[SkyPilot]

The feeling seems to be mutual.

"In the Church there is no 'do it yourself', there are no 'free agents'," the Pope added. "At times one hears someone say: 'I believe in God, I believe in Jesus, but I don't care about the Church...'. How many times have we heard this? And this is not good. There are those who believe they can maintain a personal, direct and immediate relationship with Jesus Christ outside the communion and the mediation of the Church. These are dangerous and harmful temptations. Dear friends, let us ask the Lord, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church..."

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Reformation was not so much an innovation as a recover”

+1

[af_vet_1981]

Essential assertions of the posted portion of the article:
1. The Reformation is essential to Christianity.
2. Evangelicals' doctrinal, spiritual, and cultural identity are based on the Reformation.

These reinforce my view, that the Reformation (re-formation of Christianity) was a new religious movement devised without apostolic authority by certain men who did not agree with each other.

It is essentially a five century old progressive attempt to reformulate Christianity according to the most recent image of what it should have been but was not, and continues according to that pattern to this day.

[taxesareforever]

Just remember, a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Please, no agreement between evangelicals and Roman Catholicism.

[Jeff Chandler]

As a Roman Catholic I agree that ecumenicism that papers over doctrinal differences is a lie.

[boatbums]

It insists the "core distinctions" between Luther and the 16th-century Roman Catholic church "remain between modern-day evangelicals and Catholics despite efforts at reconciliation". The statement marked a notably different tone to that of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York who called for repentance for the division. They lamented the "lasting damage done five centuries ago to the unity of the Church, in defiance of the clear command of Jesus Christ to unity in love".

The reason there won't be a full reconciliation is because the Roman Catholic church will accept nothing less than capitulation to their dogmas - regardless of their Scriptural basis - and fealty to the Pope as the leader of all Christendom. We shouldn't kid ourselves that Rome is or ever was really serious about "unity" - the differences remain and are non-negotiable.

[Elsie]

[PeterPrinciple]

It insists the “core distinctions” between Luther and the 16th-century Roman Catholic church “remain between modern-day evangelicals and Catholics despite efforts at reconciliation”.

---

And what are those core differences?

1)Truth is tested with the scriptures, not tradition...............

2) God established a new covenant. The temple and old sacrifice/priest system was destroyed.

Heb_8:10 But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people.

Heb_10:16 “This is the new covenant I will make with My people on that day, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

[PeterPrinciple]

For those that actually want to learn and do not hang their head on being Catholic or being Protestant, Here is a study of the issues.

http://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/roman_catholicism/