Pope Francis on Keys to Authentic Christian Humanism

National Catholic Register ^ | 11/10/2015 | Edward Pentin

[BlessedBeGod]

Pope Francis has said it is "useless" to seek solutions to evils and problems in the Church through "conservatism and fundamentalism" and warned against a faith that is "locked in subjectivism"...

...both Pelagianism, a heresy that denies original sin, and Gnosticism, which denies Christ's divinity, are temptations that "defeat" a true Christian humanism.

Pelagianism..."prompts the Church not to be humble, selfless and blessed. And it does so with the appearance of being a good." Such an approach..."brings us confidence in structures, organizations, in perfect planning because it's abstract."

But often "it leads us also to take a controlling, hard, regulatory style," he said. "The law gives to the Pelagian security to feel superior, to have a precise orientation. This is its strength, not the light of the breath of the Spirit."

"In facing evils or the problems of the Church,"the Pope went on, "it is useless to look for solutions in conservatism and fundamentalism, in the restoration of practices and outdated forms that aren't even able to be culturally meaningful."

Christian doctrine, he added, "is not a closed system incapable of generating questions, concerns, questions, but it is alive, unsettles, animates. Its face isn't rigid, its body moves and develops, it has tender flesh: that of Jesus Christ."

...the "reform of the Church -- and the Church is semper reformanda (always reforming) -- is alien to pelagianism." Such reform, he said, is not completed by changing structures but means "being grafted and rooted in Christ, allowing oneself to be led by the Spirit. Then anything is possible with ingenuity and creativity."

A second temptation to "defeat" Christian humanism is that of Gnosticism, the Pope continued. "It leads us to trust in logical and clear reasoning, but has lost sight of the tenderness of the flesh of one's brother."

[Arthur McGowan]

"In facing evils or the problems of the Church,"the Pope went on, "it is useless to look for solutions in conservatism and fundamentalism, in the restoration of practices and outdated forms that aren't even able to be culturally meaningful."

He hates the "Old Mass."

[circlecity]

I believe that Jude referred to this mindset as “turning the grace of our Lord into lasciviousness,”

[Mr Rogers]

Sounds like a “living Constitution”...

[Arthur McGowan]

Christian doctrine, he added, "is not a closed system incapable of generating questions, concerns, questions, but it is alive, unsettles, animates. Its face isn't rigid, its body moves and develops, it has tender flesh: that of Jesus Christ."

Pure Modernism, which is "progressive." I.e., words don't mean what they say. They are "living," like our Constitution.

[rwilson99]

Christ didn’t say we would be popular... he also didn’t attack an appreciation of logic and reason either.

Good think philosphy can’t be confused with faith and morals because this transalation is certainly far, far, far away from infallible.

[ebb tide]

There is nothing Catholic about humanism.

And as far as Francis continuous slandering of orthodox Catholics as "pelagians" (a term he apparently has never understood):

"Indeed, the true friends of the people are neither revolutionaries, nor innovators: they are traditionalists." Pope St. Pius X

[Jeff Chandler]

lost sight of the tenderness of the flesh of one's brother

Well that's a little creepy.

[onedoug]

øbama is to America what Francis is to The Church.