[dangus]

>> The LCMS was a participant in the talks until the Appendix of the agreement was added, which basically recended the rest of the document. At that point, signing the document would have been wrong since it really didn't say anything. <<

I have encountered many LCMS who were very, very disdainful of such ecumenical dialogues (and frankly, I respected their reasoning on occasion). If I have mischaracterized the LCMS' rejection of the document, I regret it.

>> Second, you mentioned Luther's "serial adulteries", which were those? Or are you talking about Luther's friend Phillip of Hesse? <<

No, I meant Luther. Right now, I can't find the source. But since my intent was not to commit ad-hominem against Luther, but to point out that his notion of Sola Fides was very much different than what most modern Protestants believe it to have been, and that modern Protestants' notion of Sola Fides is much closer to the Catholic church, I hope this quote will suffice at making the point:

" Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, sin boldly, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We, however, says Peter (2. Peter 3:13) are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign. "

Luther believed that sinning, while having faith in Christ, was virtuous because it enabled the sinner to experience even more greatly the love that Jesus has for the sinner, rather than allow guilt and feelings of unworthiness to prevent him from coming to Christ. Luther is further from the "religious right" than he is from Freudianism and biblical skepticism that 20th-century Germany.

[redgolum]

The "Sin Bravely" reference comes from two places.

One was a letter to Phillip Melanchthon. Phillip was worrying over something, (can't remember what) and was bouncing back and forth. Luther basically told him to make up his mind, and go forth boldy. In the Small Catechism that Luther wrote, "Sinning that grace might increase" is condemned.

The other reference came from a few of his "Table Talk" conversations. The students asked one of the classic questions: What do you do in a situation where any choices you make will result in a sin? Luther's answer was again, make your choice with prayer, and then go bodly.

As for serial adultery, Luther never really wanted to get married. There were several nuns who wanted out of the convent, and he helped them escape. Most of them were married off rather quickly but one (Katie) refused to be, unless it was to Luther himself.

[muawiyah]

Definitely a different "Luther". I think you are confusing him with one of his buddies.

Surprised you didn't bring up "Luther's antisemitic writings". That would demonstrate that you are not grasping everything going on in the Reformation. Many early reformers and protestants figured out that it was NOT a good idea to badmouth Catholics, Catholicism, or peculiarly Catholic beliefs as long as the local prince (or other government head) was a Catholic, even if only a nominal Catholic.

So, they began preaching against "the Jews". That was considered acceptable. However, when you get into those sermons and you find disputations over Communion, Baptism, the nature of the Trinity, and so forth, it becomes pretty clear that these guys mostly meant Catholics where they used the word "Jews".

It's still a good idea to only bring into the priesthood men of sound morals who should otherwise be married ~ (kind of what the Orthodox do, and those guys are virtually ALWAYS married when ordained, and the community makes sure they get all the really hot babes ~ so I've heard).