Posted on 06/21/2014 10:53:30 AM PDT by NYer
SIBARI Italy (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Saturday took on one of Italy's most dangerous organised crime groups, calling it an example of "the adoration of evil" and saying Mafiosi "are excommunicated".
The pope, speaking about the 'Ndrangheta crime group during a mass in the southern Italy, issued the strongest attacks on organised crime since the late Pope John Paul lambasted the Sicilian Mafia in 1993.
"Those who in their lives follow this path of evil, as mafiosi do, are not in communion with God. They are excommunicated," Pope Francis said in impromptu comments at a mass before tens of thousands of people.
He told the crowd: "This evil must be fought against, it must be pushed aside. We must say no to it."
He branded the 'Ndrangheta as the "adoration of evil and contempt of the common good" and said the Church would exert its full force in efforts to combat organised crime.
"Our children are asking for it, our young people are asking for it. They are in need of hope and faith can help respond to this need," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Funny how?
Uh... you know.. you’re just funny.. the way you post that story.. uh... its just funny...
EXACTLY.
Where is that in the Bible?
I am serious. You are talking about a very serious thing - being denied Salvation by Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross and going to Hell, forever. (There is no "purgatory" by the way either, only Heaven or Hell).
You are greatly mistaken in what you wrote and what you believe. I am a former Catholic - I used to believe it also. But the Truth is that only God Himself makes that determination of who has actually accepted Jesus Christ, and who has not. You must accept Christ in your heart:
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Romans 10:13
The names of those who do are written in the Book of Life (it is an actual book).
Many come to accept Jesus Christ during the horrific Great Tribulation, but at a great price. Torture, persecution, and beheading await most of them.
When Christ defeats Satan in Chapter 19 of Revelation, there is great joy. Those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb are celebrating with Him in heaven (Handel's Messiah was inspired by this passage).
ALL who have live will experience Resurrection. The First Resserection is for those who have accepted Christ. This is the one you want. This is the good news.
"4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years."
Revelation 20: 4-6
Then, the sad (but true) Great White Throne Judgement happens.
"11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."
Revelation 20: 11-15
For your Bible question, though I don’t accept your “show me in the Bible premise,” please see the list found here:
http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Bible-Verses-About-Excommunication/
Show me how I am mistaken about excommunication. The Code of Canon Law is pretty clear. So, unless I misquoted it, you are the one in the wrong.
That aside, what does the rest of your post have to do with the topic? Nothing. Can a person call on the name of the Lord and still willing procure an abortion? Yep. Are they free from Eternal Judgement? Nope.
On this, Corpus Christi Sunday, as a former Catholic, you would be wise to re-read the whole of John 6, and recognize the tremendous gift Our Lord promised, that He would be with us unto the end.
Canon Law is the Catholic church, not the Bible.
All of the verses you cited are correct Scripture:
http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Bible-Verses-About-Excommunication/
However, none of them give the authority to Francis to deny someone Heaven or Hell.
Let's start with the first few you listed:
2 Thessalonians 3:14 - And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
That doesn't say that a man (any man) has the authority to kick someone out of the presence of Heaven, forever, does it?
Let's take the next:
1 Corinthians 5:5 - To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
God's Authority, not Francis. And NO - he is not the Authority of Christ on Earth - Jesus Christ retains that Title, thank you very much.
1 Corinthians 5:1-13 - It is reported commonly [that there is] fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
Paul is pointing out problems of sin within the early church, and how it must be confronted, confessed, so that it might be forgiven. Where do you get "excommunication" from this?
Matthew 18:15-20 - Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Wonderful words from Christ regarding confession that leads to the forgiveness of sin through Jesus (who is the only one who earned that right). Nothing about "excommunication" here, is there?
Romans 16:17 - Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
It says to avoid sinners. Where does it say that one man in a robe has the authority to condemn someone to Hell?
Proverbs 25:26 - A righteous man falling down before the wicked [is as] a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
Yes - sin is bad.
2 John 1:10 - If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed:
Sin is bad, and so are sinners. Still waiting for the verse where Francis gets to decide the First or Second Death, or the Great White Throne Judgment...........
Matthew 4:1-25 - Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil
Great verse about Jesus....applies how to your argument?
2 Chronicles 17:1-19 - And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.
Again, ? This speaks towards the sin of the nation of Israel, and how (again) ALL sin is bad. It give ZERO authority to Francis concerning anyone, much less an organization.
You see - you still don't get it. Francis (not his real name) did this for PR and political purposes. He did it to enhance himself. The "Mafia". Really? Who is that? He condemned "THEM" to Hell? First of all, he does not have that Authority. And if you believe he does, you are WAY off base Biblically. Second of all, are you saying that NO person who belongs to an "organization" that he condemns and "excommunicates" can come to Jesus Christ?
I guess he hasn't had the time in his busy schedule to read this?
"26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity."
Romans 1: 26-29
Again, you don’t understand excommunication. It applies to Catholics, and is derived from Scripture. Please see the Code of Canon Law which describes excommunication. (http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P4X.HTM#E)
No human can deny another Heaven or nor commit someone to Hell. That is up to God.
So, all of your points about Scripture are misplaced, as you don’t understand excommunication.
You then make several judgements about the Pope’s motivations based on your ignorance of excommunication, then top it off by implying you have the capacity to judge homosexuals and atheists.
We agree that homosexual behavior is sinful. We agree that it must be avoided. We agree God can forgive it.
So, go back and learn what excommunication is, and what it isn’t. Then comment thoughtfully about what you have read.
Again, you invented this. You defend this out of thin air. It isn't God's Word. You think you are Authoritative, but you are a spouting nonsense. Why are you behaving so?
That, SpirituTuo, is the most relevant, direct point of this entire thread. The Catholic church is infested with homosexuals, from leadership to the ranks who watch over children.
Interesting that you don't care about that.
What in the hell are you talking about??? I have demonstrated from the KJV separating people from the Church. I have demonstrated it comes from Canon Law, with the reference, so how am I making stuff out of thin air?????
I have no authority, except over myself. I have given you every source to view on your own.
You are obstinate in your ignorance, and proud in your error!
I see, so it has nothing at all to do with the Pope calling out mafiosi and imposing the most severe penalty possible on those who claim to be Catholic. What universe do you inhabit???
What connection is there to homosexuals, other than what you have posted? You are writing in non sequiturs!
Statistically, there are homosexuals in the Church, as there are in any organization. It is called a normal distribution.
Please, put away your Jack Chick comics, and your Benny Hinn prayer cloths and come into reality.
2. The "church" (the pope) does NOT determine who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell (again, there is no such thing as "Purgatory")
3. You are caught up in defending this garbage. Turn to Jesus Christ. It is SO much easier!!!
You must not read a single thing I type. Did you not see that I wrote exactly that only God determines who goes to Heaven and Hell? I guess not.
I guess you never heard about Pope Benedict sending crews to inspect every single seminary. You probably haven’t heard about a bishop being assigned to monitor and coach the wayward religious sisters. Finally, you probably have no clue about what then, now St. Pope John Paul II wrote about the requirements of the priesthood, i.e., no homosexuals!!
But then again, you don’t let facts get in the way. It is much easier to plug your ears and chant “Catholic Bad!”
Finally, don’t mock God and call His church garbage.
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.