For Zion’s Sake: Why two Catholic theologians are taking a stand for Israel

Two Catholic theologians, Father Antoine Lévy and Dr. André Villeneuve, launched 'For Zion's Sake: A Catholic Appeal in Support of Israel' to counter anti-Israel sentiment in Catholic circles. The appeal rejects supersessionism, affirms God's covenant with the Jewish people, and defends Catholic Zionism. It references the 1904 Herzl-Pope Pius X meeting and criticizes the Vatican's silence on antisemitism. The document has signatures from theologians and priests.

Father Antoine Lévy and Dr. André Villeneuve have launched 'For Zion's Sake: A Catholic Appeal in Support of Israel,' a coordinated initiative to counter growing anti-Israel sentiment within Catholic circles. The appeal, discussed on the Inspiration from Zion podcast, emerged from frustration with Catholic voices portraying opposition to Israel as a moral and doctrinal imperative. It rejects supersessionism, affirming God's irrevocable covenant with the Jewish people and the biblical connection between the people and the land. The document addresses the question of whether a faithful Catholic can be a Zionist, defining Zionism as the Jewish people's right to self-determination. It explicitly rejects caricatures of Christian Zionism and calls for a balanced approach supporting Israel's right to exist while upholding justice for all. The authors criticize the Vatican's silence on threats to Israel and antisemitism, drawing parallels to Pope Pius XII's silence during the Holocaust. They also call out figures like Candace Owens and Carrie Prejean Boller for spreading antisemitic tropes. The appeal has garnered numerous signatures from theologians and priests, with a 'Friends of' section for non-Catholics.