From conflict to confusion. A brief critical analysis of the "Catholic-Lutheran Joint Document"

Father Giovanni

FROM CONFLICT TO CONFUSION. A BRIEF ANALYSIS CRITICISM OF "JOINT PAPER Catholic-Lutheran".

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The Lefebvrians have no cause for alarm and the modernists do not believe to win. The Pope's visit falls into the traditional ecumenical meetings of the now implemented by the Popes since Vatican Council II. And if a day Luther shouted Los from Rome, [Out of Rome!], His disciples can now be desired, under the impulse of the Holy Spirit, return to Rome, that will welcome them with open arms, offering them the fullness of that communion, for now that they possess only in part.

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Author John Cavalcoli OP

Author
Giovanni Cavalcoli, ON

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Square-luther

Square dedicated by the City of Rome to Martin Luther.

In the context of Pontifical Council for Christian Unity It was published in 2013 a joint document of Catholics and Lutherans entitled "From conflict to communion" in preparation for the upcoming celebrations 2017 the start of the "reform" of the Lutheran 1517.

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For a Catholic review of this document, it may be useful to refer to the "Response of the Catholic Church to Joint Declaration between the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation on the doctrine of justification» [1] (d)he 1998. This Declaration, instead, It was published by the Council in 1999. Document, I have already had occasion to consider this our Patmos Island and to which I refer the readers [My previous article, WHO].

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The document of 1998 It notes the positive and negative aspects of the joint statement the 1999, which it is widely used by the document of 2013, which it is much wider.

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Pope-thesis-of-luther

Photo ANSA Vatican – Lutheran Delegation gives the Holy Father Francis a valuable copy of 95 Theses of Martin Luther

Here I would like to make some comments and some critical notes, especially of a dogmatic nature, Document of 2013, done with much effort, and ranging on many issues of Lutheran thought, and on the history of Lutheranism, and the relations between Catholics and Lutherans in the history of yesterday and today. First, there is much to be pleased by the strength and clarity, with which the document recalls that Luther retained some of the fundamental truths of the Christian faith: the Trinitarian Mystery, the Incarnation and the Redemption, writing, the Our Father, Baptism, the memory of the Lord's Supper, the grace, the sin, the commandments, the ministry, the church, the salvation. But the document nevertheless suffers from some fundamental flaws.

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First basic flaw. The question of truth and error is concealed by euphemisms such as "differences", "Accents" and "diversity". Now, the fundamental question of ecumenism is a matter of truth. Who is right? Luther and the Pope? Leo X and the Council of Trent have done well, or they did wrong to condemn the doctrines of Luther? These are the things to be clarified.

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the statue of Martin Luther brought by the Lutheran delegation visits by the Holy Father

Second basic flaw. The Lutherans speak of "divisions" and show grieving of these divisions. However, the document seems to speak indifferently of "differences" and "divisions". Now, the differences and varieties, by itself, on the basis of the one faith, are good things, I have a wealth of the Church.

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The differences are a good thing, of which it is enough to rejoice. No one thinks to suppress the differences between Dominicans and Franciscans in the name of Unit. But the "differences" between Catholics and Lutherans are quite different. These are real divisions, a disgrace, to which it is absolutely necessary to remedy in the name of unity of the Church. This is the purpose of ecumenism.

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Third basic flaw. But how to remedy these divisions? What they consist essentially? They touch certain truths of faith. He explains these divisions Decree Reintegratio, the dove, to n. 3, He says that in the past "not small communities became separated from the Church". They maintain "several goods which come from Christ and lead to Him, that they belong to the one Church of Christ ". Although "only the Catholic Church possesses the fullness of the means of salvation", while communities - including of course there are the Lutheran communities - , possess the "shortcomings", so they "do not enjoy that unity which Jesus Christ wished to bestow the Church", guided "by the Apostles with Peter as its head" -. Because of this, it is necessary that they are "fully incorporated to it '.

