a 60-day deal that would include a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a surge in humanitarian aid to the territory.

The mediators and the U.S. would provide assurances about talks on ending the war, but Israel is not committing to that as part of the latest proposal, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the details of the deal with the media and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Egyptian official said Hamas will have to review the proposal with other factions before submitting an official response.

One point that does seem to have been ironed out is the question of who will administer Gaza.

Israel has said Hamas cannot run the territory, and the Egyptian official said the proposal would instead put Gaza under a group of Palestinians without political affiliations known as the Community Support Committee once a ceasefire is reached.

Potentially complicating the effort, Netanyahu reiterated his hard-line position Wednesday, vowing that “there will be no Hamas” following the 60-day ceasefire plan.

Previous ceasefire did not last

A previous ceasefire agreed to in January established three phases, but the two sides never made it past phase one.

During that time, however, there were multiple exchanges of Hamas-held hostages for prisoners held by Israel, and critical humanitarian aid was able to reach Gaza.

When phase one expired on March 1, Israel sought to extend it while Hamas argued that phase two should go ahead as planned.

The second phase would have compelled Hamas to release all the remaining living hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

That was always seen as difficult, because it would have forced Israel to choose between its two main war goals — the safe return of the hostages and the annihilation of Hamas.

On March 18, Israel broke the ceasefire with new airstrikes and resumed hostilities.

In Gaza, residents expressed hope that this time, a ceasefire will bring an end to the war.

“We are seriously tired,” said Asmaa al-Gendy, who has been living in a tent camp in Deir al Balah with her two children. The family has been displaced and starved and endured “every form of torture in the world.”

___

Rising reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, contributed to this report.