This is not true.
Luther always tried to maintain a strict line between the Roman Catholic Church, trying only to reform those practices and doctrines he felt obscured the gospel, while not going so far as to get rid of scriptural truths that he felt were lost in some of the more radical branches of the reformation. To your point, the Eucharist was one of the prime things that kept Luther from joining the Anabaptist and Reformed branches of the reformation that were represented early on by Zwingli but split with his death. Luther always maintained the real presence in Holy Communion.
They’re Armenians. Nobody cares.
I think originally (as in during the Reformation) it had to do with avoiding the abuse of religious iconography. In English churches, all of the images were removed for this reason. Today, I think its often cultural. The crucifix is not part of the culture of many Protestant churches.
I saw that on the BBC. The reporter asked a woman if she felt more drawn to God. She said no but it was fun or something along those lines. Another person said he felt Evensong was better for spirituality. The only people who said it would draw people to God were the clergy.
Thank you for hoping we will receive salvation as mentioned above. Just to let you know…we have received it.Of course, as a conservative Catholic; I’m concerned when I see “ progressives “ and their fellow travelers at work in the Church.
However, I trust in the Holy Father and the Magisterium and that they will be rightly guided by the Holy Spirit and rein them in.
If you’re talking about the sex abuse scandals, the Church says she’s cleaning house and that’s good enough for me.
As for the Holy Father, I like him. His pontificate is basically about God’s Mercy, the poor and ecumenism. My understanding of ecumenism is the finding of common ground and mutual understanding. I have a copy of his book, The Name of God is Mercy. I’ll have to read it. I’m told it contains the basis for his pontifical ministry.
As for the universalism flirtation thing you mentioned; the Church isn’t doing that. We stand firm that we’re the Church Christ instituted on Earth and thus we possess the fullness of the Faith. For the ecumenism of the 21st century Church, I think you’d have to look back to Vatican II.
Prior to that, as you probably know; the Church taught that there was zero salvation outside of the Church. One of the changes that came in via Vatican II was that the Church now teaches that there is the possibility that any earnest and sincere person of good conscience, even an atheist; could receive salvation; were he in ignorance of the fullness of the Faith possessed by the Church.
The Church teaches that Protestants are our separated brothers and sisters in Christ, possessing some of the Faith; albeit with an admixture of errors. God willing and I earnestly hope; you guys will receive salvation.
Another of the changes was the call for social outreach and ecumenism. Essentially, the Church reoriented to extend out a more inclusive and understanding hand than in the previous centuries because of the hard stance we had to take in response to the, no offense intended; “ reformation “.
If it wasn’t for Vatican II; you and I wouldn’t be having this beautiful conversation that I hope will continue. If not for Vatican II, we’d still be fighting the Thirty Years’ War; ecclesially speaking.
As a faithful son of the Church, I answer the ecumenical call and I’d like to serve God and His Church in strengthening understanding and ties amongst Christians against the paganization of Western culture. I really believe we’re in a war against the devil in this.
As the Jesuits say: For the greater glory of God!
As for the death penalty: In my pre Catholic days, I was very much for the death penalty. However: As a faithful Catholic, if the Church teaches it’s against the Gospel; then I defer and submit.
I appreciate your concern for the Church and the unity of Christ’s Body and I hope that together we can form alliances and find common ground between us in our combat against the paganization of our society.
I’m sorry if I’m sounding pompous or hurtful. It’s not my intention. Just trying to charitably state my ecumenical basis for a fellow brother in Christ.
What it comes down to is that all these individuals, Luther, Calvin, Zwingley, and the whole lot Of who followed them establishing their own sects, did not have God-given authority. Why people cannot see this is a mystery.
Something to keep in mind. Liberal Protestants don’t believe in Sola Scriptura. If you read the work of liberal theologians, it’s very clear that many to most of them take a critical view of the Bible and will often even question the historical reliability of much of it. For liberal Christians, Scripture is not an authoritative standard for doctrine. Rather the “historical Jesus” (whatever that may mean) is the “real canon” of the Church, and Christian truths can only be confirmed by an appeal to common human reason and experience.
In addition to what @HopkinsReb said, let me add that Calvin taught that you received the body and blood by faith not with the mouth. As a consequence, the Reformed believe that true believers actually partake of the body and blood of Christ in a spiritual manner, but non-believers only partake of bread and wine. This view is sometimes called Spiritual Presence or Mystical Presence. Among Anglicans who believe this (like Thomas Cranmer) it’s been called Receptionism.
The Protestant argument is that Catholic Teaching is absent from the Bible. That is why they have discarded Sacred Tradition and stick to the Bible alone. If you let the Bible explain Catholic Teaching, it destroys that argument.Gab123:
I personally don’t like this approach. It strengthens the “Sola Scriptura” doctrine where we should strive to approach scripture correctly…
113 2. Read the Scripture within “the living Tradition of the whole Church”. According to a saying of the Fathers, Sacred Scripture is written principally in the Church’s heart rather than in documents and records, for the Church carries in her Tradition the living memorial of God’s Word, and it is the Holy Spirit who gives her the spiritual interpretation of the Scripture (". . . according to the spiritual meaning which the Spirit grants to the Church"81).