Paris Archbishop Andre Vingt-Trois warned during a visit to
Israel last week against "an outbreak of antisemitism in
Europe" and promised that Catholics would assist the Jews and
defend them.
Although the Cardinal did not state it explicitly, he was
referring to suburban Arabs around Paris. Recently several
Jews have been attacked by Arabs in schools.
Vingt-Trois' remark caught reporters by surprise. Nobody had
expected such a pro-Jewish declaration from the head of the
French Church.
The Archbishop may have had his own considerations. According
to recent studies not many Catholics are left in France and
the churches stand empty, while the streets are filled with
Muslims bowing down in worship. The Muslim threat has the
Catholics scared, too.
Before there were Muslims in Europe the situation was
different. A group of Belgium historians published a report
filled with incriminating evidence that Belgium collaborated
with the Nazis. "The government had sympathy for the Nazis
based on a xenophobic and sometimes anti-Semitic culture of
the ruling elite," reads the study, title "Docile Belgium."
(See separate story.)
The Archbishop's promise continues to raise eyebrows and the
Vatican has expressed surprise at the remarks. Pro-
Palestinian organizations in Paris of course condemned Vingt-
Trois' visit, accompanied by 600 Catholics. The Archbishop
was invited by the Ministry of Tourism.
According to Le Monde, Church groups in Jerusalem
called it a "pathetic, one-sided trip in light of the
suffering of the Palestinian people."
