Posted on 09/12/2013 1:29:41 PM PDT by BenLurkin
In comments likely to enhance his progressive reputation, Pope Francis has written a long, open letter to the founder of La Repubblica newspaper, Eugenio Scalfari, stating that non-believers would be forgiven by God if they followed their consciences.
Responding to a list of questions published in the paper by Mr Scalfari, who is not a Roman Catholic, Francis wrote: “You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives those who don’t believe and who don’t seek the faith. I start by saying – and this is the fundamental thing – that God’s mercy has no limits if you go to him with a sincere and contrite heart. The issue for those who do not believe in God is to obey their conscience.
“Sin, even for those who have no faith, exists when people disobey their conscience.”
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
I’m going to keep ‘blievin just in case.
YOU’RE BEING PLAYED BY THE MEDIA.
BenLurkin, the media intentionally misquoted the Pope.
I’m not a Catholic, but I will say that the pope did not express what the headline reads.
There were three times when Jesus was asked how to have eternal life.
The first time was when the rich young ruler came to him. Jesus quoted several of the commandments. The ruler said "I've kept those from my youth". Jesus said sell all your goods and follow me. The rich young ruler went away sorrowful. Effectively even thought the rich young ruler had lived an extremely good life by human standards, Jesus had focused him on "Have no other God before me". And he failed.
The second time a lawyer asked. Jesus replied what's written in the law?" The Lawyer replied "Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus said, "Do this and you will live." The lawyer "seeking to justify himself" asked "who is my neighbor?". Which led to the parable of the good Samaritan. Again Jesus answered obey the law, but in such a way that it showed the seeker his faults.
The third time was Nicodemus. To Nicodemus, Jesus said, "You must be born again."
There are two ways to get to heaven. Never sin, or be forgiven. Scripture tells us none are righteous, nobody has done or will do the first, except for Jesus.
You'd be wise to check it out.
Well, if he did say “Sin, even for those who have no faith, exists when people disobey their conscience,” then he is dead wrong.
The conscience of the natural man is depraved and cannot be set as a benchmark for “sin.”
The headline is obviously inflammatory, but the quote in the article says nothing of the sort. The supplied quote does not even address the issue of who goes to heaven.
I trust Scripture and not a religious leader. So I will stick with being a Born Again, Spirit Filled believer who happens to do good works because I believe we should do what is pleasing to the Father. And that is what Jesus did when He was on earth
Amen
and Freegards
LEX
I thought purgatory was the destination of nice unbelievers.
As Father Z said, Newspapers are not where the Church deepens doctrine or changes disciplines.
An English translation of the Holy Father's letter is here: Pope Francis' Letter to the Founder of "La Repubblica" Italian Newspaper.
Also see post #11, here.
WTH?
See post #11 and #13.
IF you had tweeted the Pope when he asked everyone to, you could have got a “Get Out Of Purgatory Free” card. Now, you’ll have to go the old fashioned way and buy an indulgence. You gotta stay up to date on this stuff to find the bargains.
You’re absolutely correct concerning our sin nature. If the Pope is referring to a conscience of conviction and repentance through the work of the Holy Spirit, than this would be true. If not, he’s, as you stated, “dead wrong”.
You beat me to it. It is so predictable. Pope opens mouth and press makes up false claims to attack him.
At the time that Jesus was walked on the Earth, and preached in the temples, Jesus did NOT rebuke the Jews for the Old Testament Books contained in the Catholic Bible, which Martin Luther later found objectionable.
Maccabees, in particular, clearly shows that God intends for us to “pray for the dead”. Under Catholic doctrine, I can see where someone who had led a good, just life but had not accepted God, could be given that chance. Purgatory would allow for such a situation.
I find it hard to believe that those who have not had an opportunity to know Christ would be sent straight to Hell.
My God is better than that.
Ok . .OK OK! W’eve got the Antichrist and False Prophet . . but where is the Beast?
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.