In the words of Maggie Thatcher, is the charitable organization Catholic Near East Welfare Association getting wobbly on us? (Or, shall I say, going Maryknoll on us?) It's understandable that an organization that aids Palestinians - mostly Christians but also Muslims - would not be a big fan of Israel. I suppose you take on the scent of those near you. But the articles seem to be needlessly provocative unless I'm just uncommonly sensitive and looking for bias. One line says, "And in Palestine, the Israeli occupation, with its bombing raids, targeted assassinations and everyday humiliations..." Another line: "[One child] had two brothers in an Israeli jail." Not good, but perhaps justified?
In fairness, there is one line that went "Israeli children fear riding on public buses, a frequent target of Muslim extremists' suicide attacks.". (Though, come to think it, interesting that the word terrorist is avoided. Has that become passe'? In this article there is Israeli violence but only a "Muslim extremist" counterpart.) No doubt there is bad behavior on both sides and if you're writing from the Palestinian side you're only going to see what impacts you. But still...
Far more provocative is how in the same issue the Secretary General of CNEWA is getting iffy and wobbly on the issue of conversion:
Suppose I’m a Jew looking at the teaching of Jesus and attracted to it. Is there any way for me to integrate it into my life, remaining a Jew by identity and a member of a Jewish community? Privately, it may be possible. But, publicly it would be a kind of consorting with a historical enemy. Some try it, for example, Jews for Jesus. But, how do you embrace Jesus without replacing all the customs and practices of Judaism with the foreign customs and practices of one of the Christian churches?Shocking, because isn't he saying in effect that customs and practices are more important than embracing Jesus? Whoa Nellie. The scandal of particularity still obtains: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life".
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