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Father Edward Flannery R . I. Jewish Histor i c a l Associ a t i on 1 1 1 30 session s s tree t p rov i d e n ce , RI 02 906 THE ONLY ENGLISH-.JEWISH WEEKLY IN R.I. AND SOUTHEAST MASS. VOLUME LXXIII, NUMBER 46 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1986 , 35¢ PER COPY Vowing To Avoid Rifts, Father Edward Flannery: Bridging Shamir Takes The Helm The Gap In Catholic/Jewish Relations by Curtis Wilkie strive for the goals set by the by David Pagliaro JERUSALEM Yitzhak Government of National Unity to Special To The Rhode Island Shamir took over as prime strengthen the economy and to Herald minister of Israel, delivering a improve relations with Arab If one were to look at the past message to the Knesset in which nations. accomplishments of a very special he pledged that his government With inflation rates cresting individual which include having "will refrain from divisiveness and annually at 1,000 percent, the spoken in well over three hundred extremism." Coalition Government was formed synagogues or Jewish centers, the Shamir said the National Unity out of desperation following an researching of Jewish history over Government, which he is election in 1984 in which neither a thirty year period and the scheduled to head for the next 25 bloc could gain enough votes to writing of a book titled, Anguish of months, would continue the peace form a parliamentary majority. the Jews, it could be difficult not initiatives of his predecessor, The economy was a top priority, to think of this man as being Shimon Peres. and the two-parties - which had possibly a rabbi or Jewish leader. According to the coalition battled each other throughout The irony of it all is that the above agreement signed by the Likud Israel's modern history are credited to one Catholic priest. Bloc led by Shamir and Peres' cqoperated on an austerity In fact since becoming involved Labor Alignment, the two men program. The latest estimate by with the Jewish religion exchanged positions half way the Treasury predicts an inflation approximately thirty years ago, through the 50-month term. Peres rate for 1986 of only 16 percent. Father Edward H. Flannery has became foreign minister Shamir hailed the coalition's received numerous distinguishing yesterday, but there was little work in the economic sphere and awards and citations both here significant change in the said his government would be and abroad for his work within the 25-member cabinet that has ruled committed "to lowering inflation Jewish community. He is Israel since the 1984 compromise. to the level that is accepted in currently among only a handful of At Shamir's insistence, Yitzhak well -run countries." He called for individuals across the country who Modai - who was forced out of a "Zionist economy" where there are considered experts on the cabinet by Peres - returned would be enough jobs to "permit Catholic/Jewish relations, and has as minister without portfolio. new immigrants to live and earn a visited Israel on six occasions. Shoshana Arbeli-Almozlino living in this country," reversing a Father Flannery's forte being became the first woman minister trend where many talented Jewish history. since the late Golda Meir, taking Israelis have been moving out of Celebrating his fiftieth year This story that he was referring Education of the Clergy in over as minister of health to the Jewish state. anniversary as a clergyman in the to was the historic account of how Providence, Rhode Island. replace her labor colleague, The economy Shamir said he Catholic church next year, Father the Jews were murdered and In 1985, at the age of 74, Father Mordechai Gur, who refused to envisioned would be based on Flannery, 74, recently spoke about persecuted in the name of the Flannery was again sought for his serve under Shamir. In another Zionist values, "among them the his appointed position as director cross during the Christian indepth knowledge and was change unrelated to the coalition supreme value of sentiment of the newly created office for crusades beginning in the twelfth appointed director of the first agreement, Zevulun Hammer will throughout Eretz Israel." His call Catholic/Jewish relations for the century in Europe. As a person full-time office for be the National Religious Party's for new settlements in the Diocese of Providence and how he raised in the Christian culture, Catholic/Jewish Relations by the minister of religious affairs, occupied territories, which he became involved with Judaism, Father Flannery said he was never Most Reverend Louis E. Gelineau, replacing Yosef Burg. considers part of the biblical land Father Flannery, a tall soft taught this part of history because for the Diocese of Providence. The Knesset, which is of Israel raises the possibility of a spoken man, credits his fledgling Catholic historians omitted