What The Catholic Church Teaches About The Jews – Part 7
Jews Appearing In Public
The Catholic Church had many councils regarding how to handle the Jews, in the middle ages.
Moreover, the Popes issued many papal bulls regarding how to handle the Jews, in the middle ages.
These councils and bulls dealt with topics like Jews dressing in public and other issues.
In the middle ages, the Church demanded that Jews follow certain guidelines for appearing in public.
The Fourth Lateran Council, in 1215 AD, says:
Jews appearing in public
A difference of dress distinguishes Jews or Saracens from Christians in some provinces, but in others a certain confusion has developed so that they are indistinguishable. Whence it sometimes happens that by mistake Christians join with Jewish or Saracen women, and Jews or Saracens with Christian women. In order that the offence of such a damnable mixing may not spread further, under the excuse of a mistake of this kind, we decree that such persons of either sex, in every Christian province and at all times, are to be distinguished in public from other people by the character of their dress — seeing moreover that this was enjoined upon them by Moses himself, as we read. They shall not appear in public at all on the days of lamentation and on passion Sunday; because some of them on such days, as we have heard, do not blush to parade in very ornate dress and are not afraid to mock Christians who are presenting a memorial of the most sacred passion and are displaying signs of grief. What we most strictly forbid however, is that they dare in any way to break out in derision of the Redeemer. We order secular princes to restrain with condign punishment those who do so presume, lest they dare to blaspheme in any way him who was crucified for us, since we ought not to ignore insults against him who blotted out our wrongdoings.
Fourth Lateran Council, Canon 68
Here is an example of a yellow badge that Jews are required to wear:
Here is an example of the Jewish hat that Jews are required to wear:
Pope Innocent III also admonished the French King Philip II to enforce the Canon:
Although it be not displeasing to the Lord, but rather acceptable to Him, that the Jewish Dispersion should live and serve under Christian princes …they greatly offend in the sight of God’s Divine Majesty who prefer the offspring of the Crucifiers before those who are the heirs of Christ.…
On Good Friday…contrary to the law of old, they walk through the streets and public squares, and meeting Christians who everywhere according to custom go to adore the Crucifix, they deride them and strive to prevent them from this duty of adoration. We warn and exhort Your Serene Majesty in the Lord (adding the remission of your sins) that you force the Jews from their presumption … and see to it that due punishment be meted out to all such blasphemers, and that an easy pardon be not given to delinquents!
Etsi non displiceat
Moreover, in 1218 AD, Pope Honorius III upheld the ruling in the Fourth Lateran Council by admonishing the Archbishop of Toledo to obey.
A decade or so later, Pope Gregory IX also said:
In the Council of Toledo it was decreed that Jews of both sexes, and for all time, should be distinguished from others by their mode of dress. We therefore command that each and every one of you to have all the excesses of the Jews completely repressed… In this matter calling to your aid the help of the civil power, inflicting upon Christians, who offer opposition, due ecclesiastical punishment…
Bull. Rom. Pont., III, 497.
The Council of Florence, in 1434 AD, reaffirms:
[Jews] are to be compelled, under severe penalties, to wear some garment whereby they can be clearly distinguished from Christians…. On Sundays and other solemn festivals they should not dare to have their shops open or to work in public.
Council of Florence, Session 18
In 1442 AD, Pope Eugene IV also said:
All and every single Jew, of whatever sex and age, must everywhere wear the distinct dress and known marks by which they can be evidently distinguished from Christians…
Dundum Ad Nostram Audientiam
In 1555 AD, Pope Paul IV reiterated the Jewish dress code:
Since it is completely senseless and inappropriate to be in a situation where Christian piety allows the Jews (whose guilt—all of their own doing—has condemned them to eternal slavery) access to our society and even to live among us; indeed, they are without gratitude to Christians, as, instead of thanks for gracious treatment, they return invective, and among themselves, instead of the slavery, which they deserve, they manage to claim superiority….
[Therefore,]
…concerning the matter that Jews should be recognizable everywhere: [to this end] men must wear a hat, women, indeed, some other evident sign, yellow in color, that must not be concealed or covered by any means, and must be tightly affixed [sewn]; and furthermore, they can not be absolved or excused from the obligation to wear the hat or other emblem of this type to any extent whatever and under any pretext whatsoever of their rank or prominence or of their ability to tolerate [this] adversity, either by a chamberlain of the Church, clerics of an Apostolic court, or their superiors, or by legates of the Holy See or their immediate subordinates.
Cum nimis absurdum
But why did the Church require that Jews dress differently in public?
Since Christians and Jews don’t share the same values, the Church has always found it prudent to keep Christians and Jews from mixing.
Jews persecute and subvert Christians. They blaspheme the Lord in their Talmud.
They take advantage of Christians via usury.
Also, they kidnap and murder Christian children for blood Passovers.
And in general, they corrupt Christian society by pushing impurity.
In a Catholic State, they are required to wear yellow badges and hats for the same reason drunk drivers and sexual offenders are required to publicly identify: because they can be dangerous to Christians.
In conclusion, I will leave you with this quote from Our Lord:
