Posted on 12/29/2015 11:47:48 AM PST by Jan_Sobieski
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."
[...]
In July, Francis signalled a more progressive attitude on sexuality, asking: "If someone is gay and is looking for the Lord, who am I to judge him?"
(Excerpt) Read more at timesofindia.indiatimes.com ...
This Pope needs to stop talking period....or he’ll be taking down the precious few faithful with him.
A better question...why do we need a Church or a Pope?
There is some difference between the Church and the Magisterium, in this unusual case. It is rare for the Magisterium to be so broadly separated from the Church.
Not all, but so many. However, I remind myself that Holy Mother Church has suffered damage from popes before.
This is a sad blow.
He sounds more like a Unitarian.
Sadly, that is the case. Many are not well enough catechized, or are poorly catechized, and will not know how to stand.
Prayers up, for the weak.
Given the handful (out of hundreds) of blatantly heretical Popes that have emerged in the history of the Catholic Church, we were about due for another one, given how badly the clergy - infiltrated by Marxists and Progressives - have let down the faithful, and how poorly catechized much of the laity are within what was once called Christendom.
I imagine that Francis’s “progressive” ideals are going to wreak havoc (and bloodshed) amongst many who profess the faith in the face of moral relativsm and Islamic fundamentalists. And he will be held to account for it all.
Matthew 12:36-37 (Douay Rheims): But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Is the Pope Catholic?
I guess it’s back to bears and the woods.
Pope?
“God?”
Is he talking about Mary?
Where was he sitting when he said this?
Was he on his throne?
GET OUTTA THAT cHURCH WHILE YOU CAN!
Anyway, what does the Pope know about God?
Nothin’
....”Many are not well enough catechized, or are poorly catechized,”......
All the better ...they should leave now and let the Lord lead them to His Truth outside of the catholic church and these false teachings.
You can't 'go to him' if one is an absolute atheist. For a true atheist says not that he doesn't know if God exists. But instead says in his heart 'there is no God'. Therefore the Pope is being wise in his response.
He is saying that you still have to 'go' to him in a contrite (repentant humble heart). Therefore, at that point, the man or woman is no longer an atheist and God does the rest.
The NY Slimes and the leftist media have been fooled just as the Pope planned all along.
Some things for the pope to consider:
1. In Genesis, “the imagination of man was only evil continually.” That didn’t work out well. It was their imaginations, it was their precious consciences; but they got very wet and died from it.
2. In Judges, “every man did what was right in his own eyes.” The fabric of Israelite society began to unravel. Then the palestinians had their way with the Israelites, even though they thought they were right.
3. In Proverbs, “there is a way that seems right to man; but the end thereof is the way of death.” So, there is a higher reality/morality, transcending even one’s own, precious, sincere ideas (imagine that).
4. In Jeremiah is the piece de resistance: “The heart (conscience) is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it?”
So I would say the pope is missing a lot of Bible in his reasoning (if you want to call it that).
xxxx
Matthew 16:13-19 (Douay Rheims): And Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is? But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?
Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.
xxxx
We are fortunate that Francis has never deigned to try and speak ex cathedra on a topic of faith and morals. Though, given his Peronist mentality, it's more than likely that he doesn't actually believe in the teachings of the Catholic Church.
OOps. I thought you were in the Church. My error.
What, does this guy think that as long as he has a pen and a phone that he can just take executive action to change the rules?
Where in Heaven’s name have we gotten this recent crop of so-called “leaders” today?
My understanding is that heretics “self-excommunicate” with no official action or statement from the Church...
or so we’re told, concerning folks like Pelosi, Kerry, Kennedy, etc.
“Find the Pope in the Pizza” by Guido Sarducci, of SNL fame.
Given this, there certainly wasn’t any need for Christ’s sacrifice, now was there?
In fact, if there is ANY other way to salvation,
His sacrifice was in vain.
Nope, He is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life.
There is no other.
Pope says you don’t have to believe in God.
I guess the Pope is evangelizing, eh?
It’s okay. God doesn’t believe in the Pope.
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