Posted on 01/18/2025 9:12:38 AM PST by ebb tide
German Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck has said that “we do not have to evangelize the whole world” and that people are “happy and content” without God.
In a sermon on the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, in the Essen Cathedral, Overbeck said that “we do not have to evangelize the whole world and win them over to a certain form of church life.”
“God will find ways to lead those who cannot or do not want to believe in Him onto a good path,” the bishop stated.
“Understanding and living our common Christian and church life in such a way that the Gospel is an invitation for people, but not a compulsion or pressure, is what we can do to ensure that there will continue to be places of Christianity in the future that are accessible to everyone.”
Overbeck’s statements are a blatant contradiction to the commands of Jesus Christ, who ordered the apostles to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
While it is true that the Catholic Church condemns coercion when evangelizing and people are free to accept or reject the Gospel, Catholics, and especially bishops as successors of the apostles, have a clear command to evangelize all peoples.
Moreover, his claim that God will lead people on a good path who do not want to believe him is erroneous. The Catholic Church teaches that those who willfully turn away from God and commit mortal sin without repenting will suffer eternal damnation (cf. CCC 1037).
Overbeck cited studies that purport to show that many people say they do not need God or religion and still “are happy and content and often lead a fulfilled life and are by no means selfish people.”
Catholic philosopher Sebastian Ostritsch pointed out in an article for Die Tagespost that even if it were true that people are happy and content without God, Christians must primarily be concerned with their neighbor’s eternal salvation and not superficial contentment.
“Anything else would be selfish, even unloving, because it would see in the other only an ordinary being limited to this world,” Ostritsch said.
Speaking about the conversion of Jews to the one true Catholic faith, Mother Miriam of the Lamb of God, who is a Jewish convert to the Catholic faith, said that “the greatest form of antisemitism” is to deny them “the knowledge of Christ.”
Bishop Athanasius Schneider agreed with Mother Miriam, adding that Catholics have a duty to bring the Gospel to everyone and that it would be a sin against the love of neighbor to deny them the privilege of knowing the Lord.
........
Francis has said the same thing. He said God's project is to make everyone happy.
Heresy!
Ping
Johnny Carson:
That would be like Donny Osmond joining the PLO.
The Krauts are so finished.
I guess they can shutdown all the Churches and stop the Mass too. Along the way stop sending tithes to support these carrion?
“God will find ways to lead those who cannot or do not want to believe in Him onto a good path,” the bishop stated.
I would like to see his footnote citation for that.
God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Saved. Not happy. Not content. SAVED.
Who hadn’t yet received the revelation that happiness and contentment are the new replacements for Jesus’s dearly-bought, sacrificial salvation from sins for those among “Pope Francis’s” (and Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck’s) flocks?
Another adherent of the Bergolio Heresy.
““God will find ways to lead those who cannot or do not want to believe in Him onto a good path,”
Where does it say that in the Bible? Catholics are sounding more and more like Seventh Day Adventists.
Why does organized religion exist then? Close your churches. The true relationship is from soul to God, no intermediary is required for salvation.
Well, that’s just lazy.
It's like the story of the farmer and the flood. "But my son, I sent two boats and a helicopter to rescue you, but you did not see it."
God gave his only Son, and started His Church to save us from sin. He also said that He is the only "good path".
The bishop should retire and give long contemplation on forming a personal relationship with God.
The Bishop just produced an argument that he and his episcopal position are irrelevant. He should be turned out of the mansion he no doubt lives in, and his salary, pensions, and all the perks of his office should be removed.
With clerics like Franz-Josef Overbeck, Satan has found a friend.
Apparently, the good Bishop must have missed Jesus' teaching: "I am the way, the truth and the life - NO MAN comes to the Father but through Me." - Jesus
Since evangelizing (preaching/teaching the good news about Jesus the Redeemer) isn't necessary, the Bishop and all clerics can now resign and all Church property sold with proceeds given away. Who needs a Church preaching the gospel if it is no longer necessary?
Why is this clown a bishop? According to him, Jesus was completely unnecessary.
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.