(RNS) Is Pope Francis endorsing heresy?
Drawing of Pope Francis courtesy Graphic News
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It might look that way from the eye-catching headlines this week that made it appear everyone was bound for heaven — “even atheists!” — thanks to Jesus’ death on the cross.
The passage that prompted the reports came from Francis’ brief homily at the informal morning Mass that he celebrates in the chapel at the Vatican guesthouse.
Speaking on Wednesday (May 22), Francis said that as human beings created in the image of God, everyone has a “duty to do good.”
“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,” he said, answering his own query. “Everyone! And this blood makes us children of God of the first class! We are created children in the likeness of God and the blood of Christ has redeemed us all!”
Cue the jaw dropping and head scratching. Atheists were pleasantly surprised, conservative Catholics were dazed and confused, and the pope’s comments raced around the Internet; for a while they were the second-most shared piece on Reddit.
So was Francis preaching a form of “universalism”? That is the unorthodox teaching that says, essentially, that all faiths are equal and all are going to heaven, especially if you are nice to people here on earth. It’s also a heresy that Francis’ predecessor, Benedict XVI, spent a career quashing every time he thought he thought he spied a hint of it in some theologian’s writings.
But the short answer to the question is easy: No. Francis was only affirming the doctrine that Christ redeemed the whole world. Whether people accept that belief is another matter.
In fact, popes going back to Leo XIII in 1891 and up through John Paul II – not to mention authoritative texts from the official Catholic Catechism and the Second Vatican Council – have said the exact same thing Francis did.
The Rev. Thomas Rosica, a Vatican spokesman, confirmed as much in an explanatory note the next day that reiterated these basic points. Even rejecting Christianity, Rosica noted, does not automatically consign someone to hell because Catholics believe God can save anyone, Christian or atheist or a member of another faith – though always through Jesus.
Also, Francis was speaking off-the-cuff, as he likes to do, and not in precise formulations that have magisterial, much less infallible, authority.
In fact, the wide attention given to Francis’ remarks may have as much to do with the popular appeal of his approachable, plain-spoken style and his insistence that Catholics not only help the poor but that they also join hands in respect and humility with others, be they believers or atheists.
The retired pope, Benedict XVI, also made an outreach to atheists a signature issue, and he also preached about making common cause with nonbelievers for the sake of the common good. Yet to the wider public he apparently was neither sufficiently kindly nor convincing to make it sound original.
Still, Francis has managed to rattle more than a few cages, especially among Catholic conservatives who were sending “panicky emails” trying to figure out what is going on in Rome.
Indeed, in the two months since Francis was elected, his broadsides against “savage capitalism” (a remark he made the day before his homily on redemption) have repeatedly unsettled economic conservatives, just as his preference for a low-key pontifical style and simple liturgies have appalled many high-church traditionalists.
Francis’ most recent remarks also tapped into a passionate debate in church circles over a new translation of the Mass that was ordered by Benedict XVI. One of the most problematic aspects of the new translation concerns a crucial Eucharistic prayer in which the priest used to say that Jesus’ blood was “shed for you and for all.” Now the Latin phrase has been translated to read “for you and for many.”
The tweak from “all” to “many” may sound like inside baseball for church geeks, but it actually has profound implications for how Catholics view the nature of salvation, the mission of Jesus and the church’s role in the world.
“Do church leaders want to signal that the grace of Christ is available only to the regular, traditional churchgoer? Is their intention to leave out the rest?” the Rev. Paul Philibert asked in a 2011 essay in America magazine. “More and more it looks as if the covert message beneath the written text is one of effective exclusion rather than antecedent inclusion of all humanity in God’s will for salvation.”
Despite stiff and ongoing resistance from bishops across the English-speaking world, Benedict’s Vatican pushed them to adopt this reformulation as a new orthodoxy. Now Francis seems to have come down on the more expansive side of the debate, giving conservative Catholics another case of agita.
As faux conservative – and genuine Catholic – Stephen Colbert put it in his televised parody of Francis’ recent remarks: “If the Lord redeems atheists all bets are off. What’s next? The Lord redeems Lutherans? It’s madness! … I’m just so glad Jesus didn’t live to see this.”
It was a funny line on Colbert’s cable show, but some are wondering how far the new pope will take it in real life.
