Thursday, July 15, 2010

Luther was Wrong, a Roman Catholic Saint was Right

Thomas More, beheaded and later ushered into Romanist sainthood: "formally beatified by Pope Leo XIII, in the Decree of 29 December, 1886" and "canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1935," actually made an argument against Luther that warmed my heart.

If Luther is willing to accept nothing except what is plainly set down in Scripture, why does he believe in the perpetual virginity of Mary? There is nothing to prove this in Scripture and Helvidius actually took it upon himself to prove the contrary, relying on no other authority than that of Scripture.

Thomas More, "An Answer to Martin Luther," The Essential Thomas More (Canada: Mentor-Omega Books, 1967), p. 112.

7 comments:

Rhology said...

Haha, oops.

Truth Unites... and Divides said...

"Luther was Wrong, a Roman Catholic Saint was Right"

D'Oh!

I wonder what Lutheran bloggers Rev. Paul T. McCain and Stuart would say about this.

Especially Stuart.

James Swan said...

I wonder what Lutheran bloggers Rev. Paul T. McCain and Stuart would say about this.

I don't know. I only visit Rev. MCain's blog occasionally, and I'm not sure who "Stuart" is.

Truth Unites... and Divides said...

I meant Pr. Stuart Wood who, if I'm not mistaken, was a former associate pastor at Grace Community Church (John MacArtur's church). Pr. Stuart Wood converted to Lutheranism and wrote this article: Taking the Mask off Calvinism.

Churchmouse said...

Lutherans have no qualms about saying that Luther was wrong regarding some distinctively Catholic doctrines. Luther wasn't deemed as "inerrant" in matters of faith, neither did he claim to be and neither do Lutherans.

Truth Unites... and Divides said...

Churchmouse: "Lutherans have no qualms about saying that Luther was wrong regarding some distinctively Catholic doctrines."

Except that he took some of those distinctively Catholic doctrines and made them his own.

"Luther wasn't deemed as "inerrant" in matters of faith, neither did he claim to be and neither do Lutherans."

That's a credit to both Luther and to Lutherans.

Churchmouse said...

Except that he took some of those distinctively Catholic doctrines and made them his own.

And the point is? To say that he "made them his own" is misleading. He just continued to believe in some Catholic distinctives. Rome wasn't built in a day, why would one expect this reformer's view to change just as quickly.

That's a credit to both Luther and to Lutherans.

And a credit to anyone who rejects such ungodly precepts as papal infallibility.