Perspectives Weekly
Ecumenical Update 2017: Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue
Friday, Jan 27, 2017 - 2017 marks the historic 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, which began when an Augustinian monk named Martin Luther nailed 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany. What began as a theological debate would quickly morph into a social, political and ecclesial revolution that split Western Christianity. But today, after much theological discussion, and with the inspired leadership of Pope Francis, the quest for church unity is bearing significant fruit. The Catholic and Lutheran churches are closer today than any other period of the last five centuries, and this anniversary year could be the moment of unexpected breakthrough.

In this context, host Sebastian Gomes sits down with Fr. Damian MacPherson, the Director of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs for the Archdiocese of Toronto, and Pastor Christian Ceconi of Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church in Toronto, to discuss the legacy of the Reformation and the new impetus towards full unity between the Christian churches in 2017. Also discussed: the Pope’s October 2016 ecumenical visit to Sweden, and the remaining obstacles to sharing sacramental communion in the Eucharist.