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Lutheran Leaders Emphasize 'Quest for Unity' with Catholic Church
Catholic Culture ^ | 2/9/16

Posted on 02/09/2016 7:36:12 AM PST by marshmallow

The leaders of the Lutheran World Federation have issued a statement welcoming Pope Francis's upcoming trip to Sweden to commemorate the anniversary of the Reformation.

"It is historic that Catholics and Lutherans are commemorating the anniversary of the Reformation together in October 2016," Martin Junge, the federation's general secretary, said in a statement published on February 4. "In Lund we come together to give thanks for the gifts of the Reformation and our 50 years of dialogue together, repent for the human suffering and disunity of the church that followed the Reformation, and commit to joint witness in the world."

He added:

We are committed to take a step towards unity. We are seeking openness and encouragement to overcome the differences in practice and doctrine that still remain and move forward with the conviction that they can be overcome....

(Excerpt) Read more at catholicculture.org ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Ecumenism; Mainline Protestant
KEYWORDS: catholic
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel; Albion Wilde; chajin; Charles Henrickson

Just to let you know, in the spring of 2014 some higher ups from the LCMS went to the Vatican for a secret meeting with Catholic officials. It was mostly a “get to know us” meeting. What will come out of that is hard to say, but it probably will happen again eventually. Both sides kept it very hush-hush. Who knows what might happen down the road?


21 posted on 02/09/2016 12:52:49 PM PST by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
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To: vladimir998

From the few things I have heard, it was a introduction and explanation type of thing. This is who we are, and why the other Lutherans hate us.


22 posted on 02/09/2016 1:03:47 PM PST by redgolum
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To: Mom MD; marshmallow; NYer; Salvation
Having said that, the true Lutheran denominations would welcome reuniting with the RCs. As soon as they give up Mary worship, indulgences, praying to saints and the other 95 suggestions Luther made.

Have you actually read the 95 Theses? Because NONE of them addressed devotion to the Blessed Mother (though Luther did correctly call her the mother of God) or intercession of the saints. In fact, the 95 Theses never even condemned indulgences, but only their sale (which was never sanctioned by the Church) and other abuses surrounding them.

23 posted on 02/09/2016 1:04:51 PM PST by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: Mom MD

” As soon as they give up Msry worship, indulgences, praying to saints and the other 95 suggestions Luther made.”

So Luther couldn’t be Lutheran according to your rule of thumb? Got it.

http://shoebat.com/2015/01/22/reformation-not-bible-believers-martin-luther-venerated-virgin-mary-catholic-thinking/


24 posted on 02/09/2016 1:06:28 PM PST by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
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To: redgolum

“From the few things I have heard, it was a introduction and explanation type of thing. This is who we are, and why the other Lutherans hate us.”

Yeah, that’s why I said, “It was mostly a “get to know us” meeting.”


25 posted on 02/09/2016 1:09:18 PM PST by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
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To: wagglebee; Mom MD

“Have you actually read the 95 Theses?”

You’re asking a Protestant who just falsely accused Catholics of “Mary worship” if she has actually read a historical document? The chances she has read it are pretty much zero.


26 posted on 02/09/2016 1:13:18 PM PST by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
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To: marshmallow

They can unite on global warming and gay inclusion.


27 posted on 02/09/2016 1:15:06 PM PST by DungeonMaster (the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.)
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To: vladimir998
Really?
Very interesting...


28 posted on 02/09/2016 1:45:33 PM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel (Catastrophic Anthropogenic Climate Alterations: The acronym defines the science.)
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To: wagglebee

Vlad:

Don’t go too far in your apologetics regarding evangelicals such as to make them afraid of the work of the HS in their life.

No ML did not deny Theotokos.
Yes, ML excoriated the practice of indulgence by payment
He also denied any should pray to the already dead.

That doesn’t mean that some should be “tossed-aside” in maintaining the purity of doctrine. That same purity of doctrine is what is required by our Pastors, not the flock...we are simply to believe.


29 posted on 02/09/2016 1:52:15 PM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel (Catastrophic Anthropogenic Climate Alterations: The acronym defines the science.)
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To: 11th Commandment
Agreed! I think there should be more dialog between Catholic and Lutherans, but ROME should converse with the International Lutheran Council.

