This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/19/pope-francis-draws-criticism-protestant-concessions

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Pope Francis draws criticism over Protestant concessions Pope Francis draws criticism over Protestant concessions
(7 months later)
Pope Francis has come under fire from traditional Catholics who are growing alarmed that the Vatican is making too many concessions to Protestants – specifically, Lutherans – in the pope’s effort to foster Christian unity.Pope Francis has come under fire from traditional Catholics who are growing alarmed that the Vatican is making too many concessions to Protestants – specifically, Lutherans – in the pope’s effort to foster Christian unity.
Traditionalists are crying foul over what they are calling “unprecedented expressions of openness ... towards Lutheranism,” from moves as seemingly benign as the Vatican supporting the naming of a square in Rome after Martin Luther, to remarks by the pope late last year in which he seemed to open the door to Lutherans accepting communion in a Catholic church.Traditionalists are crying foul over what they are calling “unprecedented expressions of openness ... towards Lutheranism,” from moves as seemingly benign as the Vatican supporting the naming of a square in Rome after Martin Luther, to remarks by the pope late last year in which he seemed to open the door to Lutherans accepting communion in a Catholic church.
The worry and anger seemed to reach boiling point last week when top officials from the Catholic and Lutheran churches released a joint press release describing a “common prayer” that is to be used in services to mark next year’s 500th anniversary of the Protestant reformation, the movement that divided the church and was spearheaded by Luther.The worry and anger seemed to reach boiling point last week when top officials from the Catholic and Lutheran churches released a joint press release describing a “common prayer” that is to be used in services to mark next year’s 500th anniversary of the Protestant reformation, the movement that divided the church and was spearheaded by Luther.
The 16th-century monk from Germany, who was eventually ex-communicated from the church, launched the reformation in 1517 when he nailed his 95 theses to a church door in Wittenberg, a document that questioned the Catholic church’s selling of indulgences in exchange for forgiveness of sins.The 16th-century monk from Germany, who was eventually ex-communicated from the church, launched the reformation in 1517 when he nailed his 95 theses to a church door in Wittenberg, a document that questioned the Catholic church’s selling of indulgences in exchange for forgiveness of sins.
Rorate Caeli, a traditionalist blog that often publishes scathing critiques of Pope Francis, said the common prayer was dominated by “Protestant material” and “one-sided praise for the reformation” while not accepting any concessions about elements of Catholic history, theology and heritage.Rorate Caeli, a traditionalist blog that often publishes scathing critiques of Pope Francis, said the common prayer was dominated by “Protestant material” and “one-sided praise for the reformation” while not accepting any concessions about elements of Catholic history, theology and heritage.
“The reformation and Martin Luther are repeatedly extolled, while the counter-reformation and the popes and saints of the 16th century are passed over in total silence,” the blog said. “The overwhelming emphasis in this service is on what supposedly unites Catholics and Lutherans, while the doctrines that ‘divide’ us – doctrines for which innumerable Catholic martyrs and confessors suffered, bled, fought and died – are left unmentioned and abandoned.”“The reformation and Martin Luther are repeatedly extolled, while the counter-reformation and the popes and saints of the 16th century are passed over in total silence,” the blog said. “The overwhelming emphasis in this service is on what supposedly unites Catholics and Lutherans, while the doctrines that ‘divide’ us – doctrines for which innumerable Catholic martyrs and confessors suffered, bled, fought and died – are left unmentioned and abandoned.”
Rorate Caeli is considered to be among the pope’s most hardline critics. It believes in restoring a Latin mass and opposes the modernising reforms of the second Vatican council. In a recent tweet, Rorate Caeli complained that modern popes “love visiting mosques and synagogues” but never a traditional Latin mass.Rorate Caeli is considered to be among the pope’s most hardline critics. It believes in restoring a Latin mass and opposes the modernising reforms of the second Vatican council. In a recent tweet, Rorate Caeli complained that modern popes “love visiting mosques and synagogues” but never a traditional Latin mass.
