In the 1950s and 1960s it was easy to argue and even get into fights over differences between Lutherans and Catholics. But today those animosities are long gone. No one is looking for a fight.
Last October 31, Pope Francis and Bishop Mounib Younan, president of the Lutheran World Federation, signed a joint statement in which Catholics and Lutherans pledged to pursue their dialogue to remove the remaining obstacles that hinder them from reaching full unity. They also stressed their commitment to common witness on behalf of the poor, the needy and the victims of injustice.
The leadership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has signed the “Declaration on the Way” document. At the heart of it are 32 “statements of agreement” that state where Lutherans and Catholics do not have church-dividing differences on topics about church, ministry and the Eucharist. For example, Lutherans and Catholics believe the same about the real presence of Jesus in Holy Communion.
Agreement No. 30 states: “Lutherans and Catholics agree that in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, Jesus Christ himself is present. He is present truly, substantially, as a person, and he is present in his entirety, as Son of God and as a human being.”
Our church doors are not big enough to post the 32 agreements on them; however, the bulletins of Catholic and Lutheran Churches could publish a summary of them to mark the 500th anniversary the week of October 31.
As the march toward full, visible, sacramental unity nears maturity, watch for remaining differences between Catholics and Lutherans to melt away.
“And all the world wondered…” Revelation 13:3.
Source Reference
Vince Hatt: Fight over Protestant Reformation is history