[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 119, 109th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

119 STAT. 3673

 
SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL'S
NOSTRA AETATE--40TH ANNIVERSARY RECOGNITION
NOTE: Nov. 10, 2005 -  [H.Con.Res.260]
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.

Agreed to November 10, 2005.