The Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation get partial agreement

Kurt Koch

Notice the following:

The Vatican has reached agreement with the Lutheran World Federation on a joint statement to be released for the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s theses, the president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity has disclosed.

The joint document will be released in June, Cardinal Kurt Koch told Austrian interviewers. In a candid exchange, the cardinal also spoke of some of the main obstacles to ecumenical progress. He listed the continued fragmentation of Protestant groups and the failure of Orthodox leaders to reach their own mutual understanding on the question of primacy.

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople is “the most optimistic among all the patriarchs” regarding the prospects for unity, Cardinal Koch said. But the path to a real agreement appears blocked for now because Orthodox leaders have not agreed on any understanding of primacy beyond a “primacy of honor.” The cardinal observed that such an understanding is workable “only in good weather.” http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=17664

So, additional steps towards Roman, Orthodox, and Protestant unity continue to move forward. But they are not ready quite yet, with papal primacy/supremacy being a stumbling block.

Some believe, however, that the new Pope Francis may be the remedy for that:

Rome – For years, experts on ecumenism have said that the main stumbling block to putting the divided Christian family back together again isn’t so much the papacy, but a certain overly monarchical model of it. If we could find new ways of exercising primacy, they prophesied, unity might move a massive step closer to reality.

One veteran expert believes those “new ways” may have arrived with Pope Francis, predicting that this pontiff will prove a “boon” to ecumenism.

“He’s bringing to life what Vatican II added about the role of the papacy being understood from within the college of bishops and the communion of churches,” said Capuchin Fr. William Henn of Rome’s Gregorian University. http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/francis-will-be-boon-ecumenism-expert-predicts

Notice also some information in an article from the pro-Vatican news agency Zenit related to Cardinal Kurt Koch, who is the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (Cardinal Koch’s objective is to get Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, and eventually Jews and others to unite behind the Pope):

Cardinal Koch: There is something that is clear. Our objective for unity is unity in the faith, in the sacraments and in the ministries…Ecumenism is now a great challenge for the very secularized situation Europe is living, given that only a common voice from Christians — with Christian values — will help to rediscover those values which are fundamental in Europe’s history…

The New Evangelization must have an ecumenical dimension…The credibility of the proclamation of the Gospel depends on the unity of the Church…On one hand we have a liberal ecumenism between Catholics and Protestants. And on the other, there is the vision to reflect further on the foundations of the faith between the Catholic and evangelical communities…we mustn’t be afraid of ecumenism, because it’s an enrichment. (http://www.zenit.org/article-36363?l=english)

Actually, the Bible warns against the type of ecumenism that Cardinal Koch is advocating and those who are Catholic or Protestant truly should fear what this will develop into.

Even if he is a truly faithful Roman Catholic, Cardinal Kurt Koch’s job, as well as Pope Francis’ vision for ecumenical unity (see Is Pope Francis Catholic?), from a prophetic perspective, is dangerous. The Bible shows that an ecumenical unity for the world is coming out of Europe (cf. Revelation 13:3-4,8) and it will not be faithful to the early and true apostolic traditions or sacred scripture.

While proper cooperation with various church groups should be encouraged, Cardinal Koch’s and Pope Francis’ real goals of unity (the way I think they both want it) should not be. Do not enough Protestants and Catholics see what is really going on?

More details can be found in the following:

Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Do Protestants realize what the goal of the ecumenical Catholics is?
Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? People of all faiths may be surprised to see what various Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophets have been predicting as many of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.
COGwriter Position on Other Churches and Religions What is the fate of those who do not know Christ? What about those who profess Christ outside the Church of God?
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differ from most Protestants How the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the genuine Church of God is NOT Protestant. Do you really know what the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther taught and should you follow his doctrinal example?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics The talks for unification involve compromise and the apparent rising up of a changed religion that no one should accept.
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About Early Church History? Although most believe that the Roman Catholic Church history teaches an unbroken line of succession of bishops beginning with Peter, with stories about most of them, Roman Catholic scholars know the truth of this matter. Is telling the truth about the early church citing Catholic accepted sources anti-Catholic? This eye-opening article is a must-read for any who really wants to know what Roman Catholic history actually admits about the early church. There is also a YouTube sermon on the subject titled Church of God or Church of Rome: What Do Catholic Scholars Admit About Early Church History?
The Malachy Prophecies and “Peter the Roman” An Irish bishop allegedly predicted something about 112 popes in the 12th century. Pope Benedict XVI was number 111. Francis would seem to be number 112–if he is that one–and if so, he is to reign until Rome is destroyed. May he be an antipope/final Antichrist?
The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? What does the Bible say about a pope near this time? Is the final pope to be an antipope and antichrist? Does Catholic prophecy point to Pope Francis as being the dreaded “Peter the Roma”? This 186 page book provides information and answers. This book is available for USD$9.98 in printed form The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis.
The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle This electronic version of a new 186 page book (in the print version). And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle.