Pope, Lutheran leader pledge to work for restored communion [CC]

[Catholic_Press]

“The spiritual experience of Martin Luther challenges us to remember that apart from God we can do nothing,” Pope Francis said at an ecumenical prayer service in Lund, Sweden on October 31.

More…

 

[Don_Ruggero]

en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/10/31/pope_and_president_of_lwf_sign_joint_statement/1269150

THE TEXT OF THE JOINT STATEMENT
via Radio Vaticana

«Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me» (John 15:4).

With this Joint Statement, we express joyful gratitude to God for this moment of common prayer in the Cathedral of Lund, as we begin the year commemorating the five hundredth anniversary of the Reformation. Fifty years of sustained and fruitful ecumenical dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans have helped us to overcome many differences, and have deepened our mutual understanding and trust. At the same time, we have drawn closer to one another through joint service to our neighbours – often in circumstances of suffering and persecution. Through dialogue and shared witness we are no longer strangers. Rather, we have learned that what unites us is greater than what divides us.

Moving from conflict to communion

While we are profoundly thankful for the spiritual and theological gifts received through the Reformation, we also confess and lament before Christ that Lutherans and Catholics have wounded the visible unity of the Church. Theological differences were accompanied by prejudice and conflicts, and religion was instrumentalized for political ends. Our common faith in Jesus Christ and our baptism demand of us a daily conversion, by which we cast off the historical disagreements and conflicts that impede the ministry of reconciliation. While the past cannot be changed, what is remembered and how it is remembered can be transformed. We pray for the healing of our wounds and of the memories that cloud our view of one another. We emphatically reject all hatred and violence, past and present, especially that expressed in the name of religion. Today, we hear God’s command to set aside all conflict. We recognize that we are freed by grace to move towards the communion to which God continually calls us.

Our commitment to common witness

As we move beyond those episodes in history that burden us, we pledge to witness together to God’s merciful grace, made visible in the crucified and risen Christ. Aware that the way we relate to one another shapes our witness to the Gospel, we commit ourselves to further growth in communion rooted in Baptism, as we seek to remove the remaining obstacles that hinder us from attaining full unity. Christ desires that we be one, so that the world may believe (cf. John 17:21).

Many members of our communities yearn to receive the Eucharist at one table, as the concrete expression of full unity. We experience the pain of those who share their whole lives, but cannot share God’s redeeming presence at the Eucharistic table. We acknowledge our joint pastoral responsibility to respond to the spiritual thirst and hunger of our people to be one in Christ. We long for this wound in the Body of Christ to be healed. This is the goal of our ecumenical endeavours, which we wish to advance, also by renewing our commitment to theological dialogue.

We pray to God that Catholics and Lutherans will be able to witness together to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, inviting humanity to hear and receive the good news of God’s redeeming action. We pray to God for inspiration, encouragement and strength so that we may stand together in service, upholding human dignity and rights, especially for the poor, working for justice, and rejecting all forms of violence. God summons us to be close to all those who yearn for dignity, justice, peace and reconciliation. Today in particular, we raise our voices for an end to the violence and extremism which affect so many countries and communities, and countless sisters and brothers in Christ. We urge Lutherans and Catholics to work together to welcome the stranger, to come to the aid of those forced to flee because of war and persecution, and to defend the rights of refugees and those who seek asylum.

More than ever before, we realize that our joint service in this world must extend to God’s creation, which suffers exploitation and the effects of insatiable greed. We recognize the right of future generations to enjoy God’s world in all its potential and beauty. We pray for a change of hearts and minds that leads to a loving and responsible way to care for creation.

One in Christ

On this auspicious occasion, we express our gratitude to our brothers and sisters representing the various Christian World Communions and Fellowships who are present and join us in prayer. As we recommit ourselves to move from conflict to communion, we do so as part of the one Body of Christ, into which we are incorporated through Baptism. We invite our ecumenical partners to remind us of our commitments and to encourage us. We ask them to continue to pray for us, to walk with us, to support us in living out the prayerful commitments we express today.

