As late as the mid-20th Century, a marriage between an American Protestant and an American Catholic was considered inter-religious.
But the dynamic began to shift in the 1980s with the emergence of the Religious Right. Though the movement was spearheaded by evangelical leaders, they opened their arms to Catholics and even Mormons, who were seen as valuable allies in the fight against our nation’s “moral decline.” Animosity between the groups began giving way to cooperation. The election of Pope Francis may be the next step in bridging the divide between Catholics and Protestants. He has been called “a Pope for all Christians,” but could the growing popularity among non-Catholics make him “the first Protestant Pope?”
Francis has already met with Nikolaus Schneider, the head of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany. Dr. Schneider, who is ironically a Lutheran minister, said that Pope Benedict “offended” Protestants when he insisted in 2000 that Protestant communities were not “churches in the proper sense,” but he is hopeful for future Christian unity as a result of his meeting with Francis. This newfound common ground between the two groups, it seems, stems largely from the current Pope’s concern for the poor and marginalized….
Ha ha, nice attention-grabbing headline!
No, he’s not a protestant, but like his predecessor he’s a roman catholic that protestants can work with, and that’s important in these days where most people in the West seem to have no real Christian affiliation or understanding at all.
In some ways I think Benedict might qualify because of his Biblical orientation. However the author seems to be looking toward social mission as the criterion.
He meets with Protestants, so he must be a Protestant. Well, Papa Benedict met with atheists, therefore…
Many years ago, I met a Lutheran woman from Utah. She noted that when you met a Christian, non-Mormon, in Utah, you were siblings. Secularism is on the hunt for Christians in the west today. They are the enemy, not other Christians. A very devout fundamentalist of my acquaintance was life-long friends with a devout Catholic. They had many amiable disagreements but recognized each other as Christians brothers. That should be a model for us in these days, I think.
On another point, last year I believe Pope Benedict held one meeting (“audience”) in Rome with the Archbishop of Canterbury and one meeting with Archbishop Duncan of ACNA. Although, the real aim of the last audience was to meet with Archbishop Wabukala of Kenya and Gafcon. As it happened his plane was delayed.
But like Francis’ meeting with the Evangelical Church in Germany, it demonstrates that the Curia has its finger on the pulse of where things are happening in Protestantism, and works to keep its relationships active and current.