Baptist Leader Says Pope Soft on Sin

Associated Baptist Press ^ | Bob Allen

[marshmallow]

Russell Moore says the pope’s latest interview in an Italian newspaper “is more than just confusing. It’s a theological wreck.”

The head of the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission says Pope Francis is soft on sin.

Russell Moore, president of the moral-concerns agency for the nation’s second-largest faith group behind Catholicism, criticized the pope’s comments published in la Repubblica, the largest Italian daily general-interest newspaper.

Responding to a question about whether there is a “single vision” of good and, if so, who decides, the pontiff replied: “Each of us has a vision of good and of evil. We have to encourage people to move towards what they think is good."

“Everyone has his own idea of good and evil and must choose to follow the good and fight evil as he conceives them,” the pope continued. “That would be enough to make the world a better place."

Francis said the church’s mission is not to proselytize but “to identify the material and immaterial needs of the people and try to meet them as we can.”

"Proselytism is solemn nonsense, it makes no sense,” he said. “We need to get to know each other, listen to each other and improve our knowledge of the world around us…. The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead towards the good.”

In an Oct. 1 posting on the ELRC website, Moore said Pope Francis makes the mistake of “severing the love of God from the holiness of God.”

“From Augustine’s Confessions to ‘Well, everyone has his own ideas about good and bad’ is a mighty long path,” Moore said. “If Pope Francis wishes to reclaim the primacy of the gospel, he must simultaneously speak with kindness to........

[jodyel]

No stones...just want everyone to know the truth and be filled with the Spirit.

[jodyel]

Anti-Catholicism, not anti-catholic.

[jodyel]

Neither are led by the Holy Spirit.

[goodwithagun]

Yep. Stones. But hey, whatever helps you sleep at night.

[jodyel]

Don’t brush everyone with the same broad strokes.....some of us would just like to see others born again and Spirit filled. We want that for all.

I sleep fine at night.

Perhaps one day you can tell me why so against believers. I was once in need of hearing the Gospel and God made sure I did. Why would we then not want to tell others?

[grumpygresh]

“You are hanging to much on the single word “conceives’”

Wow, you’ve really strayed off topic. I didn’t say “conceives”, the pope did. He unwittingly introduced unnecessary confusion at the very least through his choice of words. I don’t see how you can deny that the pope lacks the same type of clarity that we have come to expect with his predecessors. You can’t maintain that the pope has been clear, because if he had been clear, we would not have had this controversy.

As to whether he pope is deliberately engaging in false teaching, I would agree that he is probably not. And of course, the pope is human, and too err is human. But he is the pope, not a pundit, and we should expect better.

I can tell you one thing. If this pope make doctrinal statements on theology that rise to the level of dogmatic infallibility, he better have some experts on theology and grammar looking over his shoulder. That will make your job as unwavering papal apologist much easier.

[Arthur McGowan]

I didn’t say that the Pope didn’t say “conceives.” I said that your presumed sharp distinction between the meaning of “conceives” and “thinks” was baseless.

My point was that the Pope didn’t say anything new, and that his use of the word “conceives” doesn’t introduce anything new.

The Church and all moral theologians have always held that no one is culpable if he obeys his sincere judgment about what is right and wrong.

I don’t know who you think you are talking to, but “unwavering Papal apologist”? Have you read my posts? Did you even read my post to YOU?