A study examining American Catholics’ views on Jews, Judaism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has revealed that while a majority hold favorable opinions of Jews, many remain unaware of church teachings on these topics.
According to UCA News, the research, presented at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, surveyed 1,241 U.S. Catholics. Over half (54.2%) reported positive views of Jews, while 41.5% were neutral or uncertain. Interestingly, 36% of respondents believed that Jews have a special relationship with God, and 42% agreed that God’s covenant with the Jews is still valid, reflecting post-Second Vatican Council Catholic teachings.
The majority of participants did not blame Jews for Jesus’ crucifixion, and 61.7% believed that Catholics should discuss religion with Jews without attempting to convert them. Social contact with Jews was found to improve Catholic perceptions, with over 61% of respondents being more likely to have Jewish friends and recognize their special relationship with God.
However, the study also highlighted a general lack of awareness or uncertainty about church teachings on Jews and Judaism among respondents, with 61.3% admitting unfamiliarity with these teachings.
While most Catholic respondents were neutral or uncertain about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, U.S. evangelicals from an earlier study predominantly supported Israel.
The researchers suggested that examining Catholics from other regions would offer a broader understanding of the global reception of Second Vatican Council teachings.
