Seriously, I think, — just my opinion, — that the relations between the Protestants as a whole and Catholics could be healthier. This does not mean a sacramental union, like one we may accomplish with the Eastern Orthodox hopefully in a generation or two.
The Catholic-Protestant relations could be healthier if either side should
1. Refrain from describing the other confession in caricature terms. For example, the Protestants should listen to how the Catholics themselves explain the veneration of Mary, the saints, and the relics, rather than assuming that all these are idolatry or even detract from the worship of God. This doesn’t mean the Protestants have to venerate Mary, but it means that the Protestants express their disagreement in terms acceptable to the Catholics.
2. Concentrate on its own confession rather than on defects in other confessions, just like Protestants do between themselves, and the Catholics do with the Orthodox.
3. Acknowledge that each side is profoundly concerned in correctly understanding the entirety of the Holy Scripture, and that we have honest differences of opinion regarding the interpretation of some passages. For example, the role of good works in salvation in relation to professed faith, or the role of Mary in the salvation history are such differences. It is unhealthy to call another side’s interpretation as unscriptural, deride it as “tradition of men”, etc. when your own side also has but an interpretation by other group of men. To put differently, to offer a variety of interpretatins of scripture is one thing, and it is healthy. To say that one interpretation is inspired by the Holy Ghost and the other is not is not healthy.
4. Acknowledge that the works of the early fathers of the Church is an important historical witness to the practices of the historical early Church. It is fine to disagree with them here and there, unhealthy to create myths of the historicity of one side’s interpretation of scripture in absence of patristic evidence of such.
There is probably more, but these would be very good ground rules of ecumenical conduct.
Would love to quit mentioning the Magnificent Magical Earth-Mother Mary caricature as soon as RC’s quit demonstrating and presenting it.
I would agree, although this returns us to our very first conversation, wherein I suggested that recognition of Protestant authority would be of a necessity.
It is impossible to see eye to eye when one participant is looking down his nose at the other.
1. Refrain from describing the other confession in caricature terms. For example, the Protestants should listen to how the Catholics themselves explain the veneration of Mary, the saints, and the relics, rather than assuming that all these are idolatry or even detract from the worship of God. This doesn’t mean the Protestants have to venerate Mary, but it means that the Protestants express their disagreement in terms acceptable to the Catholics.
What you are describing is simply a matter of good manners, something both sides could stand some work on, and consideration goes both ways. I doubt we will ever have agreement, and I doubt our principles would allow us to avoid the nasty bits, as many might do in polite conversation, but we could all work on a more friendly interchange, that is true.
2. Concentrate on its own confession rather than on defects in other confessions, just like Protestants do between themselves, and the Catholics do with the Orthodox.
Um, I hate to spring it on you like this, but Protestants fight like a sack of cats. Our interdenominational wars, or more often, orthodox vs liberal wars are just as bad as anything you see here.
The difference here is that, for the main, the religious body is made up of Fundamentalist Protestant Evangelicals, Catholics, and a fair sprinkling of Mormons. As the Evangelicals tend to think along the same lines, there is a greater solidarity, and especially so when against Catholics and Mormons, as the differences are so profound, all three groups are well educated and stand their ground.
3. Acknowledge that each side is profoundly concerned in correctly understanding the entirety of the Holy Scripture, and that we have honest differences of opinion regarding the interpretation of some passages. [...]
WRT correct understanding, one thing that would be nice is if the Catholics would work together with Protestants to agree on some translations as being scripturally true. If the Catholics and Evangelicals together can agree and develop an inter-faith seal of approval which is *not* given to the publisher unless the translation meets the standard, that would go a long way toward getting lesser translations off the street. I do not mean to suggest that you give up the Apocryphal books, nor that we must adopt them, but that the books as presented meet the scrutiny of both sides.
It is unhealthy to call another side’s interpretation as unscriptural, deride it as “tradition of men”, etc. when your own side also has but an interpretation by other group of men.
I don't think you really 'get it' wrt Protestant interpretation. Because our doctrines are diverse, and because we as denominations are not in agreement, The Scriptures are always paramount. We hack on each other about our own interpretations too.
One thing that would help is for Catholics to realize what a broad brush they use to paint us with. "Protestant" is a very wide ranging term. It is hardly productive to accuse Fundamental Evangelicals for the asinine doctrines of the liberal churches.
To put differently, to offer a variety of interpretatins of scripture is one thing, and it is healthy. To say that one interpretation is inspired by the Holy Ghost and the other is not is not healthy.
I don't know how that is to be resolved by either direction.
4. Acknowledge that the works of the early fathers of the Church is an important historical witness to the practices of the historical early Church. It is fine to disagree with them here and there, unhealthy to create myths of the historicity of one side’s interpretation of scripture in absence of patristic evidence of such.
I don't know Protestants of any knowledge that do not honor the works of the early fathers. That does not include elevating them to the authority of Scripture though, and there is a mistrust even of these works because of paganizing and judeaizing influences that were working mightily to influence the church, even in the days of the Apostles. If the accusation remains unspoken, it is this line of thought that is the root of our distrust of prayer to Mary and to saints. It is this line of thought that insists upon sola scriptura.