No reason to celebrate Reformation, says Cardinal Müller
March 31, 2016
Catholics "have no reason to celebrate" the Reformation, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith says in a new book-length interview.
Cardinal Gerhard Müller comments on the celebration of Reformation Day, on October 31. Next year, observances are planned to mark the 500th anniversary of the day when Martin Luther issued his "95 Theses," inaugurating the historic process that split Christendom in the West. Cardinal Müller observes that believing Catholics "cannot accept that there exist sufficient reasons to separate from the Church."
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Posted by: loumiamo -
Apr. 02, 2016 9:07 AM ET USA
Yo, koinonia, Luther "a religious genius?" I refer u to the collected "genius" of the late Fr. William Most, which u can find and read for free in the Resources tab on this site. Luther was many things, but above all he was full of pride which left little room for genius. And imho, considering that he also had the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas at his disposal, Luther's writings and opinions approach if not surpass the most momentous errors of all time.
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Posted by: -
Apr. 01, 2016 11:29 PM ET USA
I'm with Cardinal Muller!! We should be celebrating the Catholic Counter revolution that took place following the Protestant Reformation. We didn't break from them; they broke from us!!
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Posted by: koinonia -
Apr. 01, 2016 7:48 PM ET USA
"To be sure, the Reformation received its primary impetus from one man: Martin Luther, a religious genius of rare stature... Whether Martin Luther was significantly stronger than his reforming predecessors can be debated. His enemies, however, most certainly were weaker." -Hillebrand, THE REFORMATION. It's a statement worthy of reflection; a statement Cardinal Muller appears to appreciate.
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Posted by: filioque -
Apr. 01, 2016 6:21 PM ET USA
And so we should keep asking again and again, "Why is Pope Francis going to celebrate this tragedy?"
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Posted by: TheJournalist64 -
Apr. 01, 2016 6:55 AM ET USA
Hear, hear. The "Reformation" was a break with the tradition of the Church, and the "reformers" realized that they were really revolutionaries--at least the honest ones did. Many of the evils that have followed in the past 500 years have been a direct result of the breakup of Christendom. Let's start with the Peasants' Revolt and the 30 Years War.
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Posted by: Art Kelly -
Mar. 31, 2016 11:06 PM ET USA
I strongly agree with Cardinal Muller, who wrote in his new book: “If we are convinced that divine revelation is preserved whole and unchanged through Scripture and Tradition, in the doctrine of the Faith, in the sacraments, in the hierarchical constitution of the Church by divine right, founded on the sacrament of holy orders, we cannot accept that there exist sufficient reasons to separate from the Church.”
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Posted by: james-w-anderson8230 -
Mar. 31, 2016 7:58 PM ET USA
I thought that I read an article that said Pope Francis was going to attend the celebration. I thought it was strange at the time, but in these days of ecumenism all kinds of strange things happen.
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Posted by: Louise01 -
Mar. 31, 2016 7:42 PM ET USA
Hope Pope Francis reads Cardinal Muller book!!
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Posted by: wsw33410 -
Mar. 31, 2016 7:39 PM ET USA
Still, main question remains - why Pope Francis plans to celebrate this heresy in Lund this October? ... I am glad that Cardinal Muller speaks clearly against such attempt. He is a prominent defender of Faith and worthy disciple of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
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Posted by: AgnesDay -
Mar. 31, 2016 5:26 PM ET USA
I did not expect to hear such a clearly stated response. Some things have not yet fallen apart. The "Reformation" is the greatest tragedy to befall Western Christianity and Christendom. It is the mother of every other evil perversion of thought in the past five hundred years.
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Posted by: ElizabethD -
Mar. 31, 2016 8:52 AM ET USA
So well said! "Anyone who, knowing that Christ has made the Catholic Church necessary for our salvation, refuses to enter or remain within it, could not be saved." -Vatican II