Modern popes love visiting mosques & synagogues, but NEVER a traditional Latin Mass #churchofvatican2 https://t.co/elsu5dbWDOModern popes love visiting mosques & synagogues, but NEVER a traditional Latin Mass #churchofvatican2 https://t.co/elsu5dbWDO
In November, during a visit to a Lutheran church in Rome, the pope was asked by a Lutheran woman whether she could take communion with her Catholic husband. In a vague response, the pope suggested the answer was yes, based on the fact she was baptised and said she needed to follow her conscience, although he also said the theological question fell outside his competence.In November, during a visit to a Lutheran church in Rome, the pope was asked by a Lutheran woman whether she could take communion with her Catholic husband. In a vague response, the pope suggested the answer was yes, based on the fact she was baptised and said she needed to follow her conscience, although he also said the theological question fell outside his competence.
Reporting on the issue at the time for the conservative Catholic newspaper, the National Catholic Register, the journalist and Vatican observer Edward Pentin said Francis’s words had caused widespread concern in Rome, leading some unnamed commentators to believe they were an “attack on the sacraments”.Reporting on the issue at the time for the conservative Catholic newspaper, the National Catholic Register, the journalist and Vatican observer Edward Pentin said Francis’s words had caused widespread concern in Rome, leading some unnamed commentators to believe they were an “attack on the sacraments”.
A source said to be close to the Vatican told Pentin “the Rubicon has been crossed” and accused the pope of mocking doctrine, even if he had done it in a “charming way”.A source said to be close to the Vatican told Pentin “the Rubicon has been crossed” and accused the pope of mocking doctrine, even if he had done it in a “charming way”.
Related: Don’t look to the pope for enlightenment values | Nick Cohen
Traditionalists would have preferred only a single answer, Pentin told the Guardian: the woman should have been told to convert to Catholicism. “It is reflective of how the pope sees other religions. That there is no call to conversions, and that all have their own path to God,” Pentin said.Traditionalists would have preferred only a single answer, Pentin told the Guardian: the woman should have been told to convert to Catholicism. “It is reflective of how the pope sees other religions. That there is no call to conversions, and that all have their own path to God,” Pentin said.
At the heart of the ongoing debate, said Austen Ivereigh, who has written a biography of the pope called the Great Reformer, is Francis’s conviction that “it is his task to create new spaces for the churches to work and pray together”.At the heart of the ongoing debate, said Austen Ivereigh, who has written a biography of the pope called the Great Reformer, is Francis’s conviction that “it is his task to create new spaces for the churches to work and pray together”.
Francis is not the first pope to try to further relationship between Catholics and Lutherans – inroads were made both under John Paul II and Benedict XVI – but Ivereigh said Francis has made bolder actions and gestures, focusing less on theological issues.Francis is not the first pope to try to further relationship between Catholics and Lutherans – inroads were made both under John Paul II and Benedict XVI – but Ivereigh said Francis has made bolder actions and gestures, focusing less on theological issues.
“In this sense, it makes him prophetic because he is taking the church into territory that is new and he is doing it outside the traditional channels of dialogue, and that is why he makes not just traditionalists nervous, but also plenty of people within the Vatican,” Ivereigh said.“In this sense, it makes him prophetic because he is taking the church into territory that is new and he is doing it outside the traditional channels of dialogue, and that is why he makes not just traditionalists nervous, but also plenty of people within the Vatican,” Ivereigh said.
The 79-year-old Argentinian pope seemed to acknowledge the controversy in a statement on Monday, in welcoming remarks to a delegation of Finnish Lutherans.The 79-year-old Argentinian pope seemed to acknowledge the controversy in a statement on Monday, in welcoming remarks to a delegation of Finnish Lutherans.
“In our dialogue, differences still remain in doctrine and in practice,” he said. “This must not discourage us, but instead spur us along our journey towards ever greater unity, not least by working to overcome old ideas and suspicions.”“In our dialogue, differences still remain in doctrine and in practice,” he said. “This must not discourage us, but instead spur us along our journey towards ever greater unity, not least by working to overcome old ideas and suspicions.”