On March 11, 2019, Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago and Chancellor of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, took part in the 24th Annual Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Jerusalem Lecture at DePaul University. Cardinal Cupich delivered remarks addressing the growing concern over Anti-Semitism both in Europe and the United States of America. This is the fourth time that the Cardinal has specifically spoke about the Christian responsibility to fight attitudes of hate, such as Anti-Semitism in the past year. His remarks can be found at https://www.archchicago.org/cardinal-cupich-s-statements
Less than a month ago, Cardinal Cupich issued a statement again condemning anti-Semitism as incompatible with the Christian faith. No one who professes Christ can hate others, especially the people from whom the Savior came.
Fr. Thomas Baima, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, also spoke at the academic event, giving a brief history of the lecture and honoring the leadership of the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue in Chicago.
The address was given by Dr. Malka Simkovich, Crown-Ryan Chair of Jewish Studies, director of the Catholic-Jewish Studies program at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and Core Faculty member of Drisha Institute. Dr. Simkovich offered a brief overview of Jewish attitudes toward Christianity highlighting recent statements by leading rabbis and scholars from across the Jewish spectrum, making room for honest and serious discussion of theological differences between Judaism and Christianity.
The Bernardin-Jerusalem Lecture is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago, American-Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, Chicago Board of Rabbis, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, and Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership.
