wfn.org | Bishop Walter Kasper: A new beginning for Catholics and Lutherans

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

Basilica of St. Ulrich and Afra hosts ecumenical vespers

AUGSBURG, Germany/GENEVA, 31 October 1999 (lwi) - For hundreds of
ecumenical guests from around the world, ecumenical vespers celebrated
at the Catholic Basilica of St. Ulrich and Afra in Augsburg on the
evening of 30 October 1999, was a moment to pray for the signing of the
"Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification" scheduled to take
place later on today, and receive the bountiful gifts of God.

Named after two saints St. Ulrich, an exemplary bishop and prince of the
realm, and St. Afra who was burned for confessing Christ and refusing to
take part in the official rites of the empire, the Basilica where the
evening prayer took place on the eve of Reformation Day has a special
meaning in the church history of the city of Augsburg since it marks the
oldest presence of a Christian community.

And it was here that the Secretary of the Roman Catholic Church's
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) Bishop Walter
Kasper sounded the good news that Roman Catholics and Lutherans
worldwide can now claim a new beginning and bear common witness together
in the hope signified by the signing of the "Joint Declaration on the
Doctrine of Justification" taking place between the Roman Catholic
Church and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) today, 31 October 1999 in
Augsburg, the city of religious peace.

Basing his homily on Ezekiel 11: 7-20, Bishop Kasper posed the question
as to how Christians can create unity. Like Prophet Ezekiel found "we
can neither make the unity of Church"; neither "put up timetables for
it;" nor exert mutual pressure in public expecting to make any progress
on our own.

"We cannot, neither as individuals, nor as Church draw ourselves out of
the swamp. God alone is able to save us; He is the only one who gathers
us up through his Holy Spirit and through this gift of "saving grace,"
sola gratia, for the individual as well as for Church God gives "us a
new heart, makes us justified, transforms us and makes us a new
creation", making it possible to have a new beginning.

Bishop Kasper also spoke of abominations which he said existed not only
in remote pagan times but also today. "Even true and important doctrines
of the Church might become idols if they are no longer regarded as signs
of orientation making the mysteries of God present but also become an
end in themselves," he said.

The PCPCU Secretary underlined that in the new hope, new beginning, it
is not necessary at all to enumerate mutually the errors of past and
present times because being able to live in grace enables human beings
and Church to live in hope. He however added that the gospel of grace
comes with responsibility. "Whoever plays off the formula, sola gratia-
grace alone against acting has misunderstood it." Kasper said that when
the prophet spoke to the people of the new heart, it was so that they
may walk in God's commandments, keep His judgments which are summarized
in love and fulfill them.

The gospel of the gracious God, of justification, is not only valid for
the exiles and the times of the Reformation, but it is a message that
the world needs as "we go together in the new century and the new
millennium."

In his homily, the LWF General Secretary Dr. Ishmael Noko described the
affirmation of the "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification"
by signatures, as an attempt to appropriate God's forgiveness into the
life of the churches and said that responsible ways should be found to
overcome the remaining anathemas.

Basing his message on Colossians 1:13-14, under the subject, "God's
grace sets us free", Noko pointed out that when Paul wrote to the church
in Colossus and reminded them that prior to baptism they had been
prisoners of despair, doubt, pain and hatred but Christ makes "our
hearts yearn for righteousness.......striving with those who strive." In
addition, the initiative to set people free at last, transferring from
the kingdom of despair to that of hope and forgiveness are taken by God
based on divine love and grace. And this brings the "citizens of
Christ's kingdom" into life in communion with God and with one another.

"If indeed we are co-sharers in the forgiveness of God, it is only
natural that we endeavor in the spirit of reconciliation to overcome the
doctrinal anathemas that separate us from the gift of unity," Noko said.

Earlier in the afternoon, Evangelical and Catholic youth of Augsburg
celebrated at the City Hall square a painting exhibition under the
subject, "Color the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification".
During festivities at the Evangelical Church St. Ulrich they shared,
under the theme. "Am I really of value?" personal experiences and faith
witnessing. Among the guests present was the foundress of the Focolare
Movement, Ms. Chiara Lubich. During a "Night of Lights" at the
Evangelical Church St. Ulrich, they celebrated ecumenical youth prayers
and lit candles late into the evening. The Bavarian Ecumenical Youth
Council is accessible on the World Wide Web as "Justification on the
Web" at <www.The-Symbol-Project.de>

(The LWF is a global communion of 128 member churches in 70 countries
representing 58 million of the world's 61.5 million Lutherans. Its
highest decision-making body is the Assembly, held every six or seven
years. Between Assemblies, the LWF is governed by a 49-member Council
which meets annually, and by its Executive Committee.)

[Lutheran World Information is the information service of the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted, material presented
does not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various
units. Where the dateline of an article contains the notation (lwi), the
material may be freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/