Christian Reformed Church rejects calling Catholic Mass 'idolatry'

Published: 2004-06-18

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (CNS) -- In a landmark decision Synod 2004 of the Christian Reformed Church in North America declared June 18 that the church's confessional statement calling the Catholic Mass "idolatry" is not accurate. At issue was the 80th question and answer of the church's Heidelberg Catechism, written in 1563, which says the Mass "is basically nothing but a denial of the one sacrifice and suffering of Jesus Christ and (basically nothing but) a condemnable idolatry." Six hours of debate June 16 on a proposal to alter that text left synod delegates with a variety of proposed alternative solutions to choose from, so they referred the question back to their advisory committee, asking it to revise its original proposal in light of the debate. Two days later, the synod's online news service said, "Delegates voted to declare that the Heidelberg Catechism's statement that the Roman Catholic Mass is 'condemnable idolatry' cannot remain in its current form as part of the official confessions of the Christian Reformed Church." It said they adopted the advisory committee's recommendation that the synod "declare the existing statement to be no longer accurate and that suggestions for deletions and revisions be dealt with at a future synod. The revisions will be dealt with at Synod 2006."

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