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Jewish Identity in the Catholic Church with Dr. Angela Costley
Gotta Be Saints
In this episode of the Gotta Be Saints Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Angela Costley, a Hebrew Catholic theologian and Scripture professor based in the UK, to talk about what it means to be both Jewish and Catholic—not as a contradiction, but as a fulfillment.
We discuss why the phrase “Jewish Catholic” can sound confusing at first, how the Church is grafted onto the “olive tree” of Israel (Romans 9–11), what Vatican II helped recover about the Church’s relationship to the Jewish people, and why Hebrew Catholics need space to live their Jewish identity faithfully within the Church.
This conversation draws from Dr. Costley’s work as co-editor of From Sinai to Rome: Jewish Identity in the Catholic Church—a book that doesn’t shy away from the painful history of Jewish-Catholic relations, while also offering real hope for the future.
About Dr. Angela Costley
- Hebrew Catholic theologian based in the UK
- Scripture professor at St Mary’s College (seminary)
- Studied at Durham, Oxford, and earned her PhD at the Pontifical University in Maynooth
- Board member of the Association of Hebrew Catholics
In this episode, we talk about:
- What a “Jewish Catholic” is (and why it isn’t a contradiction)
- Why Catholicism can be understood as the heir of “Temple Judaism” fulfilled in Christ
- The Mass and the fulfillment of temple worship and offerings
- “Salvation comes from the Jews” (John 4:22) and what Catholics should do with that
- Romans 9–11 and the image of the olive tree (Israel as root; Gentiles grafted in)
- Why the Church isn’t a “new Israel,” but Israel in fulfillment
- Jewish identity as personal and collective (and why assimilation can be spiritually damaging)
- The Association of Hebrew Catholics and the need for community and witness
- Facing hard history: antisemitism, misunderstandings, and doctrinal development
- Why friendship and dialogue matter for healing and authentic witness today
- Hope in Romans 11 (“all Israel will be saved”) and what that means going forward
- Dr. Costley’s “Mount Rushmore of saints,” her hoped-for patronage, and how to pray for her
Get the Book
📘 From Sinai to Rome: Jewish Identity in the Catholic Church (Ignatius Press)
Ignatius Press
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This episode is sponsored by Truthly, the Catholic action app that helps you reflect, learn, and share your faith with confidence. Start your free trial with code gottabesaints at Truthly’s website: Truthly
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