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 ...
Dunno...but the Italics there are probably genu9iinely Italian.
Who are the dead? You have many important things to learn. And you are disadvantaged by your missing Books of the Holy Bible, regarding praying to and for the “dead”. All are alive in Jesus. Clue.
The more I read of the statements attributable to this Pope, if I were a Catholic I’d be frightened. Scripture advises and defines what is sin and its word comes from God. Our conscience is not reliable by itself but only becomes more reliable when instructed in God’s word. God defines what is and what is not sin; not some churchman whether Catholic or Protestant. Too many people take a man’s interpretation of God’s word as a substitution thereof. We as individuals are ultimately responsible to God. Can’t one just see at the final interrogation one answering the Lord saying ‘well the Pope’s opinion on that issue was.......!
It’s what I’m saying - it’s their inner conscience that will judge them. To say you’re condemned before G-d because you never heard of Yashua regardless of what Paul wrote is being tried without a defense. People born centuries before Yashua came on the scene are condemned before G-d? I rather doubt that.
Surely she thought you said, “Buddhist” and not “Baptist”.
Usually it’s the other way around, Protestants thinking Catholics aren’t Christian.
"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.”
I find the third sentence strange.
"The issue for those who do not believe in God is to obey their conscience."
He seems to imply that some should just be left to their conscience .. which denies the Great Commision to Go into all the world a preach, teach and baptize ... (go soul winning)
The last sentence;
"“Sin, even for those who have no faith, exists when people disobey their conscience.”
Is troublesome.
By extracting the clause;".. even for those who have no faith, .. "
We're left with sin being the result of disobeying one's conscience, which denies Romans 3:23;
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;.
We sin because we are sinners.
Sinners are in Heaven ... FORGIVEN sinners, by salvation by Grace through faith ... and THAT not of ourselves .. it is the gift of God.
God offers us a gift, we should accept it.
If we don't, we don't have it.
But people born now are without that excuse.
Chapter and verse.
Yes, but what about those who don’t know God is the question. The Pope is methodically evangelizing non-believers with baby steps, with terms they can accept. Like recognizing good and evil, and recognizing the conscience of man, and whether they answer or ignore their conscience.
God “CAN” reach out to sinners and atheists without our supervision. Not all mankind is privy to the printed word. But, look what happened to Paul. Some require lightening to strike, but some can be drawn, even in the absence of a book and by reason, which many Christians often lack.
A way of answering your question might be to answer the following: “How were people saved prior to Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection?” People then were saved by responding positively to God’s revelation. In other words, people are held accountable for what they know. How much light has a person received from God? Whatever that is, that is what they’re accountable for. The same would be true for people today who have never heard of Yashua.
If someone lived in China prior to Christ’s death and resurrection, how could they be expected to believe in Yashua's death and resurrection for the forgiveness of their sins? Obviously, they could not believe in something they had never heard.
Either the pope is wrong or God is wrong. I think the pope is wrong.
“Ok . .OK OK! W’eve got the Antichrist and False Prophet . . but where is the Beast?”
You’re posting on it.
See the link in post 13
Why would non-Catholic Christians not go to Heaven?
Oh, Protestants go to heaven, their room is just down the golden street and 3rd corner on the right. Catholics room is 2nd corner on the right. The Armenian and Coptic Christian’s rooms are the 1st corner on the left and right. :-)
please read post 48 and then my post 79. :)
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