Oklahoma Lutherans and Catholics Agree on the Path to Salvation

Two church groups affirmed an agreement Wednesday that has kept the denominations<br>at odds with each other for more than four hundred years. The Roman Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran churches now

Wednesday, January 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Two church groups affirmed an agreement Wednesday that has kept the denominations
at odds with each other for more than four hundred years. The Roman Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran churches now formally agree on the doctrine of "justification" - the path to salvation.

The ceremony was a simple prayer service, but it recognized the settlement of a disagreement that began four centuries ago. "One of the problems was the way the scripture was interpreted," explained Evangelical Lutheran Churchâ€™s bishop Floyd Schoenhals.

The problem started because Catholics and Lutherans used different translations of the New Testament. "It sounded like to a lot of Lutherans that the Roman Catholic Church was teaching that you're saved by works instead of by faith,â€ Schoenhals said. And even though that wasn't correct, it divided the churches. For a time, a Lutheran couldn't marry a Catholic. "We see now that we have always agreed more than we realized," said the Catholic Diocese of Tulsaâ€™s bishop Edward Slattery.

Now Lutheran and Catholic theologians have settled some, but not all of their doctrinal differences and agree that salvation comes by grace alone. "You can grow in grace and by doing a good deed can merit eternal life,â€ explained Slattery. â€œBut notice it's you who have been changed by God, because the source of your goodness is the divine life within you."

The theological agreement may not immediately impact parishoners in the pew, but the two churches expect it will increase cooperation, and ultimately expand Christian evangelism. Oklahoma Catholics and Lutherans are celebrating the agreement Wednesday and Thursday with special churches services in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.