tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17518532.post4390978682714621981..comments2009-06-26T14:56:14.653-05:00Fr. Timothy D. Mayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11869105787715732917noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17518532.post-14793162262192461752009-06-26T14:56:14.653-05:002009-06-26T14:56:14.653-05:00Fr. Cota,<br /><br />Thank you for these thoughts. <br /><br />Two very general responses I have are (my ametuer historian nature coming out). <br /><br />1) Lutheranism is often viewed and understood by Lutherans through post-Reformation eyes, ie, that which is post-Reformation is, in all cases, better than that which came before. This is exacerbated by viewing the Reformation via the influences of the Enlightenment, Rationalism and Pietism. This is not all bad. However, the idea of continuity is diminished or lost in favor of rupture and discontinuity and that which is &quot;catholic&quot; in time and space is also diminished or lost. This may explain why Lutheran catholicity is diminished and/or lost in favor of purely &quot;evangelical&quot; concerns (as if they have to be antithetical.) This may also explain our unease with early church and medieval studies in favor of Reformation and contemporary studies).<br /><br />2) Another thought is something I have been thinking about for some time. Although I am not Roman Catholic I very much observe a prevailing zeitgeist of &quot;anti-Catholicism.&quot; This is not anything new, especially in our country. However, I do believe this attitude characterizes much including all that is positively Catholic making it very difficult for reasonable understanding and the passing on of the faith once delivered to the saints. I wonder if this &quot;anti-Catholic&quot; sentiment could in itself be classified a religion. Regardless, this aura makes it quite difficult for true renewal to take place. So much time is spent characterizing that one wonders if there is anything left in common.<br /><br />Whether or not I am correct in my assessments, and apart from all the obstacles, we ought to be about, as you say, &quot;true evangelical and catholic renewal.&quot;Fr. Timothy D. May, SSPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11869105787715732917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17518532.post-27116760391841162772009-06-25T19:22:51.528-05:002009-06-25T19:22:51.528-05:00Fr. May, <br /><br />I am always impressed by the truly evangelical and catholic nature of the early Lutherans. It is a tragedy that Lutheranism has not followed this course. Throughout the last few centuries, through to today, we often think Lutheranism means being as &quot;uncatholic&quot; as you can be. What a tragic shame! May the Lord bring Lutherans to true evangelical and catholic renewal!Rev. Shane R. Cota, SSPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08211397573658135466noreply@blogger.com