- Joined
- Jul 13, 2015
- Messages
- 19,194
- Location
- Western Australia
- Gender
- Male
- Religious Affiliation
- Catholic
- Political Affiliation
- Moderate
- Marital Status
- Single
- Acceptance of the Trinity & Nicene Creed
- Yes
Yeah?
I do not think so.
http://www.christianpost.com/buzzvine/7-times-pope-francis-was-misquoted-132679/
In September, Pope Francis appeared to claim that atheists could go to Heaven, even if they never believe in Jesus, so long as they do good.
It was reportedly part of an open letter response to atheist Italian journalist Eugenio Scalfari of the publication The Republic.
"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," wrote the pontiff.
Later on in a radio message, the Pope said "The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! 'Father, the atheists?' Even the atheists. Everyone!"
The United Kingdom publication the Independent stated that "Pope Francis assures atheists: You don't have to believe in God to go to heaven" and the Huffington Post reported "Pope Francis Says Atheists Who Do Good Are Redeemed, Not Just Catholics."
However, as Catholic writers noted, the interpretation of the pontiff's remarks may have been a bit off, namely that being redeemed and being saved are two different things.
"Pope Francis did not say that an atheist who does naturally good things can be saved if he dies an atheist," wrote Brian Kelly of Catholicism.org.
"The Pope… simply reminded the faithful that there can be, and is, goodness, or natural virtue, outside the Church. And that Christ's death on the Cross redeemed all men. He paid the price so that every man could come to God and be saved."
Furthermore, a couple months later the Holy See removed Francis' comments to Scalfari, arguing that there were certain mistakes in how the text was written up.
"The information in the interview is reliable on a general level but not on the level of each individual point analyzed: this is why it was decided the text should not be available for consultation on the Holy See website," noted a Vatican spokesman.
"Its removal is a final update on the nature of this text. Some mistakes were made regarding its value, which was questioned."
It was reportedly part of an open letter response to atheist Italian journalist Eugenio Scalfari of the publication The Republic.
"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," wrote the pontiff.
Later on in a radio message, the Pope said "The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! 'Father, the atheists?' Even the atheists. Everyone!"
The United Kingdom publication the Independent stated that "Pope Francis assures atheists: You don't have to believe in God to go to heaven" and the Huffington Post reported "Pope Francis Says Atheists Who Do Good Are Redeemed, Not Just Catholics."
However, as Catholic writers noted, the interpretation of the pontiff's remarks may have been a bit off, namely that being redeemed and being saved are two different things.
"Pope Francis did not say that an atheist who does naturally good things can be saved if he dies an atheist," wrote Brian Kelly of Catholicism.org.
"The Pope… simply reminded the faithful that there can be, and is, goodness, or natural virtue, outside the Church. And that Christ's death on the Cross redeemed all men. He paid the price so that every man could come to God and be saved."
Furthermore, a couple months later the Holy See removed Francis' comments to Scalfari, arguing that there were certain mistakes in how the text was written up.
"The information in the interview is reliable on a general level but not on the level of each individual point analyzed: this is why it was decided the text should not be available for consultation on the Holy See website," noted a Vatican spokesman.
"Its removal is a final update on the nature of this text. Some mistakes were made regarding its value, which was questioned."
OH " ... they have never repented of apostasy they are just pushing it more now . read the book of martyrs .Rome put believers in the lord Jesus to death but offered to not kill them if they would say "hail mary" ..the apostasy is very ancient .