[Alex Murphy]

I will not presume to speak for marshmallow, but if I understood him/her correctly, we agree that there is little hope left for a reconciliation between Catholics and Protestants. I know I see too much distrust here daily to believe otherwise.

My point is that there is always hope, depending on where you place your hope. Mine begins and ends in the character and sovereignty of God, who causes "all things to work together for the good of those who love Him" (Romans 8:28). If your own pope thinks there's hope for a relationship between Catholics and Muslims, why shouldn't there be a greater hope for reconciliation between Catholics and Protestants, who at least believe in the same Triune God and Risen Lord?

[marshmallow]

My point is that there is always hope, depending on where you place your hope. Mine begins and ends in the character and sovereignty of God, who causes "all things to work together for the good of those who love Him" (Romans 8:28). If your own pope thinks there's hope for a relationship between Catholics and Muslims, why shouldn't there be a greater hope for reconciliation between Catholics and Protestants, who at least believe in the same Triune God and Risen Lord?

There is indeed always hope. You're quite correct.

I don't think we're saying different things. My apparent cynicism at Longenecker's comment that Catholics and Protestants ought to be allies in the culture wars was not meant to imply that it couldn't happen. Rather, simply that human cussedness has and still is preventing this from happening to as great a degree as it should.

[trisham]

My point is that there is always hope, depending on where you place your hope. Mine begins and ends in the character and sovereignty of God, who causes "all things to work together for the good of those who love Him" (Romans 8:28). If your own pope thinks there's hope for a relationship between Catholics and Muslims, why shouldn't there be a greater hope for reconciliation between Catholics and Protestants, who at least believe in the same Triune God and Risen Lord?

*****************

Thank you for that. I would like it to be possible.

[OpusatFR]

“My point is that there is always hope, depending on where you place your hope.”

I think where you place ~ellipses~ has an even bigger impact on detente.

It could be “hope” or it could be so much snake oil.

We will see in the future.