Peter Leithart, a key advocate of the Federal Vision, looks at the joint Lutheran-Catholic statement on the Eucharist. In keeping with his recent direction, he finds hope for increasing rapprochement between Catholics and Protestants.

It often thought that in Catholic-Protestant debates, one side must win and the other side lose; or, that the current lines of division are permanent and quasi-eternal. The discussion of Eucharistic sacrifice shows that this is not the case. On this issue, both sides had to modify their positions; fresh reflection and study opened up new possibilities for common confession of the faith.