Dialogue Press Release
USCC News Release: Lutherans, Roman Catholics End Study on Justification (1983)
USCC News Release: Lutherans, Roman Catholics End Study on Justification by William Ryan, September 20, 1983
WASHINGTON--Lutheran and Roman Catholic theologians concluded a five-year study on justification by faith with substantial agreement on an issue that has been a source of division and misunderstanding between the two traditions since the 16th century Reformation.
The 20 theologians recognized their differences on the doctrine but did not consider these disagreements to be "church-dividing," according to a communique released after the (September 15-18) meeting, held at the Archbishop Cousins Catholic Center in Milwaukee.
The paper is the 7th completed by the U.S. theologians since the dialogue began in 1965. Other papers were on the Nicene Creed, Baptism, Eucharist as Sacrifice, Eucharist as Ministry, Papal Primacy, and Infallibility and Teaching Authority of the Church. The communique, issued on behalf of the group by its co-chairman, the Rev. Dr. H. George Anderson, President of Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, said the more than 21,000-word document is expected to be released "soon."