KRE/YS END GIBSON
38 Comments
Pope Francis: 'Even the atheists' can go to heaven - New York Daily News
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Alan C. Mitchell
Unlike John Paul II and Benedict XVI, Francis is inclusive. He has said nothing different from the traditional Roman Catholic doctrine of salvation, the work of Christ is efficacious for all humans regardless of belief. He shows his deep Jesuit spirituality in this decoration. In the Incarnation of Christ all of humanity was transformed so that it could be saved. And indeed it was saved, atheists included.
marg nelson
it upsets many Catholic’s to hear people say that previous Pope’s Paul 6 John Paul 2 and Benedict 16 did not do the very best in their roles is so sad. They made big steps in areas for many years not visited by previous Popes. Personally I refer to the Bible as the way the truth and the life. Previous Popes have re enforced this doctrine just as the present Pope is doing. The Bible says those who have been given the gift of Faith must share it with those who do not yet have it. Pope Francis I think is just re-iterating the same. Sometimes his terminology seems to say the opposite but God made us all in his own image and likeness, he gave us dominion over all other living creatures. I’m Catholic and proud, God gave us the Bible as the pathway to live our lives. Too much has always been made od religious dogma, we need to get off our backsides and practice the virtues of the Good book, yes be guided by the Popes past and present but more so by the infallible one whose message is in the Bible
Mark Moore
His humanism is showing. He better get back to the party line.
Andrew
Mark, hate to tell you this, but what he said is the party line. The media just doesn’t report it that way.
Latinist
Oh, come on, Mr. Gibson. The actual normative version of the Roman Catholic mass is in Latin. In it, the words of consecration read “pro vobiis et pro multis effundetur.” This translates directly as “shed for you and for many.” This has been the case since scripture was determined canonical, since the words themselves are scriptural.
Stop finding a “change” when the change was really just back to what the Latin and Greek actually say; it betrays either your ignorance or your bad faith.
Wade Sikes
I’m not a Roman Catholic, I come from a Wesleyan-Arminian tradition. As such, I see no problem with his statement, since God’s prevenient grace provides the possibility of redemption for all. It is, however, efficacious only for those who choose to accept this marvelous gift.
Mike Borcherding
You are exactly right. Jesus gave all of us the possibility of redemption. Those who believe in him are the ones that will receive it.
David Gibson
Article authorDear Latinist: I hope I’m not guilty of either ignorance or bad faith, but if anything I hope it is the latter not the former. If you have researched this you probably know that the meaning of “pro multis” is hotly debated. For decades it has been rendered as meaning “for all,” given the context in which Jesus was saying the words and in connecting the Eucharist with His sacrficie on the Cross, which was certainly “for all.” Some say a possible third option is “for the multitude.” In any event, while some would wish to make it as easy as feeding the Latin into Google translator, it’s actually not that easy, nor always theologically correct.
liamascorcaigh
The meaning of ‘pro multis’ may be “hotly debated” but such “debate” is tendentious. Snide remarks re Google translator notwithstanding, ‘pro multis’ means very clearly ‘for/on behalf of many’. If one wished to say ‘for/on behalf of all’ Latin provides the equally simple and clear ‘pro omnibus’. These are facts beyond dispute. They are not, of course, beyond interpretation. All things are subject to interpretation. Hence the tendentiousness.
Antiphon411
I have studied Latin for over twenty years from high school through a doctorate in ancient history. I have a B.A. in Classical Languages. I have taught Latin at the prep school and university level and am currently on the faculty of a university classics department.
Pro multis does not mean “for all”; pro omnibus does. Pro multis could never mean “for all” any more than it could mean “eggs over easy”. The reason that there are debates is because certain theologians and clerics of a universalist bent want to water down what remains Catholic doctrine: extra Ecclesia nulla salus, which is not Latin for “everyone is saved regardless of their belonging to the Holy Catholic Church”.
Antiphon411
How embarrassing: the self-proclaimed Latin expert misspells his Latin. Extra EcclesiaM nulla salus. Well, even Jupiter nods.
Alecto
I am a conservative Catholic and this didn’t rattle my cage. The pope is smart and he was absolutely right to restate this and should at every opportunity: salvation is available to everyone, everywhere, every human being is capable of both good or evil. We believe in free will. To me, that is the central, the primary message of Catholicism. Whether or not we avail ourselves of Christ’s offer is another story. I’m sure many will misinterpret the pope’s speech. Kudos to Gibson for getting it right.
It’s not surprising coming from the first openly socialist order he neither understands nor appreciates the free enterprise system and its interplay with our religion. That is the bigger tragedy, because I believe Catholicism and free enterprise go hand in hand. Our obligations to our fellow man are individual in nature, not collective and mandated social welfare cannot be confused with “charity”. Therefore, it is incumbent upon each of us to help, to be charitable, to love and to give of ourselves. I wish the pope would explain what he means by “savage” capitalism. Is that like “savage” stalinism? I think he may need a reminder about the brutality of socialism, communism and all totalitarian philosophies.
