Pope urges Catholics, Lutherans to tackle differences on life, sexuality

(January 24, 2011) Even though it could compromise the progress made in dialogue between Lutherans and Roman Catholics, ecumenical dialogue between the two Churches must tackle issues such as sexuality or marriage, on which differences between the two Churches have increased in recent years. Pope Benedict XVI said this to a delegation of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church that paid him a visit in the Vatican on Monday. He expressed satisfaction that since 2009, in addition to the international Lutheran-Catholic dialogue on Baptism, there has also been a resumption of dialogue between the two Churches in Germany on God and the dignity of man. In this regard the Pope spoke of particularly delicate issues such as the protection and dignity of human life, the family, marriage and sexuality, which, he said cannot be hidden or ignored in order to avoid compromising progress already made in ecumenism. He said it would be deplorable if the fundamental issues of life lead to new differences.