John M. Oesterreicher
Encyclopedia
Monsignor John Maria Oesterreicher, born Johannes Oesterreicher (February 2, 1904 – April 18, 1993) was a Roman Catholic theologian and a leading advocate of Jewish-Catholic reconciliation. He was one of the architects of Nostra Aetate
or "In Our Age," which was issued by the Second Vatican Council
in 1965 and which repudiated antisemitism.
Oesterreicher was born a Jew in Stadt Liebau (now Město Libavá) in Moravia
(then part of Austria
and now the Czech Republic
). He was a convert to Catholicism who became a Roman Catholic priest in 1927.
He served as a chaplain in Gloggnitz
and there he founded the local Scout group
and served at its chaplain.
He was active as an anti-Nazi activist in the 1930s. In 1934 he founded the newspaper Die Erfüllung ("The fruition") in order to improve the relation between Judaism
and Christianity
and to fight against antisemitism. He founded together with Georg Bichlmair SJ the Pauluswerk in Vienna. The Pauluswerk was a community for Converts from Judaism to Roman Catholicism and prayed for Christianization of Jews.
After the broadcast of Schuschnigg's resignation, Johannes Österreicher went to his office and burned all the correspondence, because he was aware, that the Gestapo would scan him, his office and home. So he saved quite some people who were involved in the Jewish-Christian understanding. John M. Oesterreicher said "Maybe Iniitzer would have been more successful, when the told Hitler "I am here to pay respect to you, but I will not hand the Austrian church over to you", as the Gestapo rewarded when people did not show fear.
His parents Nathan and Ida Oesterreicher, b. Zelenka were caught bei the Nazis and died in Theresienstadt and Auschwitz.
He fled Austria at the time of the German Anschluss
, or annexation of Austria, in 1938.
Based initially in Paris, he condemned the Nazis in weekly broadcasts and writings. He fled to the U.S. after the German invasion of France in 1940.
Oesterreicher founded the Institute of Judaeo-Christian
Studies at Seton Hall University
in 1953. He was appointed a Papal Chamberlain
, with the title of monsignor, in 1961. In the 1960s, Oesterreicher was in a group of 15 priests who petitioned the Vatican to take up the issue of antisemitism.
Oesterreicher is probably best known for his involvement in drafting Nostra Aetate
. The statement rejected antisemitism and repudiated the notion that Jews were responsible for the persecution and death of Jesus Christ. It stated that even though some Jewish authorities and those who followed them called for Jesus' death, the blame for this cannot be laid at the door of all those Jews present at that time, nor can the Jews in our time be held as guilty.
The statement thus repudiated the historic charge of deicide, which is a basis of antisemitism. It stated that "the Jews should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God."
Oesterreicher was strongly pro-Israel and advocated improved relations between Catholics and the Jewish state. However, he was not always a supporter of Israeli government policies.http://christianactionforisrael.org/action/lovewill.html
He was the author of several books and numerous scholarly articles. His books include The New Encounter Between Christians and Jews; Racism, Anti-Semitism, Anti-Christianism; and God at Auschwitz?
--Monsignor John M. Oesterreicher, quoted by James C. O'Neill, Our Sunday Visitor, July 10, 1983
Nostra Aetate
Nostra Aetate is the Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions of the Second Vatican Council. Passed by a vote of 2,221 to 88 of the assembled bishops, this declaration was promulgated on October 28, 1965, by Pope Paul VI.The first draft, entitled "Decretum de...
or "In Our Age," which was issued by the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
in 1965 and which repudiated antisemitism.
Oesterreicher was born a Jew in Stadt Liebau (now Město Libavá) in Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
(then part of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and now the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
). He was a convert to Catholicism who became a Roman Catholic priest in 1927.
He served as a chaplain in Gloggnitz
Gloggnitz
Gloggnitz is a mountain town in the Neunkirchen district of Lower Austria, Austria.Gloggnitz is situated in the south-western part of the Vienna Basin in Lower Austria. It is surrounded by the highest mountains in Lower Austria, Mount Rax and Mount Schneeberg...
and there he founded the local Scout group
Scout Group
The Scout Group is the local organisation for Scouting in most countries where it is active. It combines together the different sections into a single body. Scout Groups can consist of any number of sections in the different Age Groups in Scouting and Guiding...
and served at its chaplain.
He was active as an anti-Nazi activist in the 1930s. In 1934 he founded the newspaper Die Erfüllung ("The fruition") in order to improve the relation between Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
and Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and to fight against antisemitism. He founded together with Georg Bichlmair SJ the Pauluswerk in Vienna. The Pauluswerk was a community for Converts from Judaism to Roman Catholicism and prayed for Christianization of Jews.
After the broadcast of Schuschnigg's resignation, Johannes Österreicher went to his office and burned all the correspondence, because he was aware, that the Gestapo would scan him, his office and home. So he saved quite some people who were involved in the Jewish-Christian understanding. John M. Oesterreicher said "Maybe Iniitzer would have been more successful, when the told Hitler "I am here to pay respect to you, but I will not hand the Austrian church over to you", as the Gestapo rewarded when people did not show fear.
His parents Nathan and Ida Oesterreicher, b. Zelenka were caught bei the Nazis and died in Theresienstadt and Auschwitz.
He fled Austria at the time of the German Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
, or annexation of Austria, in 1938.
Based initially in Paris, he condemned the Nazis in weekly broadcasts and writings. He fled to the U.S. after the German invasion of France in 1940.
Oesterreicher founded the Institute of Judaeo-Christian
Studies at Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
in 1953. He was appointed a Papal Chamberlain
Papal chamberlain
Papal chamberlain was one of the highest honours that could be bestowed on a Catholic layman by the Pope, and was often given to members of noble families. It was mostly an honorary position, but a chamberlain served the Pope for one week per year during official ceremonies...
, with the title of monsignor, in 1961. In the 1960s, Oesterreicher was in a group of 15 priests who petitioned the Vatican to take up the issue of antisemitism.
Oesterreicher is probably best known for his involvement in drafting Nostra Aetate
Nostra Aetate
Nostra Aetate is the Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions of the Second Vatican Council. Passed by a vote of 2,221 to 88 of the assembled bishops, this declaration was promulgated on October 28, 1965, by Pope Paul VI.The first draft, entitled "Decretum de...
. The statement rejected antisemitism and repudiated the notion that Jews were responsible for the persecution and death of Jesus Christ. It stated that even though some Jewish authorities and those who followed them called for Jesus' death, the blame for this cannot be laid at the door of all those Jews present at that time, nor can the Jews in our time be held as guilty.
The statement thus repudiated the historic charge of deicide, which is a basis of antisemitism. It stated that "the Jews should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God."
Oesterreicher was strongly pro-Israel and advocated improved relations between Catholics and the Jewish state. However, he was not always a supporter of Israeli government policies.http://christianactionforisrael.org/action/lovewill.html
He was the author of several books and numerous scholarly articles. His books include The New Encounter Between Christians and Jews; Racism, Anti-Semitism, Anti-Christianism; and God at Auschwitz?
A quote
"Nobody says anything against the Egyptian authorities for oppressing the Coptic Christians. No one protested vehemently against the forced closing of St. Joseph's College years ago in Iraq, nor against the laws in Jordan prior to 1967 which prohibited Christians from acquiring new property. If Israel did any of these things, everyone would cry bloody murder, from the authorities in Rome to Catholics all over the world... This is prejudice."--Monsignor John M. Oesterreicher, quoted by James C. O'Neill, Our Sunday Visitor, July 10, 1983