[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 260 Received in Senate (RDS)]


109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 260


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 8, 2005

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Recognizing the 40th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council's 
 promulgation of Nostra Aetate, the declaration on the relation of the 
Roman Catholic Church to non-Christian religions, and the historic role 
    of Nostra Aetate in fostering mutual interreligious respect and 
                               dialogue.

Whereas 2005 marks the 40th anniversary of the promulgation of Nostra Aetate, 
        the declaration on the relation of the Roman Catholic Church to non-
        Christian religions;
Whereas on October 28, 1965, after the overwhelmingly affirmative vote of the 
        Second Vatican Council of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Paul VI issued 
        Nostra Aetate, which means ``in our time'';
Whereas Nostra Aetate affirmed the respect of the Roman Catholic Church for 
        Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism, and exhorted Catholics to engage 
        in ``dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions'';
Whereas Nostra Aetate made possible a new relationship between Catholics and 
        Jews worldwide and opened a chapter in Jewish-Christian relations that 
        is unprecedented in its closeness and warmth;
Whereas Nostra Aetate states that the Roman Catholic Church ``decries hatred, 
        persecution, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any 
        time and by anyone''; and
Whereas Nostra Aetate clearly states that ``No foundation therefore remains for 
        any theory or practice that leads to discrimination between man and man 
        or people and people, so far as their human dignity and the rights 
        flowing from it are concerned.'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) recognizes the 40th anniversary of the Second Vatican 
        Council's promulgation of Nostra Aetate, the declaration on the 
        relation of the Roman Catholic Church to non-Christian 
        religions;
            (2) appreciates the role of the Holy See in combating 
        religious intolerance and religious discrimination;
            (3) encourages the United States to continue to serve in a 
        leading role in combating anti-Semitism and other forms of 
        religious intolerance and religious discrimination worldwide;
            (4) acknowledges the role of Nostra Aetate in fostering 
        interreligious dialogue and mutual respect, including, in 
        particular, new relationships of collaboration and dialogue 
        between Jews and Catholics since the issuance of Nostra Aetate; 
        and
            (5) requests the President to issue a proclamation 
        recognizing the 40th anniversary of Nostra Aetate and the 
        historic role of Nostra Aetate in fostering mutual 
        interreligious respect and dialogue.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 7, 2005.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.

                            By Gerasimos C. Vans,

                                                          Deputy Clerk.