the church as a fellowship of salvation, and eternal life. These dialogues have removed past caricatures and disclosed areas of commonality and even agreement that once Roman Catholics and Lutherans would not have considered possible. They have certainly not resolved all issues that divide their churches—and don’t claim to have done that.


Justification issue settled Their most impressive accomplishment is a 1999 agree- ment, the “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Jus- tification,” between the Roman Catholic Church and a number of Lutheran churches about the doctrine of justification, a teaching that divided them in the 16th century. Because of this agreement, today it can be stated that there are no church-dividing issues about this topic between LWF churches and the Roman Catholic Church. In 2012 these dialogues are continuing their work.


They offer proof to the sustaining influence of the Sec- ond Vatican Council after 50 years.


However, today new questions have arisen both for Lutherans and Roman Catholics: How should they respond to and receive the work of these dialogues so a difference is made in the faith and life of these churches? Roman Catholics have contemporary discussions about how to interpret and implement the work of the council within their church. Lutherans must ask if they are still open to the invitation extended by the council when they make decisions that inevitably make the dialogue and future expressions of unity more improbable. These questions indicate if nothing else the enduring


effects of the Second Vatican Council and the common stake in that event, which is still shared by Lutherans and Roman Catholics. For the road opened toward greater unity by the Second Vatican Council, Lutherans and Roman Catholics should together celebrate the anniver- sary and give thanks for it. 


Download a study guide for this article (free to print/Web mem- bers) at www.thelutheran.org (click on “study guides”).


16 The Lutheran • www.thelutheran.org


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