Welby on the Reformation: Past Violence Must Not be Forgotten

La Stampa-Vatican Insider ^ | 1/18/17 | Giorgio Bernardelli

[marshmallow]

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York in Britain, have sent a message to Anglican communities on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of Luther’s “Theses”

The 500th anniversary of the Reformation is an event to be celebrated but also a memory that requires purification and a request for forgiveness. This is the spirit in which the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby – together with John Sentamu the Archbishop of York, the Church of England’s second most important see – invite Anglican communities to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Luther’s Reformation, in a letter sent on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which began today. This week of prayer comes just before next month’s synod, during which the Church of England will commemorate the anniversary.

Remembering the Reformation in London means also taking a trip back in British history, as it was the rift which Luther created in 1517 that led to the official split between Canterbury and Rome a not many years later, in the days of Henry VIII. Violent persecutions followed. “In England alone,” British daily The Guardian writes, “more than 800 monasteries, abbeys, nunneries and friaries were seized, libraries were destroyed, manuscripts lost, treasures stripped and works of art appropriated. Thousands of people were hung, drawn and quartered, or burnt at the stake for their religious beliefs.”

“The Reformation was a process of both renewal and division amongst Christians in Europe”, Welby and Sentamu write in their statement. “In this Reformation Anniversary year, many Christians will want to give thanks for the great blessings they have received to which the Reformation directly contributed. Amongst much else these would include clear proclamation of the gospel of grace, the availability of the Bible to all in their own language and the recognition of the calling of lay......

[moonhawk]

Bump for later.

[Rurudyne]

No, what led to Henry severing England from Rome was NOT the reformation but his desire to get divorced without murdering his wife.

It was about his political power and dynastic ambitions put and simple, nothing else.

(The joke on him, of course, is we now know that it was Henry who was fathering girls ... his luckless wives could only work with what he provided them)

Henry was going to be in charge and that was that.

All else is pretense and cosmetic afterthoughts.

The resulting CoE didn’t suddenly become Presbyterian nor any such thing.

[DesertRhino]

Moronic Euro crap. Someone offers an olive branch, and it is refused because of....500 years ago. Its why they will always be petty and insignificant.

Sure the Brits shook off the Vatican. Sure the Vatican back then was a greedy and bloody non-hereditary monarch like any other.
None of that means anything today to anyone sane. Its wrong to paint the RCC of today with the foul behavior of the Vatican of Leo X era. It’s just as wrong to be rude to some friendly Brit because of murderous Henry the 8th.

Euros....idiots.

[cloudmountain]

No, what led to Henry severing England from Rome was NOT the reformation but his desire to get divorced without murdering his wife. It was about his political power and dynastic ambitions put and simple, nothing else. (The joke on him, of course, is we now know that it was Henry who was fathering girls ... his luckless wives could only work with what he provided them)
Henry was going to be in charge and that was that.
All else is pretense and cosmetic afterthoughts.
The resulting CoE didn’t suddenly become Presbyterian nor any such thing.

You know your history. Henry wanted a SON!
Henry's wives:
Divorced.
Beheaded.
Died.
Divorced.
Beheaded.
Survived.

Henry's break with the Catholic Church also cost the lives of MANY Catholic English. The "priest hole" became an integral part of Catholic English mansions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII_of_England

Henry's PRIDE destroyed countless lives. Pride is the first and worst of the seven deadly sins. Goes all the way back to Adam and Eve, doesn't it?

[Falconspeed]

So sad. Luther rewrote the Bible and had the “lilies” in Songs rewritten as “roses.” That’s how much he hated purity and the Virgin Mary.

“Violent persecutions followed.” Of course. That’s what happens when the two rules of love the Lord and love your neighbor are ignored. Time for the Separated Brethren to return to Rome.

[boatbums]

Remembering the Reformation in London means also taking a trip back in British history, as it was the rift which Luther created in 1517 that led to the official split between Canterbury and Rome a not many years later, in the days of Henry VIII.

That's not "remembering", it's rewriting Reformation history! Henry VIII despised Martin Luther and would have executed him if he had the chance. The real reason for the British "riff" was the Pope's refusal to grant the king an annulment so he could marry Anne Bolelyn and try for a male heir.

[boatbums]

So sad. Luther rewrote the Bible and had the “lilies” in Songs rewritten as “roses.” That’s how much he hated purity and the Virgin Mary.

What's sad is the false history someone's been feeding you! Luther TRANSLATED Scripture into the common German tongue. He didn't rewrite anything. As for Mary, Luther remained devoted to the Virgin Mary until the day he died. Where do you get this stuff?

“Violent persecutions followed.” Of course. That’s what happens when the two rules of love the Lord and love your neighbor are ignored. Time for the Separated Brethren to return to Rome.

No one condones persecuting others for their faith but let's not pretend the Catholic church wasn't guilty of far worse before and after the Reformation.

Why would I "return to Rome"? I left the RCC when the Holy Spirit opened my eyes and heart to the truth of the gospel and that was nearly fifty years ago. My faith and hope is in Jesus Christ - not a church based in Rome. Pretty city, though.

[metmom]

So sad. Luther rewrote the Bible and had the “lilies” in Songs rewritten as “roses.” That’s how much he hated purity and the Virgin Mary.

BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

Songs is NOT about Mary to begin with.

And word translated *lily* or *rose*, is actually *meadow saffron or crocus* in the Hebrew.

Your complaint and smear attempt on Luther is completely baseless.

http://biblehub.com/hebrew/2261.htm

[Wallace T.]

The Anglican Church under Henry VIII was equivalent to the Eastern Orthodox Churches, with little doctrinal difference from Rome other than not recognizing Papal authority. It was not until the reign of Edward VI when the Anglican Church adopted Protestant doctrines, under the influence of Thomas Cranmer. Under Elizabeth I, the Protestant character was formalized by the adoption of the Thirty-Nine Articles and the Act of Supremacy.

[Falconspeed]

“Your complaint and smear attempt on Luther is completely baseless.”

I accept your objection. My response is to say that I guess you defending Martin Luther (1483-1546) as a reasonable Biblical scholar and an ethical role model for Christians.

[metmom]

Your ASSumption is duly noted.