I learned something here. I didn't know that there was an INTERNATIONAL Lutheran Council.
I agree that Rome should speak with the International Lutheran Council. Are all Lutherans in the world are part of this? Are all their dogmas and traditions the same over the world? Just curious.

30 posted on 02/09/2016 1:57:27 PM PST by cloudmountain
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To: vladimir998; Mom MD; redgolum; lightman
I guess I'm always a little surprised by those who try to equate modern anti-Catholicism with Dr. Luther's actual beliefs.

The TRUTH is that there was a great deal of validity to Luther's grievances, but the Church has long since addressed them. But it is also the case that Luther's beliefs were far more Catholic than today's Protestantism.

Luther's actual beliefs were most similar to the Orthodox and the early Lutherans attempted to engage in dialog with the Eastern Patriarchs; however, major political issues prevented anything substantial from developing. If I remember correctly, the main objection that the Orthodox had with the Lutherans was over distinctions with regards to the Real Presence and Lutheran rejection of the intercession of saints.

31 posted on 02/09/2016 1:58:41 PM PST by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: sphinx
Over the past several decades, the RCC had a good run of strong, orthodox popes, under whom the question was largely moot. Now Francis is providing a reminder of the dangers of unsound authority in a highly centralized institution.

Pope Francis is almost 80 years old now. He can't live forever. I give him another five years, ten at most. Then, the cardinals will elect another Pope.

32 posted on 02/09/2016 1:59:05 PM PST by cloudmountain
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To: kidd

If any “unification” with Catholics will happen, Lutherans would have to agree to be under submission to the Pope of Rome in addition to accepting the dogmas that have been developed. I can’t see how anything less would satisfy Rome.


33 posted on 02/09/2016 2:00:33 PM PST by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel
He also denied any should pray to the already dead.

He certainly denied that we should pray FOR the dead souls in Purgatory.

However, nowhere in the 95 Theses did he condemn prayers for the intercession of the saints. This WAS rejected by the time of the Augsburg Confession, but I'm not sure exactly when Luther made this determination.

34 posted on 02/09/2016 2:06:43 PM PST by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: wagglebee

http://orthodoxinfo.com/inquirers/tca_luther.aspx


35 posted on 02/09/2016 2:11:31 PM PST by lightman (O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, giving to Thy Church vict'ry o'er Her enemies.)
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To: lightman
Thanks, that's pretty much what I thought had transpired. I must admit that I have NEVER understood the controversy over the Filioque, I suppose someday I need to sit down with an Orthodox scholar who can explain it to me.
36 posted on 02/09/2016 2:21:39 PM PST by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: wagglebee

95 Theses did not define ML’s belief. it certainly defined his understanding of the doctrine of repentance.

IOW, don’t define ML ^narrowly^ by his 95.


37 posted on 02/09/2016 2:27:38 PM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel (Catastrophic Anthropogenic Climate Alterations: The acronym defines the science.)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel; Mom MD
IOW, don't define ML ^narrowly^ by his 95.

I wasn't, I was addressing Mom MD's initial assertion that, "As soon as they give up Mary worship, indulgences, praying to saints and the other 95 suggestions Luther made. By pointing out that these thing weren't actually found in the 95 Theses and further pointing out that modern Protestant beliefs such as the denial of the Real Presence and the Mother of God/Theotokos were positions NEVER held by Luther.

38 posted on 02/09/2016 2:55:15 PM PST by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: chajin

Nor evidently the “Lord’s Prayer” either.


39 posted on 02/09/2016 4:07:47 PM PST by onedoug
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To: wagglebee

LCMS Lutherans do not deny the Real Presence We just believe that it exists along with (in with and under) the elements In other words bread and wine still exist as well And we do not worship the elements or believe that Christ is offered for sin again in communion He suffered and died once for all and it was finished on the cross. Communion is a solemn but joyful celebration for us

I do not believe Luther worshipped Mary or called her the blasphemous title of mother of God We certainly do not today. But again Luther initially set out to reform the Roman Church When they would not address the issues there was no other solution than to break with Rome to follow Christ.


40 posted on 02/09/2016 4:27:28 PM PST by Mom MD
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