Did Martin Luther always consider himself a Catholic?

[Wondering_Waif]

From what I understand Martin Luther spoke on behalf of reform that was needed and that he didn’t mean to start his own religion.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

At the beginning of his career as a Protestant Reformer, Luther appeared to simultaneously hold contradictory views of the Catholic Church while believing both to be true (a phenomenon that George Orwell would eventually term doublethink). For example, in two documents of 1520, three years after his promulgation of his 95 theses, Luther both praised and damned the Pope and the Catholic Church:

In fine, that I may not approach you empty-handed, blessed father [Pope Leo X], I bring with me this little treatise, published under your name, as a good omen of the establishment of peace and of good hope. By this you may perceive in what pursuits I should prefer and be able to occupy myself to more profit, if I were allowed, or had been hitherto allowed, by your impious flatterers. It is a small matter, if you look to its exterior, but, unless I mistake, it is a summary of the Christian life put together in small compass, if you apprehend its meaning. I, in my poverty, have no other present to make you, nor do you need anything else than to be enriched by a spiritual gift. I commend myself to your paternity and blessedness, whom may the Lord Jesus preserve for ever. Amen (Letter of Martin Luther to Pope Leo X: Concerning Christian Liberty, source).

The Romanists [note Luther’s distinction between himself and his audience on the one hand and “the Romanists” on the other] have, with great adroitness, drawn three walls round themselves, with which they have hitherto protected themselves, so that no one could reform them, whereby all Christendom has fallen terribly. … Now may God help us, and give us one of those trumpets that overthrew the walls of Jericho, so that we may blow down these walls of straw and paper, and that we may set free our Christian rods for the chastisement of sin, and expose the craft and deceit of the devil, so that we may amend ourselves by punishment and again obtain God’s favour (Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, source).

As his career as a Protestant Reformer progressed, especially once he was able to drive a wedge between German nationalism and obedience to the Catholic Church, Martin Luther distanced himself from the Church. I do not know if he himself formally announced himself to be the head of a new church, but his career suggests that he may not have considered himself a loyal son of the Church later in life.

Recommended reading:
**Martin Luther
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