Cardinal Keeler reflects on a career in Catholic-Jewish relations

Published: 2006-03-30

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore remembers when, as a young priest in the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pa., his boss, Bishop George Leech, instructed him to go in the bishop's stead to ecumenical and interfaith gatherings. That's how Cardinal Keeler, a past president of the U.S. bishops and a member of their Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, got his start in Catholic-Jewish relations. The cardinal offered a glimpse of his ministry between Jews and Catholics during a March 29 forum at Congregation Adas Israel in Washington. Cardinal Keeler was the first Catholic cleric to appear in the synagogue's eight-year-old "Quebec Street Forum," named for the Washington street where Adas Israel is located. In the forum's format, the guest is first interviewed by a journalist before taking questions from the audience. Washington Post reporter Hannah Rosin conducted the interview.

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