ptl@fluke.UUCP (Mike Andrews) (03/30/85)
Hi,
I called the Seattle Public Library, and the librarian at my local archdiocese
to get some information partially explaining some (how's that for a
definite maybe) of the problems the Roman Catholic Church had at the
time of Martin Luther. Here goes: Martin Luther published his "95 Theses" on
October 31, 1571. There were many abuses in the Roman Catholic Church at
that time. Some of the popes had already made many concessions
to Catholic royalty, some under pressure, some through bribery. Not neat.
There is a *partial* explanation as to how there were some corrupt priests and
popes then --- the Black Plague. The Black Plague hit Europe in the 1300's,
first in Italy around 1348. It came from China and India along the trade
routes. Nearly 1/4 of the population of Europe was wiped out. According to
Phillip Hughes' "A Popular History of the Catholic Church", 1947/1966,
pages 152-153, the clergy lost terribly while caring for the dieing. This
left a vacuum which was often filled with the wrong people, leading to
some of the problems seen later; some of the people being neither trained
nor even religious. This is not, of course, the only reason for the abuses
and problems of the time, but it is a valid, historical fact, and did
contribute to the situation. Another book that I'm told touches on the
subject is Thomas Bokencotter's "A Concise History of the Catholic
Church", 1979.
How about a quick look at the Lutherans and Roman Catholics of today - praise
God. Since Vatican II, a lot of great things have happened, and continue to.
The USA National Committee of Lutheran World Federation and the US Catholic
Conference have been working hard to point out the many things the two
denominations have in common. The results are found in a series of documents
they have published:
1) 1965 - "The Status of Nicene Creed as Dogma of the Church"
2) 1965 - "One Baptism for the Remission of Sins"
3) 1965 - "The Eucharist as Sacrifice"
4) ???? - "Eucharist and Ministry"
5) 1974 - "People, Primacy and the Universal Church"
6) 1978 - "Teaching Authority and Infallibility In the Church"
7) Hopefully sometime this Spring - "On Justification"
Personal side - I'm Roman Catholic; one of my brothers (as in - we fought
with each other when smaller) married a beautiful Lutheran woman 8 years
ago. They were married in a Lutheran church by a Lutheran Priest and
a Catholic Priest in a lovely service. All with the Roman Catholic
Church's full blessings and cooperation. They now have a beautiful baby
girl, that my folks can't take their eyes off of, that is being raised in the
Lutheran Church.
Things have and will continue to change for the better, wouldn't you say.
God Bless you all and your families,
Your Brother in Christ,
Mike Andrews
--
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