Posted on 04/11/2015 11:22:49 AM PDT by Steelfish
Pope: Church Must Be 'Oasis of Mercy,' Not Severe Fortress By FRANCES D'EMILIO
April 11, 2015. Pope Francis has proclaimed a special year of efforts by the Catholic Church to be more merciful and less judgmental. At St. Peter's Basilica Saturday evening, he listened as a Vatican prelate read excerpts from a papal bull, or decree, in which Francis proclaimed an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy& Holy Year. The year begins on Dec. 8 with Francis opening the normally closed Holy Door in the back of the basilica, and ends on Nov. 20, 2016. . VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Saturday proclaimed a special year of worldwide efforts by the Catholic Church to stress mercy, not severity, saying the institution's credibility was at stake.
At St. Peter's Basilica Saturday evening, the pope listened as a Vatican prelate read from a papal bull, or decree, in which Francis proclaimed an "Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy" Holy Year. The year begins Dec. 8 with Francis' opening the normally closed Holy Door in the back of the basilica and ends Nov. 20, 2016.
"The church's very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love," Francis declared in the 12-page long decree.
"In a word, wherever there are Christians, everyone should find an oasis of mercy," Francis said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
There is also room John 2:15
“And when he had made, as it were, a scourge of little cords, he drove them all out of the temple, the sheep also and the oxen, and the money of the changers he poured out, and the tables he overthrew.”
With respect he is wrong.
It must be both. It requires both.
Law and Gospel. Can’t back down on either. Law defines sin. Our whole mess today stems around those that are redefining sin as not sin.
No sin, no need to repent, or even need for the Gospel.
It's never merciful to allow someone to go to hell.
Good point. G-d had told the prophets to warn against sin.
I’m amazed at all who know more than the Pope enough to admonish him on his instructions.
“With respect he is wrong.”
With respect you’re wrong.
“It must be both. It requires both.”
Agreed. Mercy and fortress. He is not saying otherwise. He is saying it should not be a SEVERE fortress.
“Law and Gospel. Can’t back down on either. Law defines sin. Our whole mess today stems around those that are redefining sin as not sin.”
He’s not doing that.
“No sin, no need to repent, or even need for the Gospel.”
And clearly since he is talking about mercy it is obvious he believes in sin because mercy is only necessary where there is sin.
I find it curious that many doubt the Pope based on their political point of view.
It seems elementary that if you believe ...then the hand of God chose this man as Pope and what he says might just be more authoritative than any political leaning.
I think for some the political game has become far more important in their lives than their faith, upon reflection I found that I fell into that worldly trap in the past
Personally, I’ve come to the conclusion that being a Conservative is far less important than being a practicing man of faith.
No disagreement from me.
Translation: Thank God Vatican II saved the Catholic Church! Where would it be without it!
Of course you are right.. there is no "mercy" without repentance.. and without fear of judgement there is not repentance ..
It's not that - it's that the Pope is telling Christians to be merciful.
They hate that. They all fear that in the remembrance of mercy, someone might forget that the alternative to strict obedience is dying and going to hell and burning and screaming and there's never any escape because you deserve it forever and forever and forever.
But as long as you remember that, every moment of every day, it's okay to be merciful the rest of the time.
Just don't screw up, or you're going to HELL.
Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
If some one is thirsty or hungry give them something to eat or drink.
It does not mean to make them your teacher, not even a member of your Church.
No, it’s because Francis wants to make it seem as if mercy wasn’t part of the Church’s vocabulary and practice before the reforms of the 60’s.
But you go right ahead and continue to claim you know why others take issue with Francis and whether they “hate” to be merciful.
That is a perfect synopsis of the calumnious brand affixed to Christianity by the Libertine Left. Congratulations.
---
piusv: No, it’s because Francis wants to make it seem as if mercy wasn’t part of the Church’s vocabulary and practice before the reforms of the 60’s. But you go right ahead and continue to claim you know why others take issue with Francis and whether they “hate” to be merciful.
---
What part did I get wrong?
The entire caricature.
I don't agree. God's mercy is not earned, it's freely given as grace.
And the experience of God's grace is the experience of God's love, which creates a longing for God that often brings repentance without fear, but rather through a yearning for a deeper experience of God in one's life and heart and mind.
There are none so blind as those who refuse to see.
this is not politics; it’s religion. And religion includes mercy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.