A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library

A History of Christian Doctrine
but the response of faith.” The goal of the dialogue is
eventually to bring both churches to fully accept each
other’s sacraments and ministries. 267
A significant new problem, however, is that in recent
years the Anglicans have begun to ordain women to the
priesthood, which Rome refuses to do. Papal infallibility
and the doctrine of Mary also remain obstacles.
The Catholics have also conducted a significant dialogue
with Lutherans. Some theologians on both sides
have signed a statement saying that the central issue of
justification by faith, which caused the Lutherans to leave
the Catholic Church in the 1500s, is no longer an issue—
that both Lutherans and Catholics believe justification is
by faith and is shown by works. In 1983, the Lutheran–
Roman Catholic Dialogue Group in the United States
announced that it had reached a “fundamental consensus”
on the doctrine of justification by faith. It stated, “Our
entire hope of justification and salvation rests on Christ
Jesus and on the gospel whereby the good news of God’s
merciful action in Christ is made known.” While differences
remain, some of the Catholic scholars stated that
Luther was essentially right and that Vatican II essentially
vindicated him. 268
In the 1990s, Roman Catholics and Evangelicals conducted
a similar dialogue. Some prominent theologians
and leaders on both sides have signed a joint statement of
agreement in key doctrinal areas, including justification.
There is considerable debate within the Evangelical community,
however, as to whether the dialogue and the joint
statement are appropriate.
Interestingly, the Roman Catholics started dialogue
with Pentecostals beginning in 1972. Pentecostal partici-
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