This is the time of year my Lutheran friends share photos of Reformation choirs and Martin Luther-themed socks on social media. Yet, to my Roman Catholic friends, the Reformation isn’t something to celebrate. In their eyes, our admiration for Martin Luther is as misguided as holding a big party in honour of one’s divorce. They Read more
ROME – This year marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, and since we’ve framed that world-changing event for a half-millennium now as “Catholics v. Protestants,” it’s easy to forget a simple truth about what happened on Oct. 31, 1517, and everything that followed: Martin Luther’s original audience was made up entirely, 100 percent, by Read more
The anniversary observed by many Protestants as Reformation Day (October 31st) has a special significance this year, since it will be 500 years since Martin Luther launched the Protestant Reformation in Germany by sending his famous 95 theses to the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther may also have posted his manifesto, following academic tradition, on the Read more
This coming year will mark the five-hundredth anniversary of Martin Luther’s posting of his 95 Theses onto the door of the collegiate church of Wittenberg, traditionally regarded as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. It has been a cause of some concern and consternation for many Catholics to have learned that there will be Catholic Read more
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Protestants and Catholics to emphasise what they have in common as Germany prepares to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017. “Especially in a very secular world, we should always stress what is common in the Christian religion,” said Merkel, who is the daughter of a Read more
Catholic officials are signalling not to expect any ecumenical breakthroughs when Pope Benedict honours the 16th Century Protestant reformer, Martin Luther, during his state visit to Germany this month. Benedict will use the visit to stress ecumenical cooperation, meet Protestant leaders and tour a monastery in Erfurt where Luther once worked and prayed, and while Read more