Hypocrites in the synagogue: Belgian television under fire

The Belgian Jewish community is trying to censor televised broadcasts of Catholic masses on Belgium's national television network. Under fire is the reading of a passage of Matthew 6, regarding hypocrites in the synagogue.

Matthew 6:2

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

De Standaard, the leading Dutch language newspaper in Belgium, reports that this was read during a televised church service on March 1st. The Jewish community was shocked and sent an official protest to the direction of the VRT (Flemish Radio and Television). "We hardly dare to give our opinion," says Michael Freilich, editor in chief of Joods Actueel (a Dutch-language Jewish journal) "especially after the criticism we got when we gave our opinion regarding a column in Man bijt hond (Man bites dog - a television programme). However, we want to open the debate because we do not find it amusing when such things are being said during a televised mass." They ask the VRT to think about broadcasting masses during which controversial passages are being read. "We are not saying that the VRT or the Church are malevolent when they broadcast a reading in which we are called hypocrites. We do not ask that the gospel be censored. But what happens when people are watching this broadcast who can't put such a reading in a historic context? Muslims, for example. Maybe, such controversial passages should simply be avoided on television. Or they should be explained." Because they were afraid to be portrayed once again as "angry Jews," they have asked for support from non-Jews. They got it from Dirk Verhofstadt, the brother of Belgium's former prime minister. "I find it shocking to see how the priest reads this paragraph as if it was the most normal thing to do," says Verhofstadt. "I wonder if this man has actually read this properly. That he doesn't doesn't explain it afterwards, is questionable." The VRT has already replied to the Jewish community: "It is impossible for us to comment on a text from the gospel. If this must be done, it is the responsibility of the Church." Leena Demeester, the person responsible for the VRT worship services says that the criticism is completely unfair. "One does not interfere with someone else's religion," she says. "The Catholics don't do that, and neither do the protestants. If the Jews have a problem with this, they should not write to the VRT, but to Rome." ----- All interviews were in Dutch. The passages were translated by me, Bart B. Van Bockstaele.