Against Catholic Zionism, by Matthew A. Tsakanikas

By Matthew A. Tsakanikas, Crisis Magazine, Aug. 6, 2024

Dr. Matthew A. Tsakanikas is a professor at Christendom College. His publications can be found in: Communio: International Catholic Review, Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture, Catholic World Report, and his Substack, catholic460.substack.com.

For orthodox Christians, in no way can the establishment of a modern State of Israel be confused with the fulfillment of the promises given to Abraham because Jesus is the true fulfillment of those promises.

In 2018, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI addressed in an essay how the Vatican historically came to accept the idea of a modern State of Israel. It was only on the grounds of it being a modern constitutional State and operating according to international law. He emphasized the decision was not done without a “theological doctrine” and explained:

[at the core of this Christian doctrine] is the conviction that a theologically-understood state—a Jewish faith-state [Glaubenstaat] that would view itself as the theological and political fulfillment of the promises [given to Abraham]—is unthinkable within history according to Christian faith and contrary to the Christian understanding of the promises [given to Abraham about the Land].¹  …

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