By Michael Patrick O’Brien–
A Catholic, a Lutheran, a Methodist, a Presbyterian, and an Episcopalian, all sit down for a drink together. Sounds like the beginning of a corny joke, eh? Yet, it actually happened to me just a few weeks ago, solid proof that ecumenism is alive and well on the quincentennial of the beginning of the Reformation.
Martin Luther was a sixteenth century German Catholic lawyer, monk, and theologian. Over time he grew frustrated and angry over corruptions he saw in the established religious establishment. On October 31, 1517, Luther famously tacked his 95 theses (arguments) on the University of Wittenberg’s chapel door. Luther intended his theses, a devastating critique of Church practices, to be the start of a discussion. It turned out to be the start of the Reformation, which along with the Renaissance dramatically changed Europe and the world.
Luther made a number of valid critiques of the Church, and much good came from the Reformation he unwittingly started. Yet, the Reformation also was co-opted by many shrewd and power-hungry European princes to grab power and wealth and re-shape the map of the continent. Moreover, it ignited a series of religious-based wars that caused significant death and destruction. Ironically, it all was suffering inflicted in the name of religion and God.
Which gets me back to my story. A few weeks ago, I met with a dozen friends professing many different faiths. Closer in time to the year 1517, we might have been imprisoning, or even burning, each other as accused heretics. Last month, however, we sat down together joyfully, said the Lord’s Prayer, and started planning the next Utah Ulster Project, an international peace effort that brings Catholic and Protestant teens to Salt Lake City from Northern Ireland to help them to get to know each other on safe and neutral turf.
We still have far too much religious conflict in the world today, but as we observe this landmark anniversary of the start of the Reformation, we also should acknowledge how much has changed for the better over the last several centuries. Perhaps, five hundred years later, we really are closer to proving as true St. Paul’s classic proclamation to the Corinthians that we are many parts, but we are all one body.
