Jewish New Testament Scholar Elected CBA President Amid Antisemitic Online Outcry

Amy-Jill Levine, an Orthodox-Jewish professor of New Testament and Jewish studies, was elected the first Jewish president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America, a body that includes both Catholic and non-Catholic scholars. Her appointment sparked a torrent of antisemitic commentary online, with critics calling her anti-Christian and accusing her of trying to appropriate Catholicism. Association executives Gregory E. Sterling and Archie Wright issued a joint statement emphasizing that Levine was chosen for her exceptional scholarship and longstanding work in Catholic-Jewish dialogue, not her religion.

Former presidents added their signatures to a call for members to uphold the values of faith rather than hateful rhetoric. Levine responded on Facebook, rejecting the attacks and reiterating her respect for both traditions, while noting that she often defends the Catholic Church against bigotry. She plans to use her presidency to promote rigorous biblical research and improve the portrayal of Jews in Catholic teaching materials.