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Vatican, Lutherans resolve centuries-long dispute on way to salvation
Copyright © 1999 Nando Media
Copyright © 1999 Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (June 2, 1999 11:24 a.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - Coming to terms in a centuries-old dispute, Roman Catholic and Lutheran officials will release an accord next week on the means of salvation, both sides said Wednesday.

The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification is meant to resolve a doctrinal debate at the heart of the 16th-century Protestant Reformation, which split Western Christianity.

The Vatican and Lutheran World Federation crafted compromise language on one of the key unresolved points regarding what theologians call "justification," or how humankind achieves salvation. For the Lutherans, it depends on the grace of God, while Catholics maintain that good works are also involved.

With the declaration, Catholics and Lutherans have agreed that divine forgiveness and salvation come "solely by God's grace" and that good works flow from that.

Cardinal Edward I. Cassidy, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and the Rev. Ismael Noko, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, will announce joint acceptance of the document June 11 in Geneva.

Agreement was announced by the two sides almost a year ago, but closing the gaps on wording took months more.

The Vatican council indicated Wednesday the accord would be signed at next week's event. The Lutheran World Federation said it expected signing to come still later.

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