NEWS STORY: Israel, Vatican sign accord on church’s legal status

c. 1997 Religion News Service VATICAN CITY _ Israel and the Vatican signed an accord Monday (Nov. 10) granting full legal rights to the Roman Catholic Church in Israel, a step expected to improve the ties established in 1994 with mutual diplomatic recognition. The deal, which awaits a vote in Israel’s parliament, in many respects […]

c. 1997 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY _ Israel and the Vatican signed an accord Monday (Nov. 10) granting full legal rights to the Roman Catholic Church in Israel, a step expected to improve the ties established in 1994 with mutual diplomatic recognition.

The deal, which awaits a vote in Israel’s parliament, in many respects formalizes what has long been understood _ the Catholic Church, like other Christian denominations, has a right to religious freedom.


But both sides said the legal status granted to the church is more than cosmetic. In fact, one of the outstanding issues is the financial status of the church, whose property and personnel have long been exempt from taxation. That status is next on the agenda of negotiators.

Nonetheless, for the first time in Israeli history _ or in the 500 years Catholics have had undefined status in the Holy Land _ the minority Catholic Church will be recognized as a legal entity. It will have the rights of autonomy in conducting its affairs and the right to seek redress in Israeli courts on issues in which the church has an interest.

The deal also gives Israel something it has long desired _ recognition by the Holy See that Israeli law is sovereign.”It’s no small achievement to register Catholic institutions with Israel as the sovereign legal entity,”Rabbi David Rosen, director of the Anti- Defamation League in Israel, said in an interview.”This is the first time that any sovereign power has given any Christian body a special formal status under its law,”Rosen said.”Until now the status of churches have been privileges. Now these are no longer privileges but rights enshrined under Israeli law.” Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the agreement”constitutes a precious legal defense for the Catholic Church in Israel. One can take satisfaction with the signing of this new accord.” Aharon Lopez, Israel’s ambassador to the Holy See, said the agreement, signed at a small Jerusalem ceremony by Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy and Nuncio Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo,”is an important milestone between the Holy See and the state of Israel.” The deal, entitled the”Legal Personality Agreement,”stems from work begun in 1993 by the church and the Jewish state to establish relations and work to improve ties between the Jewish people and the Catholics.

Under the technical agreement, laid out in 13 articles, the church and its personnel are granted legal rights to freely operate places of worship and institutions, such as seminaries. The church is required to abide by its canon law. It is also obliged to follow Israeli law in its external affairs.”Extraterritorial”status routinely given to embassies is not granted, meaning that church personnel do not have diplomatic immunity.

Left unclear, however, is Israel’s right to protect its security inside church institutions. The parties agreed to an unwritten accommodation, which officials said would involve assessing particular incidents.

The accord also did not resolve financial issues. Church institutions and personnel now enjoy tax exemption. Officials said that issue is likely to be resolved shortly.

Lopez said the agreement had wider repercussions. He said it would encourage Jews and Catholics to work toward easing anti-Semitism, and expressed hope a long-awaited Vatican document on anti-Semitism in Catholic teachings would further that healing process.”There is still a long way to go but still, what has been achieved already is remarkable, especially considering the very long dark period that existed for the past 2,000 years,”he said.


Navarro-Valls said he hoped the agreement would be a”stimulus and encouragement for the search for peace, justice and security between Israel and the Palestinian people and between Israel and other states in the region.” The accord may pave the way for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land that Pope John Paul II has expressed a desire in making and Israel has long sought.”We are ready whenever the Holy See will be ready,”Lopez said.”I’m sure he will find the time to visit before the next millennium.” However, Vatican officials have said they do not want a papal trip to be seen as endorsing Israel’s position that Jerusalem remain an undivided city, a position Navarro-Valls underscored Monday.”Whoever exercises sovereignty over Jerusalem, whether alone or with others, must adhere to a special internationally guaranteed statute regarding protection of the highest religious and cultural values that exist there,”he said.

MJP END HEILBRONNER

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