Anti-Defamation League 'distressed' over beatification of German nun

Published: 2004-06-08

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League has expressed its "great distress" over the Vatican's plans to beatify a 19th-century stigmatic nun whose visions the league says fomented hatred and anti-Semitism. In a June 7 press release, the ADL said the beatification of German Sister Anne Catherine Emmerich "could cause harm to Jewish-Christian relations." The league said many of the scenes it found troubling in Mel Gibson's film, "The Passion of the Christ," were inspired by Sister Emmerich's book of visions, "The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," which added detailed episodes to the Gospel account of Christ's suffering and death. Vatican experts, however, have questioned whether Sister Emmerich actually wrote the book. "The disturbing conclusion that could be drawn from this beatification is that her anti-Semitic views, even if only attributed to her, are being discounted," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL national director.

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