German cardinal castigates Italian bishop for calling Protestant Reformation 'event of the Holy Spirit'

Cardinal Gerhard Müller has castigated an Italian bishop for claiming that the Protestant Reformation that was started by Martin Luther 500 years ago was an "event of the Holy Spirit."

Bishop Nunzio Galantino, the secretary-general of the Italian Bishops' Conference, has reportedly stated in a recent speech that the "Reformation was, is, and will be in the future, an event of the Spirit."

The bishop made the remarks during his address at the Pontifical University of the Lateran on Oct. 19, Life Site News reported.

"The Reformation corresponds to the truth expressed in the saying 'Ecclesia semper reformanda,'" Galantino was quoted as saying.

In an article published in the Italian newspaper La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana, Müller strongly contradicted Galantino's remarks, saying it was "unacceptable to assert that Luther's reform 'was an event of the Holy Spirit.'"

"On the contrary, it was against the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit helps the Church to maintain her continuity through the Church's magisterium, above all in the service of the Petrine ministry: on Peter has Jesus founded His Church (Mt 16:18), which is 'the Church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth' (1 Tim 3:15)," the cardinal wrote.

Müller, the former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, contended that it is wrong to think that Luther's aim was simply to fight abuses in indulgences or the sins of the Renaissance Church.

The cardinal argued that Luther had abandoned "all the principles of the Catholic faith, Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition, the Magisterium of the Popes and Councils, the episcopate."

Galantino's remarks were consistent with recent acts and statements made by Pope Francis and other officials of the Holy See expressing approval for Luther's work.

In 2016, Pope Francis met with Lutherans in Sweden as part of a year-long commemoration of the anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

Earlier this year, the Vatican announced that it would be issuing a commemorative postage stamp that features Luther's face.

On Oct. 31, Protestants will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the day Luther posted his 95 theses on the door of Wittenberg castle church, sparking the Reformation. Luther was excommunicated for heresy by Pope Leo X in 1521 after the pontiff condemned 41 of his teachings several months earlier.

On Thursday, Francis welcomed a delegation from the Church of Scotland at the Vatican to mark the anniversary. He said that through the grace of God and ecumenical dialogue, Catholics and Protestants are now able to mark the anniversary together, emphasizing their shared baptism and faith in Jesus.

The pope noted that there have been disputes between Catholics and Protestants in the past, but he pointed out that the two denominations are now working together to serve the poor, promote justice, and defend the rights of persecuted Christians.