Can a Renewal Movement Be Renewed? by Michael Kinnamon

Author:Michael Kinnamon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Eerdmans Publishing
Published: 2014-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

Ongoing Scandal

We noted at the beginning of this chapter that there has been marked improvement in Protestant-­Catholic relations when compared with the situation a half century ago, and the examples we have cited bear this out. At the same time, we agree with Cardinal Walter Kasper, former head of the Vatican office for promoting Christian unity, that “there is now much disenchantment at unfulfilled expectations.”19 In other words, while the members of our churches have reason to be thankful for advances in unity, we also have reason to ask why more has not been done. Why have the directives of Vatican II not been more energetically implemented? Why have Protestants not welcomed Catholic neighbors more warmly? Why have the leaders of these Reformation churches not encouraged such welcome more vigorously? Why have the results of Catholic-­Protestant dialogues not been more widely distributed and joyfully taught in our churches? Why are there not more covenants between Catholic parishes and Protestant congregations? Why are we not doing all that is now permitted?

Cardinal Kasper’s successor at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Kurt Koch, gives powerful voice to our conviction: “That Christians who believe in Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of the world and are baptized into his one body continue to live in churches separated from one another is the great offense which Christendom still offers to the world today and which deserves to be called a scandal.”20 We pray that the Holy Spirit will convict Protestants and Catholics from Seattle to Miami, from Boston to San Diego, of this offense and lead us in each local setting to “act together in all matters except those in which deep differences of conviction compel [us] to act separately” — until the day when we are truly united in the name of our common Lord and Savior. Fifty years ago, who could even have imagined such a thing?!

1. Father Tom Ryan is a Catholic priest of the Community of St. Paul, known widely as the Paulists. He directs that community’s North American Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, and is one of the most passionate, persistent, and practical voices anywhere for the unity of Christ’s body.

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