Calling upon Catholics and Lutherans worldwide

We call upon all Lutheran and Catholic parishes and communities to be bold and creative, joyful and hopeful in their commitment to continue the great journey ahead of us. Rather than conflicts of the past, God’s gift of unity among us shall guide cooperation and deepen our solidarity. By drawing close in faith to Christ, by praying together, by listening to one another, by living Christ’s love in our relationships, we, Catholics and Lutherans, open ourselves to the power of the Triune God. Rooted in Christ and witnessing to him, we renew our determination to be faithful heralds of God’s boundless love for all humanity.

http://media02.radiovaticana.va/photo/2016/10/31/AP3722933_Articolo.jpg

 

[Tomdstone]

While we are profoundly thankful for the spiritual and theological gifts received through the Reformation,

Was the Reformation a gift to Roman Catholicism?

 

[pnewton]

Was the Reformation a gift to Roman Catholicism?

It depends on how you define “gift”. Since the Church calls the original sin of Adam as a “happy fault,” I guess you can call the Reformation a gift. Who knows how long it would have taken to address problems in the Church at the time? Would we have had the “gift” of the Council of Trent?

 

[Tomdstone]

It depends on how you define “gift”. Since the Church calls the original sin of Adam as a “happy fault,” I guess you can call the Reformation a gift. Who knows how long it would have taken to address problems in the Church at the time? Would we have had the “gift” of the Council of Trent?

I don’t see how the errors of Martin Luther can be a gift to the Catholic Church. In fact, both he and his errors were condemned by Pope Leo X in the papal bull Exsurge Domine issued June 15, 1520.
“No one of sound mind is ignorant how destructive, pernicious, scandalous, and seductive to pious and simple minds these various errors are, how opposed they are to all charity and reverence for the holy Roman Church who is the mother of all the faithful and teacher of the faith; how destructive they are of the vigor of ecclesiastical discipline, namely obedience.”

 

[christofirst]

"…and religion was instrumentalized for political ends." I can’t help thinking, same then as it is now. My other take away from this joint statement is that intercommunion is not yet possible, but we will continue to attempt to move closer together, rather than further apart, based on all that we do agree upon. This goal has a special appeal for me, since my dad came from a Lutheran background and my mom’s side of the family was Catholic.

 

[dmar198]

Was the Reformation a gift to Roman Catholicism?

Partly yes. The good things that resulted from it included the saints and martyrs who witnessed strongly to the traditional faith and converted protestant lands back to the faith. Without the reformation, we wouldn’t have these saints and martyrs. The same can be said of all bad events: God gave us saints through them. That, at least, is a gift.

 

[pnewton]

I don’t see how the errors of Martin Luther can be a gift to the Catholic Church. In fact, both he and his errors were condemned by Pope Leo X in the papal bull Exsurge Domine issued June 15, 1520.
“No one of sound mind is ignorant how destructive, pernicious, scandalous, and seductive to pious and simple minds these various errors are, how opposed they are to all charity and reverence for the holy Roman Church who is the mother of all the faithful and teacher of the faith; how destructive they are of the vigor of ecclesiastical discipline, namely obedience.”

Pope Leo did not have the perspective of history that Pope Francis does. He was also the one who started the selling of indulgences and the problem for him was rather personal.

Yet he still wrote correctly, underneath the rhetoric born of emotion, though the whole incident can be seen as a gift, even as the fall of Man expulsion from Eden can be seen this way.

 

[pnewton]

"…and religion was instrumentalized for political ends." I can’t help thinking, same then as it is now.