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Pope-the-pope-with-luther

The meeting with the Holy Father ecumenical manifesto of the Lutheran Delegation: «With Luther pope» [Luther with the Pope]. A completely different way of relating to the papacy, if we think that Luther thundered "Lost of Rome!» [away from Rome!]

Fourth basic flaw. You look at some points to make it appear as a Catholic Luther, such as the doctrine of grace, while they interpret the Lutheran sense certain Catholic truths, as for example the concept of Tradition. It does not recognize to Luther that he had committed any error in faith, and they are silent condemnations of Leo X and the Council of Trent. Well, This is not honest. The communion is achieved common acceptance of the truth and not based on misconceptions and falsehoods. If the Lutherans do not want to feel pain and not procure more to the Church, finally have the humility to recognize the errors of Luther and that he could not be considered the most skilful interpreter of Scripture and insightful of the Pope and the Ecumenical Councils.

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The Holy Father's visit to Lund It fits into the line of the now traditional ecumenical meetings implemented by the Popes since Vatican Council II. He goes neither to celebrate nor to reproach Luther Lutherans, but to share and pray with our separated brothers. It is a gesture of great generosity and openness of mind, for which we Catholics would expect Lutherans a gesture of rapprochement in Rome. Therefore Lefebvre have no cause for alarm and the modernists do not believe to win. And if a day Luther shouted Los from Rome, [Out of Rome!], His disciples can now be desired, under the impulse of the Holy Spirit, return to Rome, that will welcome them with open arms, offering them the fullness of that communion, for now that they possess only in part.

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Varazze, 27 October 2016

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[1] Note of the Pontifical Council: this Note, which constitutes the official Catholic Response to the text of the Joint Declaration, It has been prepared by common agreement between the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, It is signed by the President of the Pontifical Council, directly responsible for the ecumenical dialogue [full text WHO].

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5 replies
  1. hector says:

    Rev. Dad,
    concluded his visit to Lund, the full text is available in the ecumenical prayer and
    Joint statement on the occasion of the Commemoration Joint Catholic-Lutheran Reformation,as well as today's homily, I can ask you to comment on their content?
    These links Vatican:
    http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/homilies/2016/documents/papa-francesco_20161031_omelia-svezia-lund.html
    http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/events/event.dir.html/content/vaticanevents/it/2016/10/31/dichiarazione-congiunta.html
    http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/speeches/2016/october/documents/papa-francesco_20161031_svezia-evento-ecumenico.html
    In the evening, or rather tomorrow should be available also the official account of the press conference on the return flight, Already circulating rumors and anticipations ..

  2. Zamax says:

    said fondly, But this Pope makes us suffer. And before leaving he granted the interview to his usual “Amici” where they abound mellifluous tones for Luther and the usual ambiguous expressions. Now, I am sure of three things: he does so with an upright heart; that is not so naive as not to know that they can lead to confusion in the flock; and that no matter how you try to use the utmost plainness of speech, a certain ambiguity is always inherent to the language. But he is confidently believing that this is a price (a fair price, since it is not caused by falsity or open doctrinal error) payable in view of a greater good, and that with time everything will channel itself in the truth. The fact remains that the meager ranks of “Lefebvrians” and the greatest of “modernists”, for diametrically opposite reasons, want to read in his words the same thing: The break with tradition. Because inevitably one day the nodes come home to roost, I fear that the false friends of the revolt now against the more violently the more enthusiastically they were deluded exploit it. Of course, Providence will then make profitable even imprudently…

  3. Paul says:

    I have the impression that ecumenism commonly understood, This dialogue first, It became in fact an idol.

    Which sacrifice everything, since the Supreme Pontiff in Sweden was not going to celebrate No setup, because he wanted “insist on an ecumenical witness”.

    Va beh, I do not allarmerò. Eventually I take a nice statue of St. Luther Eresiarca and put next to that of St. Judas Iscariot Traitor and as bedtime reading procure me a beautiful version of 95 thesis.

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