Pope Francis asked to revoke Luther’s excommunication

Pope Francis is being asked to lift the excommunication of Martin Luther and thus seal Catholic-Lutheran reconciliation. Cleansing the legacy of the 16th-century reformer would remove a major block to Christian unity, influential ecumenical thinkers say. A papal initiative shall be reciprocated by Lutheran leaders. Other Protestant churches will be motivated into deeper talks for communion.

Harsh words exchanged in the wake of Luther’s schism 500 years ago need to be taken back. That will cap 50 years of efforts at Catholic-Lutheran mending, the Altenberg Ecumenical Discussion Circle believes. The group of German-speaking Catholic and Protestant theologians has been gaining support since calling for Luther’s restoration last June. They were inspired by Pope Francis’ 2017 remark, on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, that Luther’s intention “was to renew the Church, not divide her.”

A date is suggested for the historic restoration: Jan. 3, 2021. It is also the Feast of the Epiphany, the manifestation of Christ.

On that day five centuries ago, Pope Leo X excommunicated Luther via the bull “Decet Romanum Pontificem.” Four years earlier the German monk had nailed his Ninety-Five Theses on the Wittenberg church door. Aided by newly invented printing, the schism spread fast across Christian Europe.

By June 1520 Leo X issued a bull “condemning, reprobating and rejecting completely” 41 of Luther’s theses. He called them “errors... either heretical, scandalous, false, offensive to pious ears or seductive of simple minds, and against Catholic truth.” Luther was given 60 days to recant or be expelled.

Instead, Luther reaffirmed his declarations and added, “Whoever wrote that bull, he is Antichrist.” On deadline day, he and fellow-reformer Philip Melancthon burned a copy of the bull and other papal documents.

Expulsion followed. In “Decet Romanum Pontificem” Leo X censured Luther as a “misguided,” “debased,” “depraved,” “damnable ...heretic.” Persecutions and wars ensued as monarchs and nobles took sides.

Rescinding the excommunication would delete such descriptions. The Altenberg Circle also urges the Lutheran World Federation to revoke Luther’s condemnation of the pope as “Antichrist.” The Circle includes prominent Catholic theologians Johanna Rahner and Dorothea Sattler of the Universities of Tübingen and of Münster. It publishes studies and strides in Christian unification.

In 1999 the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics and 80 million Lutherans came closer to harmony. Resolved was the fundamental rift on whether faith alone leads to salvation, which Lutherans uphold, or if good works are necessary, as Catholics aver. A Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification had this key message: “By grace alone, in faith in Christ’s saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us and calling us to good works.” It came after decades of dialogue since 1966 between LWF and the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

The World Methodist Council endorsed the accord in 2006. The World Communion of Reformed Churches, which groups Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed, United, Uniting and Waldesian churches, followed suit in 2016.

Pope Francis joined in 2016 the Lutherans’ kickoff in Sweden of a yearlong commemoration of 500 years of tradition. Beside LWF president Munib Younan, the pontiff prayed, “The Holy Spirit help us to rejoice in the gifts that have come to the church through Reformation, prepare us to repent for the dividing walls that we, and our forebears, have built and equip us for common witness and service in the world.”

Francis has been reaching out to other Christian churches. “Finally!” he beamed, as he and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill kissed thrice on the cheeks before their three-hour exchange. The meeting at the Havana Airport lounge in February 2016 was the first in a thousand years between the Bishop of Rome and the Patriarch of Moscow.

In October 2016 Francis met twice in Rome with Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby. Their joint statement sought to overcome serious obstacles to full unity. Catholic-Anglican talks began in 1915. A century later it bogged down when some Anglican districts ordained women priests and a bishop in a same-sex marriage. Dialogue continues on complementary administering of sacraments.

In December 2017 Francis welcomed to the Vatican leaders of the World Evangelical Alliance. Discussions centered on closer cooperation against Christian suppression, violence and human trafficking. WEA general secretary Efraim Tendero discussed cooperation in bible distribution. Bishop Efraim headed for two decades the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches and the Philippine Relief and Development Services.

A weaving thread in unification talks among Catholics and Protestants is the sacrifice of their martyrs for the faith.

The coinage of “ecumenism” reflects deep desire among Christians to overcome divisions of history, rites and teachings. Forgiveness is key. Often quoted in ecumenical gatherings is John 17, in which Jesus prays that His followers be one so that the world will believe. American Lutheran Rev. Christopher Olkiewicz suggests as well Matthew 18, where Peter asks Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus replies, “Not seven times, but I tell you, seventy-seven times.” Anybody keeping count would have forgiven well before reaching that number.

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