Lutherans and Catholics agree to a common narrative on the Reformation

The publication From Conflict to Communion will be published this month by the Lutheran – Roman Catholic Commission on Unity. The commission is mandated by The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) to facilitate the global ecumenical dialogue between the two Christian World Communions.

LWF Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical Relations Rev. Dr Kaisamari Hintikka said the publication From Conflict to Communion: Lutheran–Roman Catholic Common Commemoration of the Reformation in 2017 contributes to strengthening the commitment to work for the visible unity of the Church. It will be presented to the LWF Council at its meeting this June.

“After centuries of mistrust and prejudging between Lutherans and Catholics, we see this [publication] as a great opportunity to reflect together on the burdens of history, and to open more possibilities for witnessing together, not just as individual Christians but as Christian churches,” Hintikka said.

The publication takes into context the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and the 50th anniversary of the Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogue in 2017. It builds on important ecumenical milestones especially the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ).

Yes, that is the Head of the CDF in the back row.

Full story

Cathcon- there is a history of the Reformation that conforms to the truth, and it is not this shared fable.

Franciscan Church becomes 4 star luxury hotel in Belgium- pictures

Martin's Paterhof Hotel in Malines, Mechelen.  Another  wonderful result of the long reign of Cardinal Danneels as primate of Belgium.

EU reminded not to forget Christian minorities around the world

Pope Francis received the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso in private audience at the Vatican on Saturday, with EU integration, the current economic crisis and promotion of religious freedom dominating talks.

A statement released by the Holy See press office reads: “The cordial discussions provided an opportunity for a useful exchange of views on the international situation, paying particular attention to the process of European integration, as well as the continuing economic crisis that has serious consequences on employment, especially for young persons, and a negative impact on family life.

As the talks continued, focus was placed on the positive contribution that the Catholic Church can offer in the current climate for Europe’s material and spiritual wellbeing. Finally, special attention was given to the promotion of human rights, especially that of religious freedom, and the protection of Christian minorities around the world”.

Source

The Pope's guest in his revolutionary Communist days- not just any old Communist but a Maoist- a follower of the biggest mass murderer in history.

Fatwa against Catholic schools

"The powerful Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has come out against Catholic schools in Tegal District, Central Java province, issuing a "controversial" a fatwa that has sparked reactions and protests.

For MUI leaders, such schools are "haram", "morally unsound" for young Muslim pupils despite the fact that they score high for the quality of the education they provide and have as a consequence attracted a large number of non-Christians."

Full story

Cardinal most likely to become Secretary of State

Will Cardinal Maradiaga be the Pope's right hand?

"Il Messaggero" reported today that the confidant of the Pope from Honduras could replace the current Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

After the Pope appointed the Cardinal to an eight-member Commission which will be on hand to help him lead the world church, Vatican insiders reckon with further personnel changes at the Vatican in the summer. Several key positions in the Roman Curia could be filled with people enjoying the confidence of the Argentine pontiff. Francis is thinking of replacing Cardinal Bertone, under fire as a result of several scandals in the past year, with the Honduran Cardinal Oscar Luigi Maradiaga . This was reported by the usually well-informed Roman newspaper "Il Messaggero" on Friday.

Maradiaga was was appointed by Pope Francis in April as the coordinator of a group of eight cardinals to draft proposals for a reform of the Roman Curia. The Commission is also participating in a plan to reform "Pastor Bonus", the Constitution of the Roman Curia . The eight Cardinals will meet in October for the first time. But Francis has been in contact with them. Cardinals from all five continents belong to this directorate.
Appointment in late July?

The 70-year-old articulate Maradiaga is the favorite of the Pope . Francis could name him after his trip to Brazil in late July as the new Vatican Secretary of State, the paper stated. The Pope will participate in World Youth Day from July 22 to 29.

Maradiaga has from time to time been hailed as the rising star of the Latin American Church. The polyglot cleric speaks as a result of his psychotherapy studies in Innsbruck also a passable German. He is an avid musician and is also open to ecumenical questions. The Salesian with three doctorates, who has been president of Caritas Internationalis since 2007 and from 1995 to 1999 was president of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), is a sharp critic of the effects of globalization.

Criticism of the lack of transparency of the Vatican Bank
In his role as coordinator of the planned reform of the Curia, Maradiaga also expressed views on the Vatican bank IOR. He claimed that "IOR as any other financial institution should publish its balance sheets." "It is important that the role of the IOR Bank should be defined, to give clarity. All banks publish reports on their activities, otherwise things will not work, "said the cardinal.

The Cardinal Secretary of State (actually Secretary of State of His Holiness ) heads the main Dicastery of the Curia, the State Secretariat. The term Cardinal Secretary of State has prevailed in the German language, as this position is always occupied by a cardinal. The Secretary of State is largely responsible for the political and diplomatic activities of the Vatican.

The current Secretary of State Cardinal Bertone is considered by Italian media as a blocker of transparency efforts of Francis' predecessor, Benedict XVI. He was especially seen in the Vatican Curia as a champion of the status quo, even with the finances.

Source

Cardinal hits out at Latin Mass

Cardinal Karl Lehmann of Mainz has used the occasion of the "Eucharistic Congress" in Cologne to oppose propagating celebrations of the Latin Mass in the "Tridentine Rite". Lehmann defended the liturgical reform after the Second Vatican Council.

"I have the impression that the whole enthusiasm for the Latin has a lot to do with prestige and the false pretenses of a supposed cultural elite," Lehmann told the "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger". Such motives made him rather skeptical, according to the Cardinal.

He defended the liturgical reform after the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) as a "golden sovereign". In 1970 in Germany, the renewed liturgy of the Mass was introduced in German and the hitherto valid Tridentine rite abolished. This form is particularly appreciated by Catholic traditionalists. After a partial withdrawal of the ban under Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. now a wider range of Masses in the old Rite are available, without the popularity increasing proportionately, explains Lehmann.

He considered "a stronger juxtaposition of both liturgical forms today not useful, as it has not grown from the grass roots" Lehmann said. "The trend is more in the direction of the renewed Mass." To the controversial revision the words of consecration in the Mass , which all the same wasordered by Benedict XVI, Lehmann said, "one has to wait for it for the time being and perhaps now tension can be removed from the whole issue."
Following the request of the former Pope, at the central point of the Mass, it does not sayany longer that the blood of Jesus was shed "for all" people but "for many." According to Lehmann, the dispute over the "for all" or "for many" was previously "under the spell of the question of whether Rome was far too attentive to the traditionalists . If you explain that God's will for salvation is for all people, the translation of the words of consecration no longer is a question of such great urgency and drama, "said the cardinal. As Pope Benedict XVI himself concedes both translations are theologically appropriate and legitimate (Cathcon- see below!) , "it is not entirely clear why then strictly only the one translation should be allowed." In addition, Lehmann called for an in-depth exchange on the phrase "for all": "'We are all going to heaven', is too simple." (Ksta)

This is the melodious but heretical popular song of 1952 to which the Cardinal refers- "We all get to heaven because we are so virtuous".



Earlier CathCon stories on the Cardinal-  his close encounter with the devil and taking to the stage with dancing girls

He was the Research Assistant of Karl Rahner, the most heretical of all the (post) Conciliar theologians and clearly some of the teaching of Father Rahner rubbed off.   Rahner even postulated the existence of anonymous Christians- psychologically helpful as he had a girlfriend who was a Communist with whom he could not be seen with in public but who he believed had a certain virtue.

Father Rahner sends 75th Birthday greetings to the old Nazi, Heidegger, whose tainted philosophy so inspired him that he begged his superiors to be sent to Heidegger's courses.

Source