Pastor Paul McCain says some lovely things about the Pope, while not denying the deep theological differences that still divide Lutheranism from Catholicism. He even commends the Catholics for sticking to what they believe, unlike the ELCA Lutherans in the Joint Declaration of the Doctrine of Justification by Faith:
Though I disagree, profoundly and deeply, with many of his core theological convictions, I have great respect for him and for his church. Unlike churches that share the name "Lutheran" with me, John Paul II never compromised what his church stood for. The "Joint Declaration of Justification" was a powerful witness to this reality for the Roman Church. They made it perfectly clear there was *no* modification of their teaching on justification and John Paul II was quick to make clear that the Council of Trent's classic formulations stand and are not changed. It was so-called "Lutherans" who compromised the very heart of the Reformation and sacrificed it on the altar of ecumenism.
Is ecumensim important enough for us to sacrifice what makes us Lutheran, the belief that we are completely and wholly justified by Christ's death on the cross? If so, why don't we just become Catholics? If there really is no difference, would it not be better to be in the Catholic church rather than Catholic Lite where abortions are covered in health policies for ELCA workers and we are working very hard to declare homosexual sex not to be a sin so that we can ordain non-celibate homosexuals and bless homosexual unions? If there is nothing distinctive about us and we can agree with just about everybody (except for those who take a more, um, literal, shudder, view of the Bible), then what is the point of our existence?
Sorry to go off on the rant. Click on the title. Beautiful, very Lutheran tribute to a man who has been a positive force in the world for 25 years. God bless you, Pope John Paul II.
---Katie
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