No Revolution in Cincinnati: Jewish-Catholic Relations in the Era of Vatican II

Abstract

In the common narrative of Catholic-Jewish relations in the twentieth century, the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate) is considered the beginning of an era of mutual respect. But Nostra Aetate was not of equal importance everywhere. The example of Cincinnati, Ohio, demonstrates how Catholics and Jews had largely set their religious differences aside to focus on joint contributions to civic life. While Catholics and Jews differed sharply on the relationship between state and religion and the First Amendment's correct interpretation, they found common cause to work together in addressing centuries-old discrimination against African Americans. This case study of Jewish-Catholic relations shows that local histories, local problems, and local solutions can tell historians more about interfaith relations than global theological declarations.