Lawrence Boadt
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Edward Boadt was an American Roman Catholic priest
and Biblical scholar who advocated on behalf of improved communication and understanding between Christians and Jews.
Boadt was born in Los Angeles on October 26, 1942, and earned bachelor's and master's degrees from St. Paul's College
in Washington, D.C.
, the house of formation for the Paulist Fathers
and attended The Catholic University of America
, where he was awarded a master's degree and a licentiate in sacred theology
. At the Pontifical Biblical Institute
in Rome
, Boadt was granted a licentiate in sacred scripture and a doctorate in biblical studies and Near Eastern languages. He entered the novitiate
in the Paulist order and received his ordination in 1969. He taught at Fordham University
, St. John's University and at the Washington Theological Union
.
He was selected to serve as the scripture editor of the Paulist Press, an imprint created by the Paulist Fathers in 1881. His 1984 book Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction was intended to elucidate the Old Testament
for Christians. Boadt deeply believed in the principle that Christians could best understand their faith by studying Judaism
and suggested that Christians "could gain some feeling for the Old Testament by attending a Friday night Sabbath service at a local temple or synagogue
". Other books he authored include the 1980 work Ezekiel
's Oracles Against Egypt: A Literary and Philological Study of Ezekiel 29-32, the 1986 book Introduction to Wisdom Literature, Proverbs
and the 1999 text Why I Am a Priest: Thirty Success Stories. Boadt noted that he oversaw the 2003 publishing of Moses
: A Memoir by Joel Cohen, saying that the imprint receives many books that were "too Jewish" for a Catholic readership, but that this book struck the right balance. He was named president of the Paulist Press in 1998, holding that position until shortly before his death and overseeing the publishing of an average of 80 books annually.
Boadt died of cancer at age 67 on July 24, 2010, at his home in Mahwah, New Jersey
. Rabbi Eric J. Greenberg of the Anti-Defamation League
cited Boadt's efforts "to develop a historic new positive relationship between Christians and Jews" through his publishing efforts that "helped promote the vision of the Second Vatican Council
, the 1965 world conference that rejected anti-Semitism and the deicide charge against Jews".
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
and Biblical scholar who advocated on behalf of improved communication and understanding between Christians and Jews.
Boadt was born in Los Angeles on October 26, 1942, and earned bachelor's and master's degrees from St. Paul's College
St. Paul's College, Washington, D.C.
St. Paul's College in Washington, D.C. is the house of formation for the Paulist Fathers, founded by Isaac Hecker.-History:St. Paul's College, established in 1914, is the house of studies for Paulist seminarians. The Paulist Fathers maintain their formation program at St...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, the house of formation for the Paulist Fathers
Paulist Fathers
The Missionary Society of Saint Paul the Apostle, better known as the Paulist Fathers, is a Roman Catholic religious society for men founded in New York City in 1858 by Servant of God Fr. Isaac Thomas Hecker in collaboration with Fr. George Deshon, Fr. Augustine Hewit, and Fr. Francis A. Baker....
and attended The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
, where he was awarded a master's degree and a licentiate in sacred theology
Licentiate in Theology
The Licentiate of Theology or the Licence in Theology is a theological qualification commonly awarded for ordinands and laymen studying theology in the United Kingdom, Malta, Canada, Australia and New Zealand...
. At the Pontifical Biblical Institute
Pontifical Biblical Institute
The Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy is an institution of the Holy See run by the Jesuits that offers instruction at the university level...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Boadt was granted a licentiate in sacred scripture and a doctorate in biblical studies and Near Eastern languages. He entered the novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
in the Paulist order and received his ordination in 1969. He taught at Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
, St. John's University and at the Washington Theological Union
Washington Theological Union
Washington Theological Union is a Roman Catholic graduate school of theology and ministry in Washington, D.C., with a mission of educating and forming candidates for the priesthood and other church ministries. WTU is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada...
.
He was selected to serve as the scripture editor of the Paulist Press, an imprint created by the Paulist Fathers in 1881. His 1984 book Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction was intended to elucidate the Old Testament
Tanakh
The Tanakh is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible. The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra. The name is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim —hence...
for Christians. Boadt deeply believed in the principle that Christians could best understand their faith by studying Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
and suggested that Christians "could gain some feeling for the Old Testament by attending a Friday night Sabbath service at a local temple or synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
". Other books he authored include the 1980 work Ezekiel
Ezekiel
Ezekiel , "God will strengthen" , is the central protagonist of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible. In Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Ezekiel is acknowledged as a Hebrew prophet...
's Oracles Against Egypt: A Literary and Philological Study of Ezekiel 29-32, the 1986 book Introduction to Wisdom Literature, Proverbs
Proverbs
Proverbs may refer to:*The plural of the word proverb*The Book of Proverbs, one of the books of the Hebrew Bible*Roy Proverbs, English footballer...
and the 1999 text Why I Am a Priest: Thirty Success Stories. Boadt noted that he oversaw the 2003 publishing of Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
: A Memoir by Joel Cohen, saying that the imprint receives many books that were "too Jewish" for a Catholic readership, but that this book struck the right balance. He was named president of the Paulist Press in 1998, holding that position until shortly before his death and overseeing the publishing of an average of 80 books annually.
Boadt died of cancer at age 67 on July 24, 2010, at his home in Mahwah, New Jersey
Mahwah, New Jersey
Mahwah is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 25,890. The name Mahwah is derived from the Lenni Lenape word "mawewi" which means "Meeting Place" or "Place Where Paths Meet".The area that is now Mahwah was...
. Rabbi Eric J. Greenberg of the Anti-Defamation League
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
cited Boadt's efforts "to develop a historic new positive relationship between Christians and Jews" through his publishing efforts that "helped promote the vision of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
, the 1965 world conference that rejected anti-Semitism and the deicide charge against Jews".