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Perspectief 40 Werk van jonge theologen Chapter 4: Conclusion In our search for an answer to our research question, ‘How do the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran churches in Europe and North America verbally respond to the current refugee crisis and how do they theologically justify their standpoints?’, we have seen that a multitude of Roman Catholic and Lutheran approaches to refugees is possible. Interestingly, when entering into a comparative analysis of writings and speeches within and between the two churches, one finds convergences largely in the practical or pastoral consequences and the means for action, whereas the theological reasoning behind them partially diverges between Catholics and Lutherans. Official documents published by each of the two churches studied, Catholicism and Lutheranism, express a remarkably similar, positive and receptive attitude towards resettling refugees in Europe and North America. Not surprisingly, then, Catholic and Lutheran organisations that involve themselves with refugees conduct similar activities and at times even work together, such as in the case of the humanitarian corridors between refugee camps and Europe. Underlying their similar approach to refugees, however, lays an entirely differing theological argumentation. As has become clear from our study, the theological differences are strongly related to the traditional confessional differences that separate Catholics and Lutherans. This explains why the doctrinal approaches of the refugee crisis on the Catholic side focus strongly on the centralised nature of the Church, and even more on the importance of magisterial teachings. The doctrines of the popes and the teachings of Vatican II on religious liberty are a constant point of reference. Furthermore Catholic theologians emphasise the incarnation of God in Christ and therefore God’s reflection in each human being as the core of their biblical inspiration. Lutheran theologians rather tend to focus on the role of the local church, and reiterate Luther’s theology of the cross and the meaning of Christ’s death on the cross for the way Christians are to deal with the refugee crisis. Yet however different the accents may be, theologians from both churches