Spiritual Triage: Help Wounded, Drop Theoretical Baggage, Pope Says

Catholic News Service ^ | 9/26/14 | Carol Glatz

[marshmallow]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With so much spiritual, social and moral suffering in the world, the church has "no right" to stay locked up in an ivory tower, engaging in "byzantine" philosophical reflection, Pope Francis told members of the Focolare movement.

"We have to go out! So that -- I've said this before -- the church seems like a field hospital," where the first order of the day "is heal the wounds, not measure people's cholesterol. That comes later. Got it?" he said to applause.

The pope met at the Vatican with 500 people from 136 countries; they were attending the Focolare general assembly in Rome Sept. 1-28.

During the assembly, members re-elected Italian Maria Voce for a second six-year-term as president, and elected Spaniard Jesus Moran Cepedano as the new co-president.

In his audience with members of the movement Sept. 26, Pope Francis said the new evangelization must go out to everyone, "starting with the poorest and excluded," so they, too, may experience "hope, brotherhood and joy in humanity's journey toward unity."

Focolare members, like all Catholics, can contribute to "this new season of evangelization" by being creative in the ways it brings God's word to the world.

This work demands "contemplation, going out, and formation," he said

[ebb tide]

So it’s not that important to be a member of the Catholic Church to obtain Salvation?

It’s all in the “relationship”? To heck with the dogma, EENS!

[Biggirl]

Plus also the Catholic Church gave to the world the Holy Bible. You are a true brother/sister in the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Biggirl]

It is a relationship with Jesus that begins in our baptism. The relationship with the Lord Jesus is much more important one.

[Biggirl]

Plus we are all Christians by our common baptism.

[Biggirl]

It was to stress the most important words.

[ebb tide]

Is it more important? Do you think baptized newborns who die are not going to Heaven because they are incapable of the “much more important” relationship?

But the adult Protestant who rejects the One, True Church, will go to Heaven because he has some “imagined” relationship?

[married21]

There are pictures of the Pope going to confession. I think he’s on board with that.

[Biggirl]

Maybe you should re-read post number 32 again.

To answer your question, because of that common baptism, both are relationship with the Lord.

Post number 32 was also posted as a just warning not to go into pure legalism.

[circlecity]

"the church seems like a field hospital," where the first order of the day "is heal the wounds, not measure people's cholesterol. That comes later. Got it?" he said to applause."

And how can you "heal the wounds" without the medicine of repentence, sincerre acceptance of Jesus as Savior and a will to righteousness? Every doctor needs the proper tools to heal. You cannont separate evangelization from sound doctrine. The message the Pope is preaching sounds like a call to conform to the world to be more accepted by the world. While that my help fill the pews, it does nothing to "heal the wounds" or affect salvation.

[ebb tide]

I don’t heed warnings from Protestants. You, however, can do whatever you want.

[virgil]

I’m kind of lukewarm about most of the stuff he says. You know, it the kind of stuff I would spit out. Just blah. Just can’t get very excited about him.