I’m sure others will do better than me at this, but still it’s important that I point out a few things. I received an email from a man named Tom. He has this blog. He mentioned a challenge at his site. The gist of the challenge was to distinguish Bob Sungenis’ anti-semitism from (mostly unspecified) statements and actions of (mostly unspecified) past saints and popes.

A few points are in order, Tom, pertaining to the statements and actions of saints and of popes.

When the Church declares a person to be a saint, the Church is not endorsing everything ever done or said by that person. Even saints do things that are either mistaken or sinful.

The only actions or declarations of a pope that are infallible are matters of faith and morals that are declared ex cathedra. St. Pius V’s expulsion of the Jews from the Papal States, for instance, was not an ex cathedra statement of faith or morals. It could be regarded as a mistake. It certainly was regarded as a mistake by his successor, Clement IX, who reversed it less than 30 years after it happened.

I do find this papal declaration that appears to be an ex cathedra statement regarding faith and morals specifically regarding Jews that pre-dates St. Pius V:

“Whereas the Jews are made to the image of God, and a remnant of them will one day be saved, and whereas they have besought our protection: following in the footsteps of our predecessors we command that they be not molested in their synagogues; that their laws, rights, and customs be not assailed; that they be not baptized by force, constrained to observe Christian festivals, nor to wear any new badges, and they be not hindered in their business relations with Christians."
Martin V (1419)

Seems to me that inaccurate and derogatory statements about Jewish customs (the Talmud, for instance) would violate this decree of Pope Martin V.

Tom adds a note about the Council of Basle. He neglects this sentence from the beginning of his own source on that council: “Some historians doubt the ecumenicity of the first 25 sessions at Basel.” Not a strong argument, Tom.