What The Catholic Church Teaches About The Jews – Part 11
Creating Ghettos And The Expulsion Of The Jews
The Catholic Church had many councils regarding how to handle the Jews, in the middle ages.
Moreover, the Popes issued many papal bulls regarding how to handle the Jews, in the middle ages.
These councils and bulls dealt with topics like the expulsion of the Jews and other issues.
Next, we will cover the consistent tendency of the medieval Popes to create ghettos and expel Jews from everywhere but those ghettos.
Even though he wasn’t a Pope, St. Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, expelled the Jews from Alexandria in 415 AD because they massacred Christians.
Also, in the 10th century, Pope Leo VII allowed Archbishop Frederick of Mainz to expel the Jews who refused to convert, saying:
Let the Gospel be preached to them and, if they remain obstinate, let them be expelled.
Regesta pontificum romanorum, vol.I:3597, Jaffe, Leipzig: 1888
Moreover, in 1253 AD, Pope Innocent IV allows the Archbishop of Vienne to expel the Jews.
Also, in the early 1320s, Pope John XXII expelled the Jews from Comtat Venaissin.
Furthermore, the Council of Florence, in 1434 AD, says:
In order to prevent too much intercourse, [Jews] should be made to dwell in areas, in the cities and towns, which are apart from the dwellings of Christians and as far distant as possible from churches.
Council of Florence, Session 18
In 1442, Pope Eugene IV also said:
We decree and order that from now on, and for all time…. They cannot live among Christians, but in a certain street, separated and segregated from Christians, and outside which they cannot under any pretext have houses…
Dundum Ad Nostram Audientiam
Moreover, in 1555, Pope Paul IV created a ghetto in Rome:
Since it is completely senseless and inappropriate to be in a situation where Christian piety allows the Jews (whose guilt—all of their own doing—has condemned them to eternal slavery) access to our society and even to live among us; indeed, they are without gratitude to Christians, as, instead of thanks for gracious treatment, they return invective, and among themselves, instead of the slavery, which they deserve, they manage to claim superiority….
[Therefore,]
Desiring firstly, as much as we can with [the help of] God, to beneficially provide, by this [our decree] that will forever be in force, we ordain that for the rest of time, in the City as well as in other states, territories and domains of the Church of Rome itself, all Jews are to live in only one [quarter] to which there is only one entrance and from which there is but one exit, and if there is not that capacity [in one such quarter, then], in two or three or however many may be enough; [in any case] they should reside entirely side by side in designated streets and be thoroughly separate from the residences of Christians….
Moreover, concerning the matter that Jews should be recognizable everywhere: [to this end] men must wear a hat, women, indeed, some other evident sign, yellow in color….
Moreover, these Jews are to be limited to the trade of rag-picking, and they cannot trade in grain, barley or any other commodity essential to human welfare.
Cum nimis absurdum
Also, in 1569, Pope St. Pius V expelled the Jews from the Papal States, except for Rome and Ancona:
The Jewish people fell from the heights because of their faithlessness and condemned their Redeemer to a shameful death. Their godlessness has assumed such forms that, for the salvation of our own people, it becomes necessary to prevent their disease. Besides usury, through which Jews everywhere have sucked dry the property of impoverished Christians, they are accomplices of thieves and robbers; and the most damaging aspect of the matter is that they allure the unsuspecting through magical incantations, superstition, and witchcraft to the Synagogue of Satan and boast of being able to predict the future. We have carefully investigated how this revolting sect abuses the name of Christ and how harmful they are to those whose life is threatened by their deceit. On account of these and other serious matters, and because of the gravity of their crimes which increase day to day more and more, We order that, within 90 days, all Jews in our entire earthly realm of justice — in all towns, districts, and places — must depart these regions.
Hebraeorum gens
Furthermore, Pope Clement VIII, re-expelled the Jews from the Papal States, in 1593, after Pope Sixtus V let them back in 1586.
The Jews stayed expelled from the Papal States, and confined to their ghetto in Rome, until 1870, when the Papal States were taken by the Kingdom of Italy.
Everyone Kicks The Jews Out, Eventually
In addition to the Popes kicking out the Jews, several Christian kings have also expelled the Jews from their kingdoms.
Additionally, I have seen lists that suggest that Jews were expelled from countries 109 times, 1030 times, and even 1043 times throughout history!
I haven’t dug into each of these cases, but suffice to say, the Jews have been expelled many times.
And if you ask the Jews, they will always say because they were the victim.
Let’s be honest here: We all know those people that play the victim…
When we get to know people like this, is it ever the case that they are perpetually the victim, or is it always the case that these people are just toxic?
You know the answer to that question!
Now, what do you think about a whole group of people that have consistently maintained that they are the victim for the past 2000 years?
Yeah, I don’t buy it either… But the question is: Why have they been kicked out of so many places?
What could they have possibly done to warrant virtually everyone giving them the boot?
We will get to that, but first, we will cover how the Church has not changed its perpetual teachings on the Jews.
In conclusion, I will leave you with this quote from Our Lord:
