Citation? The Church's position is clear. All are saved by Christ. Non-Christians can be saved by implicit faith in Christ.
2. Homosexuality pervading his church, and not nipping these guys bud, so to speak.
Maybe he could have done more. Who's to say? He has less control over bishops than you might believe. And he's running a Church with 1 billion members. He's not omniscient.
3. Pandering to scientists, in contradiction to the Word of God. (Giving room for his congregation to latch onto Theistic Evolution, which necessitates death before Adam, making death a natural occurrence rather than a choice of man, which eliminates the need for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ).
He gave evolution more credence as a scientific theory than I would have liked. But his statement made clear that it's still a theory. And he repudiated the theory of materialistic evolution.
4. Allowing Mary's status to be similar to Christ's.
Citation? That's plain heresy and would be quite newsworthy. She is regarded as the greatest saint.
5. Not having clarity in regarding standing against evil. (Sadam, Muslim terror).
I tend to agree with you on that one, but I think the media has distorted his statements.
Citation? The Church's position is clear. All are saved by Christ. Non-Christians can be saved by implicit faith in Christ.
1. He did not deny that Christ had saved him. The Pope sat with other leaders of Religions in a group conference and clearly said in effect, "My spiritual walk has lead me to Christ, others lead down different paths as my friends here have, and I honor other religions that seek God." Not a direct quote but you get the Ecumenical flavor. I know Jesus wouldn't have left that barn door open that wide.
Maybe he could have done more. Who's to say? He has less control over bishops than you might believe. And he's running a Church with 1 billion members. He's not omniscient.
2. He would know there was a problem. It was well documented.
He gave evolution more credence as a scientific theory than I would have liked. But his statement made clear that it's still a theory. And he repudiated the theory of materialistic evolution.
3. What you say is true, but as I said "giving room" leaves the door open for #1, 2, 4, 5.
4. You will acknowledge among many Catholic segments Mary is revered much to highly by constituents, to their detriment. Life is in Christ, not Mary. The Pope should make that crystal clear, and he hasn't. Mary was blessed by God not blessed by herself.
No offense brother/sister. My church is far from perfect as well. Your responses exhibit to me a true seeker of Christ, and for that I am humbled. Praise God we all have Jesus to lean on.