Luther Examined and Reexamined; A Review of Catholic Criticism and a Plea for Revaluation

One may deplore the pathetic courage which periodically heartens Catholic writers for the task of writing against Luther but one can understand the necessity for such efforts and accordingly feel a real pity for those who make them. Rome has never acknowledged her errors nor admitted her moral defeat. The lessons of past history are wasted upon her. Rome is determined to assert to the end that she was not and cannot be vanquished. In the age of the Reformation she admits she suffered some losses but she claims that she is fast retrieving these while Protestantism is decadent and decaying. No opposition to her can hope to succeed. An attempt is made in these pages to review the principal charges and arguments of Catholic critics of Luther. The references to Luthers works are to the St. Louis Edition; those to the Book of Concord to the Peoples Edition. This book is frankly polemical. It had to be or there would have been no need of writing it. It seeks to meet both the assertions and the spirit of Luthers Catholic critics. A review ought to be a mirror and mirrors must reflect. But there is no malice in the authors effort. W. H. T. Dau.