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Appendix
Special Statement by Professor Dr Christian D. Washburn
While our document makes a number of important ecumenical advances, I cannot agree with some of its conclusions.
First, I think that it is impossible for the Catholic Church to recognize Lutheran ecclesial communities as “members of the Body of Christ” in the sense that they are simply within or a part of the one Church of Christ. While recognizing the Orthodox churches as churches, the Catholic Church has always taught that it alone is the one true Church of Christ, and that it alone is fully identified with her. This doctrine was repeatedly taught by the Fathers of the Church, popes, and councils, including the Second Vatican Council (Lumen Gentium, §8). In Orientalium Ecclesiarum, the Second Vatican Council clearly affirms the identity of the Mystical Body of Christ and the Catholic Church: “The holy and Catholic Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ … ” (Orientalium Ecclesiarum, §2). When this full identity was denied by some dissenting theologians after the council, it was repeatedly confirmed by the CDF in various decrees and notifications. If our document is correct in its interpretation of Lumen Gentium §8, then the council contradicts not only the pre- and post-conciliar magisterium but also itself.
Second, while the Second Vatican Council recognizes that many elements of sanctification and truth are present in non-Catholic churches and ecclesial communities and that the one Church of Christ is present and operative in these churches and ecclesial communities, nevertheless the council also acknowledges that these communities suffer from a series of defects even with respect to those things instituted by Christ (Unitatis Redintegratio, §3, §22). Our document is unclear how such communities which lack both apostolic succession and a valid Eucharistic celebration can be considered churches.
Abbreviations
AS Acta Synodalia Sacrosancti Concilii Oecumenici Vaticani II. Vatican City: Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis, 1970-1999. BEM Baptism, Eucharist, Ministry CCC Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd Ed. Vatican City, Washington, D.C.: Libreria Editrice Vaticana; United States Catholic Conference, 2000. References by paragraph number. DH Peter Hünermann, Helmut Hoping, Robert L. Fastiggi, Anne Englund Nash, and Heinrich Denzinger, Compendium of Creeds, Definitions, and Declarations on Matters of Faith and Morals, 43rd edition San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012. References by paragraph number. JDDJ Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co, 2000. LW American Edition of Luther's Works. St. Louis: Concordia, 1955. LWF The Lutheran World Federation par. Parallel PCPCU Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity SC Sources Chrétiennes WA D. Martin Luthers Werke, Kritische Gesamtausgabe, Weimar, 1883. WA TR D. Martin Luthers Werke, Tischreden. Weimar, 1912-1921.
Common Statements of the Lutheran–Roman Catholic Commissions on Unity
Phase I (1967–1972)
The Gospel and the Church (Malta Report – 1972)
Phase II (1973–1984)
The Eucharist (1978) All Under One Christ (1980) Ways to Community (1980) The Ministry in the Church (1981) Martin Luther – Witness to Christ (1983) Facing Unity – Models, Forms and Phases of Catholic-Lutheran Church Fellowship (1984)
Phase III (1986–1993)
Church and Justification (1993)
Phase IV (1995–2006)
The Apostolicity of the Church (2006)
Phase V (2008–2019)
From Conflict to Communion (2013) Baptism and Growth in Communion (2019) ***
Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification signed by representatives of the Catholic Church and The Lutheran World Federation, 31 October 1999.
Participants
Lutherans
Members Bishop emeritus Dr Eero Huovinen (Co-Chair), Finland Rev. Prof. Dr Wanda Deifelt, Brazil Rev. Dr Sandra Gintere, Latvia † Prof. Dr Turid Karlsen Seim, Norway (2009–2016) Rev. Prof. Dr Dirk G. Lange, USA/Canada (2013–) Rev. Dr Fidon R. Mwombeki, Tanzania (2009–2016) Rev. Prof. Dr Friederike Nüssel, Germany Prof. Dr Michael Root, USA (2009) Rev. Prof. Dr Hiroshi Augustine Suzuki, Japan † Rev. Prof. Dr Ronald F. Thiemann, USA (2010–2012)
Consultants Rev. Prof. Dr Theodor Dieter, Institute for Ecumenical Research, Strasbourg
Staff (The Lutheran World Federation) Prof. Dr Kathryn L. Johnson, USA, Co-Secretary (2009–2013) Bishop Dr Kaisamari Hintikka, Finland, Co-Secretary (2013–)
Roman Catholics
Members Bishop Prof. Dr Gerhard Ludwig Müller (Co-Chair), Germany (2009–2012) Auxiliary Bishop Dr William Kenney (Co-Chair), Great Britain (2014–) Bishop Prof. Dr Kurt Koch, Switzerland (2009) Auxiliary Bishop Prof. Dr Karlheinz Diez, Germany (2012–2014) Rev. Prof. Dr Michel Fédou, S.J., France Rev. Prof. Dr Josef Freitag, Germany Rev. Prof. Dr Angelo Maffeis, Italy Prof. Dr Thomas Söding, Germany Prof. Dr Christian D. Washburn, USA Prof. Dr Susan K. Wood, SCL, USA
Consultants Prof. Dr Eva-Maria Faber, Switzerland Prof. Dr Wolfgang Thönissen, Johann-Adam-Möhler-Institute for Ecumenism, Germany
Staff (Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity) Mons. Dr Matthias Türk, Co-Secretary
