Bishops condemn antisemitism after New Jersey shooting

Washington D.C., Dec 13, 2019 / 16:00 pm

The U.S. bishops' conference on Friday condemned the antisemitic shooting at a kosher market in Jersey City earlier this week, reiterating the Church's absolute condemnation of antisemitism.

"The recent attack on a kosher market in Jersey City, alongside many other recent hateful and at times violent actions, have highlighted the importance of, once again, publicly condemning any and all forms of antisemitism whether in thought, word or action," said Bishop Joseph Bambera of Scranton, chair of the U.S. bishops' ecumenical and interreligious affairs committee, on Friday.

"The past has taught us silence and passivity can result in the advancement of the worst crimes humanity can commit," he said.

On Tuesday, two gunmen fatally shot a police detective in Bay View Cemetery in Jersey City, New Jersey, before entering the nearby Jersey City Kosher Supermarket and shooting four civilians inside, killing three.

After a shootout of several hours, police entered the market and found the two suspects dead;  a pipe bomb was discovered in the U-Haul truck of the shooters parked outside the market.

Bishop Bambera on Friday pledged the Church's "irrevocable commitment to the Jewish community."

"At the Second Vatican Council, in Nostra Aetate, the Catholic Church articulated, 'Mindful of the inheritance she shares with the Jews, the Church decries hatreds, persecutions, and manifestations of antisemitism directed against Jews at any time and by anyone,'" the bishop stated.

"We offer our prayerful support for all victims of antisemitic violence and their families."

The two suspects in the shooting reportedly expressed anti-Semitic views online and appeared sympathetic to the Black Hebrew Israelite group, recognized as a hate group. The shootings are reportedly being investigated as domestic terrorism with a hate-crime bent.

Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-chair of the Congressional Anti-Semitism Task Force, said on Friday the shooting is "yet another wake-up call like the anti-Semitic slaughter in Pittsburgh that demands we redouble efforts to combat anti-Semitism." The October, 2018 shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh killed 11.

"Even though Jewish people comprise approximately 2 percent of the U.S. population, the disproportionate number of hate crimes against Jews is absolutely appalling," Smith said, noting that anti-Jewish crimes made up more than 57% of hate crimes motivated by religious bias, in the 2018 FBI Hate Crimes Report.