such Already involved within the dominated by members of the conflict with Peres, who blocked interest in the Jewish religion to image destroying facts. In his community, Father Flannery Likud and labor movements, the establishment of new Providence and to an episode book, Anguish of the Jews, this co-founded the Priest-Rabbi endorsed the cabinet submitted by settlements while he was prime which happened to him while missing information is referred to Dialogue Luncheons of R.I. in Shamir, leaving only the minister. working in New York City in 1965. as "A page torn out," by Father 1982. formalities where Shamir was to But Shamir was conciliatory in It was December he said, when Flannery. When askeil what he thought present Israel's 22nd government his speech to the Knesset. He said he and two friends, a young Jewish Moved by this discovery, Father the newly created office will to President Chaim Herzog. Israel wanted peace with its Arab couple soon to be married, were Flannery said he decided that the accomplish, Father Flannery neighbors and would like to ensure Wide Margin walking past the Grand Central full story should be told, only this responded, "That depends on two "a li fe of dignity" for Arabs living The vote in the Knesset was 82 building on 52nd Street, where a time, though, by a Christian. t hings, me and my clients," in favor of the new government, in the occupied territories of the huge cross composed of lighted Conveying his feelings and what referring to Catholic and Jews. with 17 opposed and three West Bank, which Shamir refers windows was being displayed for he had learned to Monsignor John Over the years, he said he has abstaining. to as "Judea and Samaria," and the Christmas holiday season. Oesterreicher, director of t he found a great earnestness and Although Shamir's political the Gaza Strip. He said he hoped Upon seeing the cross Father Institute of Christian/Judeo reciprocity among the Jewish background is hard-line - he the Palestinians under occupation Flannery said the young girl Studies at Seton Hall University, religious leaders in trying to open opposed the Camp David Accords would eventually be able "to run turned to him and said, "that cross New Jersey, Father Flannery was up a dialogue with Catholics. their affairs by themselves," but and favors more Jewish makes me shudder." Asking her asked to write for its annual Rather than putting forth one settlements in occupied Arab he indicated that first they must what she meant, she said, "It's like publication, The Bridge. The concerted effort by the Jews, territories - he was able to break with the Palestine an evil presence." Knowing she yearbook dealt with Father Flannery said he has coexist for more than two years Liberation Organization and other was not anti-Christian, Father understanding Jewish/Catholic witnessed separate initiatives by with Peres. Shamir promised to resistance groups. Flannery quickly realized that the relations. different factions of the Jewish girl was confiding in him and Accepting the offer, he secured a religion, adding that sometimes unburdening herself, possibly for contract with the publishing they even compete with one the first time, to a Christian, of a company, MacMillan of New York another in trying to communicate great deep feeling of fear and and proceeded to write Anguish of with the Catholic clergy. hatred she had held for the Jews: Twenty three years of Concerning Catholics, Father Christianity. Antisemitism, published in 1965. Flannery said the level of dialogue Father Flannery said he had a The book, now in its second between the two religions will also notion of what she meant, printing, has won six awards and depend upon how receptive tbe knowing there existed a has been translated into three Diocese of Providence will be, its separation between Catholi c and languages. priests and fellow Christians. If Jews, partially caused by In that same year, the Vatican the interaction between the two anti-Semitic feeling on the one Council in Rome decided to create religions fo ll ows past experiences, hand and feelings of resentment the first full -time office dedicated he expects to find an on the other. But what troubled to Catholic/Jewish relations. "indifference" in the Catholic him, was that "As a well educated Because of the publicity he was clergy. An indifference, be said, Christian, I could not initially receiving from his new book and created by our own Christianity think of sufficient reason for the his notoriety as an expert on the theology. Up until 1965, most gi rl 's negative response to a subject matter, Father Flannery documents and attitudes held by familiar and accepted symbol." was asked to become the office's the Catholic Church have been Thinking of how such a great first executive secretary for hostile towards Judaism.
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