Both the Lutheran Reformation and the Catholic Church had this flaw, thought the Catholic Church was older and better at it. Perhaps one of the great gifts of the Reformation was the beginning of the end of temporal power and worldly abuses of the Holy See.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Partly yes. The good things that resulted from it included the saints and martyrs who witnessed strongly to the traditional faith and converted protestant lands back to the faith. Without the reformation, we wouldn’t have these saints and martyrs. The same can be said of all bad events: God gave us saints through them. That, at least, is a gift.

I thought it is also widely believed that the Reformation led to a greater emphasis on, and study of, Scripture in the Catholic Church.

 

[Upgrade25]

Many souls have perhaps been damned by Luther’s heresy. I do feel bad for him though

 

[pnewton]

Many souls have perhaps been damned by Luther’s heresy. I do feel bad for him though

I can’t believe this true. People do not go to Hell for what others do. People go to Hell for unrepentant sin that they willfully commit.

 

[deaconjohnO]

Lutheranism is almost extinct in my neck of the woods. I’ve read quite a bit on how some of mainstream Protestantism is on life support there are 3 Lutheran Churches in my vicinity and now only one Methodist Church ( the other two closed). Even the people who attend those churches admit they are dying.

pastoralmeanderings.blogspot.com/2011/03/seeds-of-lutheranisms-death.html

um-insight.net/blogs/rob-rynders/the-church-isn’t-dying.-it’s-already-dead/

I’m wondering if there will be any Lutherans around to read the joint declaration in 100 years.

 

[Austere]

Would I consider the Reformation a gift? Not in the slightest, the shattering of Christendom and the subsequent effects such a revolution would reap upon the world is nothing to celebrate. The Reformation itself however, and the Protestants that resulted from it, were useful tools in order that the Church may reinvigorate herself and climb to greater standards through the Council of Trent; if something should be celebrated, it should be Trent. As a commentator said above, all the saints and martyrs that the Church would receive was also a great boon but if you were to ask me would it have been better that the Reformation never happened at all, I would say it would.

 

[on_the_hill]

Many souls have perhaps been damned by Luther’s heresy. I do feel bad for him though

I can’t believe this true. People do not go to Hell for what others do. People go to Hell for unrepentant sin that they willfully commit.

Further, as has been stated many times on CAF, we have no idea who was, is, or will be condemned. That is known only to God.

 

[Convert_in_99]

I don’t see how the errors of Martin Luther can be a gift to the Catholic Church. In fact, both he and his errors were condemned by Pope Leo X in the papal bull Exsurge Domine issued June 15, 1520.
“No one of sound mind is ignorant how destructive, pernicious, scandalous, and seductive to pious and simple minds these various errors are, how opposed they are to all charity and reverence for the holy Roman Church who is the mother of all the faithful and teacher of the faith; how destructive they are of the vigor of ecclesiastical discipline, namely obedience.”

That coming from someone with “other” as his religion. :ehh:

 

[Convert_in_99]

Don_Ruggero:
http://media02.radiovaticana.va/photo/2016/10/31/AP3722933_Articolo.jpg

Beautiful picture! I just love Pope Francis!

Thank you Father for sharing this article!

Coming from a Protestant family and married to a Protestant husband I see nothing but good coming from this. Maybe it might even help them convert one day! Now if we could just do this with the Methodists and Evangelicals my family would be set!

 

[dmar198]

I thought it is also widely believed that the Reformation led to a greater emphasis on, and study of, Scripture in the Catholic Church.

No doubt it did. I think St. Robert Bellarmine is a great example of this. Without the Reformation, he would not have composed his Controversies, which is perhaps the best study of Scripture in reply to controversy ever produced.

Great saints go hand in hand with increased Scripture study.

 

[Seamus_L]

Bishop Athanasius Schneider recently stated that the Catholic Church has already infallibly responded to the errors of Martin Luther.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Was the Reformation a gift to Roman Catholicism?

As the Council Fathers decreed at Vatican II: “For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation”

As Rome has made clear since the Council: yes…there are qualities of gift that we must acknowledge concerning the Reformation.