There are three passages in
From Conflict to Communion that I think speak very eloquently to many points being discussed on the Catholic Answers Forum but is being done by people who clearly are not theologians, not ecumenists, not ecclesiologists and not acquainted with the workings of the Curia. What is expressed in so many posts is absolutely alien to the mind of the Holy See in 2016…and the concerns of the Holy See:
In the last century, Christianity has become increasingly global. There are today Christians of various confessions throughout the whole world; the number of Christians in the South is growing, while the number of Christians in the North is shrinking. The churches of the South are continually assuming a greater importance within worldwide Christianity. These churches do not easily see the confessional conflicts of the sixteenth century as their own conflicts, even if they are connected to the churches of Europe and North America through various Christian world communions and share with them a common doctrinal basis. With regard to the year 2017, it will be very important to take seriously the contributions, questions, and perspectives of these churches.
And
*Today we are able to tell the story of the Lutheran Reformation together. Even though Lutherans and Catholics have different points of view, because of ecumenical dialogue they are able to overcome traditional anti-Protestant and anti-Catholic hermeneutics in order to find a common way of remembering past events. The following chapter is not a full description of the entire history and all the disputed theological points. It highlights only some of the most important historical situations and theological issues of the Reformation in the sixteenth century. *
The above passage actually is the Holy See addressing the world…Catholics, Lutherans, and others who derive from the Reformation…and is a far more interesting and thoughtful presentation than what I read from what I take are predominantly American Catholics participating on the Catholic Answers Forum; such would do well to leave behind the sixteenth century as the rest of the world has.
Finally:
Catholics and Lutherans realize that they and the communities in which they live out their faith belong to the one body of Christ. The awareness is dawning on Lutherans and Catholics that the struggle of the sixteenth century is over. The reasons for mutually condemning each other’s faith have fallen by the wayside.
vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/lutheran-fed-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_2013_dal-conflitto-alla-comunione_en.html
To be perfectly frank, there are people making arguments on this thread, thinking they are being faithful to the Catholic Church but are very far from it and are in danger of finding themselves having decisions made and announced – such as being directed that you WILL commemorate the Reformation between October 31, 2016, and October 31, 2017 – that may take you quite unaware…until the directive overtakes you, that is.
Since we are Catholic, we will of course follow without reserve the Successor of Saint Peter in what he directs concerning our commemorations, as Catholics, of the Reformation…globally and each in our own diocese, under the diocesan bishop who has already received the essential communications about these observances.
