The renowned theologian Hans Kung, who has promoted ecumenical
understanding throughout his long career, has criticised the “Common
Word” document issued jointly by the Catholic and Protestant Churches in
Germany to celebrate the Reformation Anniversary, for its failure to
address “the deadlock that exists in both church hierarchies on the
decisive issues”.
In a letter written exclusively to the Tablet and the National
Catholic Reporter (NCR), Kung declares: “500 years after the Reformation
it is time to end the schism!”
In September 2016 the chairman of the Protestant Churches in Germany
(EKD), Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, and the president of the German
Catholic bishops’ conference, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, presented their
“Common Word” entitled “Healing Memories – Bearing Witness to Christ”.
After five centuries of condemning and inflicting wounds upon each
other, said Kung, the two leading Churches in Germany declared that they
intended to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation together as a “Feast for Jesus Christ”.
When he met the two leaders in Rome, Kung said, Pope Francis spoke of
“an already reconciled diversity”, saying he greatly appreciated the
spiritual and theological gifts that the Reformation had given us and
that he wanted to do everything he could “to overcome the obstacles that
still remained”.
“We ecumenically committed Christians at long last want to see
actions. Unfortunately, the ‘Common Word’ does not mention the deadlock
that exists in both church hierarchies on the decisive issues and
disregards the fact that in many Protestant and Catholic communities
ecumenism has already been practised for a long time now.
However, Kung
is sceptical regarding the strength of the Vatican’s determination to
overcome these obstacles. “We have heard Vatican declarations of intent
and suggestions of repentance and reconciliation all too often,” he told
The Tablet and NCR.
"For these communities, mutual recognition of each other’s ministries
and Eucharistic hospitality are no longer a problem. Church leaders lag
far behind them. If the leaders do not take the matter of ‘overcoming
the still remaining obstacles’ seriously, they alone will have to bear
the responsibility for not doing so before God and the faithful.”
Kung says the Church should consider Martin Luther’s rehabilitation;
lifting all the excommunications that were pronounced in the Reformation
era; recognising Protestant and Anglican ministries; and “mutual
Eucharistic hospitality.”
Merely celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation without really ending the schism means incurring yet more guilt, he insists.
“May the pressure exerted by theologians, grass roots Christians,
Christian communities and many committed men and women help the church
leadership in Rome and elsewhere, which is so often hesitant and afraid,
not to miss this historic opportunity but to wake up, otherwise yet
more people will turn away from the Church and more communities and
groups will take the law into their own hands!” he warns.
“In today’s world, Christianity will only come across as credible if it presents itself in truly reconciled diversity.”
* HANS KÜNG LETTER TO THE TABLET: '500 YEARS AFTER THE REFORMATION: END THE SCHISM!'