[2banana]

The Great Commission???

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Ugh....as a Catholic, this pope makes me hurl. A Pope on a Rope could do a better job.

[Gene Eric]

>> “Proselytism among Christians, therefore, in itself, is a grave sin,” said Pope Francis.

Curious what preceded that statement, regardless of its absurdity.

[Castigar]

“And now the head of Christ’s Catholic Church on earth, no less, is telling me that those Catholics who by personal conversation and written argument helped persuade me to abandon my Protestant heresies and embrace the fullness of revealed truth were thereby committing grave sin?”

As I have said in another thread I have been a believer and a Catholic all my life but there is nothing about this pope that....to me...is Catholic. I think he is a Manchurian Candidate and I wish there was a way to impeach him. He does NOT speak for me and I will not acknowledge him as pope (intentionally small “p”). He is a product of the “feel good” generation, I reject him!

[donna]

Anyone remember The Troubles?

The conflict in Northern Ireland during the late 20th century?

The dead . . . 3 or 4 thousand?

[Tennessean4Bush]

So, the writer believes Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, Baptists, Episcopalians, Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, the myriad of Evangelical and Protestant offshoots are all lost and going to hell? Really?

[boatbums]

I mean . . . Trying to help non-Catholic Christians, by reasoned argument and apologetics, to recognize and embrace the fullness of revealed truth - and for Francis, that certainly qualifies as "proselytism" - is now to be condemned as sin? And indeed, grave sin? Even though Vatican Council II (to which the Holy Father professes his full adherence) clearly restates that all have a moral duty to seek, embrace and hold fast to this truth of the Catholic Church (cf. Dignitatis Humanae, #1)? Even though the Council (Lumen Gentium, #14) and the Catechism (#846) reaffirm the dogma "Outside the Church there is no salvation", explaining it to mean that those who recognize the Catholic Church as embodying the true religion, yet refuse to enter or remain in her, cannot be saved?
I myself am a convert from Presbyterianism. Prompted by the aforesaid conciliar teaching, I became a Catholic in order to save my soul. The Catholic faith I have professed now for 42 years is the most precious gift I have received. And now the head of Christ's Catholic Church on earth, no less, is telling me that those Catholics who by personal conversation and written argument helped persuade me to abandon my Protestant heresies and embrace the fullness of revealed truth were thereby committing grave sin? And he's justifying this excoriation of convert-seeking with a vapid "explanation" that explains nothing ("Because it contradicts the very dynamic of how to become and to remain Christian”)?

I think the Pope was right about something here. People who are already Christian believers shouldn't be seen as fertile ground for those like the author to try to "save their souls" by convincing them ONLY the Roman Catholic religion can do so for them and alone has the "fullness of the faith". That is just elitist thinking and contradicts the Catholic Catechism which states genuine Christians DO exist outside of Catholicism.

I was born into Catholicism but found the fullness of the faith outside of it by studying Holy Scripture and attending and fellowshipping with other believers in Evangelical non-Catholic denominations. There's nothing wrong with discussing apologetics and theological differences but I always thought it strange how some Catholics insist that Catholicism is the ONLY way to salvation. If someone is already a follower of Jesus Christ and professes the faith as the early creeds describe it, then there's no need to try to convert them over to Roman Catholicism. If someone has a desire to join, that's fine, but it certainly isn't the only way to "save my soul".

[CharleysPride]

I would agree to an end to Proselytising — the worst groups are the loudest and the best lead by quiet example.

[LadyDoc]

I think he is actually worried because so many wishywashy Catholics were presented Christ by Protestant pastors, and left the Catholic church.

The anecdote for this is to actually teach Christianity in Catholic churches instead of liberation theology or the feel good psychology version of religion that he is trying to push.

[protest1]

The antichrist Pope continues being anti Christ.

[iontheball]

Pope Francis - the Barack Obama of Catholicism.

[Biggirl]

Look for Pope Francis to step down by the end of next year.

[ealgeone]

Paul was not one of the original disciples yet he was chosen by Christ to witness on His behalf.

Are the people who were led to Christ by Paul Christians or not?

[Elsie]

Thank GOD! he didn't say anything about DOCTRINE!

[Theophilus]

Semper Reformanda Fr Harrison!