Religion: From Luther to Rome

The good burghers of Bavaria like their beer strong and their religion straight. The Bavarian Lutheran Church is the only staunchly conservative Protestant Church left in West Germany, the only one, for instance, that does not yet permit the ordination of women. Thus traditionalist, some might say male-chauvinist pastors have found it a welcome refuge. But even in Bavaria times are changing. Among other innovations, a bishop can now give special permission to a woman to celebrate the Eucharist. Irritated by this incursion, three Bavarian Lutheran pastors have fled their church in recent months and have begun studies to become Roman...

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