On 31 October 1999 the Gemeinsame Erklarung zur Rechtfertigungslehre was signed. This was a key document on the justification by faith formulated by the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman-Catholic Church. The justification by faith alone was one of the central reasons why the unity of the church fell apart in the 16th century. The document is a major milestone in the history of Catholic-Protestant controversy. The achieved consensus does not annihilate remaining differences which are explicitly stated. Further cooperation on and development of these issues is called for. The Gemeinsame Erklarung is the only document between the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman-Catholic Church that was officially received by the public. It did not only find approval, however, but caused tremendous arousal within academic theological circles. This book documents all the papers and statements. It features prefaces by Walter Kardinal Kasper, chair of the Papal Office for the Unity of Christians, and Ishmael Noko, secretary general of the Lutheran World Federation.
