Catholic Church to confess guilt for Reformation in 2017?

Ratzinger Student Circle also discussed "mea culpa" for 2017

Ratzinger Student Circle spokesman Father Stephan Otto Horn commented in an interview with "Vatican Radio" - "Reformation Commemoration 2017 would be a good moment for an admission of guilt"

Pope Benedict XVI and the Ratzinger Student Circle discussed at the meeting in Castel Gandolfo last weekend the question of an ecumenical "Mea Culpa" for the Reformation anniversary year: This was reported by Circle spokesman, Father Stephan Otto Horn  in an interview with "Radio Vatican". On this occasion, a Protestant representative also participated in the meeting of the circle of students - the retired bishop of Hamburg Ulrich Wilcken.

"It has been discussed in the conversation in a particular way, the question of whether a mutual confession of guilt can be of assistance. This is also a major theme of the Pope, that he sometimes has called it 'purification of memory'. This means to think about and consider these painful contradictions in a fresh way and to o admit guilt, and from there to look at the past with new eyes and heart, "said the retired Professor of Fundamental Theology in Passau to Vatican Radio".

The difficulty of these ambiguities that had "invaded the heart over the centuries " is continuing, according to Father Horn, "This is not just one thing that has been, but one that's present," he recalled, "thus you have to try to overcome that. "

The Reformation Comemorative Year 2017 would be a "good moment for this admission," said Horn. As possible, "to take over the year several days when one recalls events that have hurt the other" would be.

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