Reformation in the spotlight

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Paisley has spoken of the“benefits”of the Reformation.

This month marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, which was the revolution that took place in the church led by Martin Luther and John Calvin, and led to the founding of Protestantism.

Speaking on Premier Christian Radio, the Rt Rev John Keenan said:“I think in the space of 500 years, with a lot of the controversy and polemic passed by, we are able to look more calmly at some of the benefits that came out the Reformation.

“In the last 50 years we’ve sought to bring some of those benefits into the Catholic church.

“One of the key areas that we wanted to do was to involve the lay faithful much more in the church.

“So part of that meant having a language that the people can understand.

“Much of our liturgy had been in Latin and now much more of it is in English to encourage the act of participation of everyone in the worship of God, so that worship isn’t just something that is the domain of the clergy, but worship involves in every single baptised Christian.”

People in the Roman Catholic Church have discovered a thirst for Scripture, the bishop added.

“They want to engage with the Scriptures personally themselves at home,”he said.

“They want to find Jesus in the Scripture, they want to meet Jesus alive in the Scriptures, they want to feel the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures, they want to ask every day:‘What does God say to me through His word and how does that mean how I’ve to lead my life?’

“So those are the two key things that have been really important .”