ECUMENICAL TRENDS - Vol 43 No 5 - Lutheran Catholic Dialogue: The 2017 Anniversary

Sep 21, 2026

ECUMENICAL TRENDS presents an ecumenical discussion on the Lutheran-Catholic Common Commemoration of the Reformation in 2017, framing the 500th anniversary of Luther’s 95 Theses alongside the 50th anniversary of the international Lutheran-Catholic dialogue begun in 1967. The article highlights a penitential and self-critical approach set by the dialogue’s co-chairs, reviews different evaluations of the medieval legacy and Luther’s spiritual search, and summarizes insights from the report From Conflict to Communion on justification, reform, and ongoing relevance for contemporary Christians.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Lutheran Catholic Dialogue: The 2017 Anniversary

2017 anniversaries and commemorative aims

Foreword and the penitential, self-critical approach

Re-evaluating Luther and medieval legacy

Justification, reform, and insights from the report

Historical sketch of the Reformation and Catholic response

ECUMENICAL TRENDS Vol 43 No 5 ■ Graymoor Ecumenical&Interreligious Institute m May 2014 # A Ministry ofthe Franciscan Friars of the Atonement :Marygrove College LIrr8425 West McNichols RoadDetroit,MI 48221 # Lutheran Catholic Dialogue:The 2017 Anniversary By David Carter The year 2017 will see both the five hundredthanniversary of Luther's famous ninety-five theses,traditionally regarded as the beginning of the Refor-mation,and the fiftieth anniversary of the internationalLutheran-Catholic dialogue,which has gone on continuouslysince 1967 and which has been one of the most detailed andfruitful of all the bilateral ecumenical dialogues.With theseanniversaries in mind and desiring a commemoration of themwhich is both joyful and yet also penitential,on account ofthe past sins and deficiencies within both communions,theinternational Commission has produced its latest reportFrom Conflict to Communion.Lutheran-Catholic CommonCommemoration of the Reformation in 2017. An important tone is set by the two co-chairs in theirForeword where,having stressed Luther's teaching that “theentire life of believers should be one of repentance”,theysay,"we Lutheran and Catholic Christians want to take itseriously by directing our critical glance first at ourselvesand not at each other”,(my italics).Such an attitude shouldcharacterize the partners in any bilateral dialogue,the will-ingness to look again at their own denominational historyand development and to acknowledge that within it whichhas been distorted as a result of polemics and self-justifica-tion against others.An early example is given in the ensuingdiscussion of the medieval legacy which constituted theimmediate background to the Reformation.Both partnersrecognized that they had presented distorted views of thatheritage in the generation following the Reformation schism,with Lutherans tending to present it as an era of darkness, while Catholics extolled it as an age of light,both viewsignoring the very complex mixture of spiritual achievement,coexisting with deficiencies that cried out for reform andrenewal,within the same period.' Roman Catholics may wonder what there is to com-memorate about the Reformation per se.The answer,givenby the Commission,is the genuineness of Luther's spiritualsearch and its very positive results in re-emphasizing thecentrality of God's free grace in the life of the Church andeach Christian.The second chapter of the Report,'NewPerspectives on Martin Luther and the Reformation'givesflesh to this,showing how Roman Catholic scholars havecome to a very different evaluation of Luther from thetraditionally negative one of the Counter-Reformation andthe Roman Catholic Church in general up to the time ofVatican II.It is now recognized that the Augsburg Confessionof 1530,still the standard Lutheran confession,stated thedoctrine of justification within the context of the faith of thetraditional creeds and that it called for a real reform of theChurch and a new zeal in Christian spirituality rather than acomplete break with the past. Paragraph 30 cites the tribute paid in 2011 by PopeBenedict XVI to Luther."What constantly exercised (Luther) continued on page 2 David Carter is a church historian and a member ofthe British Catholic-Methodist dialogue and the RomanCatholic-World Methodist Council dialogue.He has beena frequent contributor to Ecumenical Trends. G IN THIS ISSUE G Lutheran Catholic Dialogue:Has Christ Been Divided?"Musings on Mission from aThe 2017 AnniversaryRoman Catholic Perspective” DAVID CARTER………………………………………………………Page 1 WILFRED TYRRELL,SA……………… …age 12Sabbath and SundayTHANGARAJ MICHAEL…… …………………Page 7 LUTHERAN CATHOLIC DIALOGUE:THE 2017 ANNIVERSARY,from page 1 was the question of God,the deep passion and driving forceof his whole life's journey.'How do I find a gracious God?-this question struck him in the heart and lay at the foundationof all his theological searching and in

FAQs

What two anniversaries in 2017 does the article focus on?

It connects 2017’s 500th anniversary of Luther’s 95 Theses with the 50th anniversary of the international Lutheran-Catholic dialogue that has continued since 1967.

What tone does the foreword set for the dialogue?

The co-chairs emphasize repentance and direct critical attention first toward oneself rather than toward the other communion, encouraging partners to review their own history and development.

How does the report evaluate Luther and the Reformation?

It stresses the genuineness of Luther’s spiritual search and positive results in re-emphasizing God’s free grace, including recognition of justification taught within the Augsburg Confession (1530) and a call for real reform rather than a complete break.

Sep 21, 2026

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