Full Breakdown
Jewish Scholar Elected Catholic Biblical Association President Amid Antisemitic Backlash
8/29/2026, 1:06:06 AM
Election and Immediate Reaction
The Catholic Biblical Association of America announced earlier this month that Amy-Jill Levine, a Vanderbilt University professor of New Testament and Jewish studies, was elected its first-ever Jewish president. The association, which includes Catholic and non-Catholic scholars, said the vote reflected Levine’s scholarly reputation and her long-standing work in Catholic-Jewish dialogue. Within hours, social-media posts from accounts with large followings began denouncing her as “anti-Christian” and accusing her of “hijacking Catholicism,” many containing overtly antisemitic language.
Association’s Purpose and Historical Context
Founded to improve biblical scholarship within faith contexts, the CBA has a history of collaborative work between Christian and Jewish academics. The Vatican’s post-Holocaust reforms, notably the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s, formally rejected the notion that “all the Jews” bear responsibility for Jesus’ death, establishing a doctrinal backdrop for the association’s interfaith mission.
Official Responses
Gregory E. Levine herself posted on Facebook that “hate and demonizing, name-calling and slandering, are not good forms of evangelism,” and warned that the hostile comments do not represent “the best of the Church.” She also pledged to work with Catholic bishops to ensure that textbooks and catechesis avoid antisemitic messages.
Criticism and Antisemitic Backlash
Critics on social media labeled Levine “anti-Christian” and claimed she was trying to “hijack Catholicism.” The backlash arrived amid a broader rise in antisemitic incidents across the United States, prompting the association to call for a reaffirmation of faith-based values.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Hate and demonizing, name calling and slandering, are not good forms of evangelism,” — Jill Levine, an adherent of Orthodox Judaism
- “She loves Christian people and she loves the Bible,” — Ben Witherington, professor
