NEW YORK, Aug. 24 (CWNews.com)

    A coalition of US Jewish groups on Wednesday derided plans by the Catholic Church to beatify Pope Pius IX next month, specifically attacking the 19th century pope for adopting a Jewish child against the wishes of his parents.

    The International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations said in a letter to the Vatican that Pius IX "perpetuated centuries-old Church contempt and hatred of Jews." The group said the pontiff arranged for Jewish children to be adopted and baptized as Catholics.

    "Today, after almost a century and a half, the Italian Jewish community remains embittered by that assault on Judaism and parenthood," IJCIC chairman Seymour Reich wrote in his letter addressed to Archbishop Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

    "We have stated in the past that only the Church itself (sic) has the right to determine who are its saints," he wrote. "But when the issue of sainthood embodies matters of major Jewish concern, we believe the Jewish community has an obligation to voice its reaction."

    Pope Pius IX, who reigned from 1846 to 1878, is due to be beatified on September 3, along with Pope John XXIII. The two men convened the First and Second Vatican Councils, respectively.

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