Catholic view of Lutheranism

  • Thread starter Thread starter BenMizrahi
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

BenMizrahi

Guest
Hi.

I am a relatively recent convert to Christianity (by recent I mean about 6 years ago), and specifically to the Lutheran branch of Protestantism. Even though I am not really ecumenical in mind, I do hold Catholic traditions in great esteem and I try to watch Catholic Answers’ YouTube videos semi regularly, my question is, since I am currently extremely discontent with the direction my church is going (towards low church and even Judaiszation) and seriously thinking about moving to the local Catholic church (which hold mass in four languages that I speak or at least understand, so that is not a problem) my question is: What is the Catholic view on Lutheranism today? And specifically, I have heard Jimmy Aikins replies once to an Orthodox caller that eastern Orthodox can take the communion at a Catholic mass, provided he does so on his own account, could Lutherans take communion at Catholic churches as well?
 
People have loads of different opinions. Some specific to Lutheranism, some which kind of think of all Protestants as being non-liturgical and fundamentalist, hostile to Catholicism.

Regarding communion, the RCC considers the differences with our Orthodox brothers and sisters to be so small as to be little to no barrier to communion. Therefore the RCC has no objection to them receiving, though we don’t expect them to act contrary to their Church’s view.

However, we don’t share that level of communion with Lutherans. We ask that Lutherans visiting mass to please refrain from receiving communion. Catholics also should not receive communion during Lutheran liturgy. Again, because it’s an expression of communion which isn’t established.

The Catholic Church would take specific issue with lack of actual apostolic succession, ordination of women, different sacramental theology, moral teaching differences, different view on ecclesiology, justification… Of course, there are different denominations of Lutheranism, and they have disagreements internally, too. I’m aware of that, just making broad stroke comments.
 
Last edited:
It’s also good to distinguish between Lutheranism and Lutherans. The Church would say that Lutheranism is wrong, for a variety of reasons. Some Catholics mistakenly believe that therefore Lutherans are necessarily bad people/bad Christians, which is obviously not true.
 
Also good to distinguish between some Lutherans and other Lutherans, because, different.

There is a word for that.
 
Well, if I may generalize, the difference is mostly between Confessional (or Orthodox) Lutherans, which are conservative and, generally speaking, very litrugical, versus the so called “Mainline Lutherans” which tend to hold to liberal views that at least in my books, makes many of them heretics (such as a denial of Biblical Inerrancy on the part of many ELCA clergy and members).

LawyersGunsanMoney: Fair point, which I always try to make to both my Anti Catolic and anti Bapticostal friends.
 
Thank You very much for the relatively detailed answer.
I understand there are, generally speaking, a lot of differences between Lutheran and Catholic theologies, however, there actually are some Lutherans which adhere to the idea of Lutheran succession, mostly in Sweden and outside super liberal denominations such as ELCA, I am not aware of any Lutheran denomination which practices the ordination of women,. I do see Your point however, regarding the differences in sacramental theology of both churches,
 
LawyersGunsAndMoney said:
Some Catholics mistakenly believe that therefore Lutherans are necessarily bad people/bad Christians, which is obviously not true
Click to expand...
I really doubt this, even saying “some Catholics” is a wild overstatement IMO. I have never met any Catholic who believes any protestant is necessarily a bad person.
 
Maybe “bad person” is the wrong way to put it, but I have seen many people, at least on CAF, express the idea that all Protestants are per se headed for Hell.
 
Or are bad Christians / (and in some isolated cases) not even Christian.

It’s probably a loud minority…but it still happens once in a while.
 
Thanks, that was a quite interesting and helpful read. I always assumed that the doctrine of justification is the biggest divider between Lutherans and Roman Catholics, interesting to see the vast agreement that both churches have reached over the years.
 
HopkinsReb said:
40.png
GKMotley:
Never tried that one.
Click to expand...
“multitudinous?”
Click to expand...
Motleytudinous?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top