mel
If one cannot see that to observe what the selfishness of “savage capitalism” is doing to the lives of so many without thinking that to do so is to choose socialism, or communism or totalitarianism or any other ‘ism’ is to show one’s fear of embracing only the provision of God. Fear of depending on God for provision and a love of money is at the root of that blindness and none other. Try accepting that challenge. Most of the defenders of capitalism are easily exposed when the Lord’s Prayer is set before them. What you don’t want is to face the possiblity that you won’t be protected from hardship. Yet St. Paul encouraged us in the scriptures to “do our part in enduring hardship”. A capitalist does not want to do so. And if he/she does not, then how can God teach them to trust and depend on him? He/she is unwilling to acknowledge that life is not the simplistic laundry-basket sort of those ‘lazy’ poor people and his enterprising, hardworking well-earned self. When you take more than your fair share you help create not wealth but poverty. And that is explained when Chesterton states that “The problem with Capitalism is not that there are too many Capitalists, but too few.” You create laws to bar people from entering the market. Laws that favor you for tax shelters and breaks. Laws that give corporations over people personhood, and so forth. We could be here all night with instance after instance of the massive selfishness that Capitalism does and has created. It thinks every invention, every technology is always needed and makes everyone’s life better and yet, the price tag for those things is either out of reach for many or keeps them in a working slavery to it. If you can’t see it, it is only your fear of depending on God that keeps you from seeing it. As Jesus told the rich young ruler who claimed he had kept all the commandments: “Go and sell all that you have and give it to the poor and come follow me.” Yet he went away, the scriptures say,grieved. That is it in a nutshell.
R. L. Hails Sr. P. E.
Perhaps I, who knows only one language, English, poorly, can help. I had the privilege to take courses in biblical theology from Fr. Gerald Solyan at Catholic U. He, an expert in biblical languages, knew and spoke scores of languages, wrote libraries of publications, and was one of a two consultants, with Cardinal Dulles, to Vatican II. He was, simply, the most educated person I ever knew. He could translate original bible text, mostly ancient Greek, some Aramaic, directly into modern day American English. He said that there is open, honest, ongoing and cordial debate among Jewish, Protestant, and Catholic scholars (some Muslims, and others) on the best, most accurate, translation of ancient languages. It is a titanic effort, worthy of the highest scholarship, to precisely capture and convey 4,000 years of evolving languages. Mankind went over 1500 years without much scientific knowledge; until the advent of modern archaeology in the 19 th century. A mile stone was discovery of the code of Hammurabi.
The late Pope, a world renown scholar, insisted on the best wording. This prompts debate among experts. So be it.
It is interesting, but small beer to me. And God. He is. That is enough.
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[...] recent comments on Christ death redeeming the whole world (including atheists) raises questions (read1, [...]
Dearborn pays Christian group over Muslim evangelism; Vujicic takes message to Vietnam (UCNN #54) | Urban Christian News Network
[...] 6. Pope Francis’ recent comments on Christ death redeeming the whole world (including atheists) raises questions (read1, read2) [...]
John Petty
Can anybody cite any authority that says that universalism is really a heresy? People toss that assumption around, but it’s not justified.
chris
The bible says there is only one way to salvation, and that is through Jesus Christ, accepting Him as your savior and repenting of your sins. The path to salvation is narrow, nut the road to hell is wide. This is what the christian canon says. If anyone says astheists are saved, that is heresy.
Stephen
I think his comments smacked of heresy. Redemption is only for believers. Read the Bible for God’s sake!
Graham-Michoel
Can you point to me where is says in the Bible redemption is ‘only’ for believers.
Graham-Michoel
He didn’t say atheists ‘are’ saved, but ‘can’ be saved.
David Gibson
Article authorJohn Petty, perhaps I should have made it clear in the piece, but it is Catholic teaching that considers universalism out of bounds. Others may not (though there a lively debate in some evangelical-Pentecostal circles too) and of course individuals can agree with it.
Marie
Pope Benedict XVI rightfully changed the word “all” of the consecration back to the original word “many” spoken by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper and “many” has always been the word used in the Latin/Tridentine Mass since 1570 A.D. The reason “many” is used in the consecration is because Jesus used it to fulfill the prophecy about Him in Isaiah 53:10-12:
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.
tony
I am a conservative catholic and i have no idea why this is considered news. God is Love. the catechism, published in 1983, provides only two criteria for those that up in hell….rejecting love with full knowledge and freedom..and persisting in that state. If you seek and follow the truth that is revealed to you, then when you die you will be saved and continue towards what you desire. If you reject that truth, then you will close yourself off and love will torment you for all eternity.
What should really annoy the liberals is that heaven is no longer a cute joke about knowing the right people. Its about rejecting or accepting the truth which is ultimately Christ. And it does not allow for moral relativism that is at the core of liberalism in which every person has a right to come up with their own definition of good and evil. This was original temptation in the garden when the devil tempted humanity to be “like god’s naming good and evil.” (In this case “naming” such as adam naming the animals means defining.) Liberals today are fond of saying “we are the ones we are waiting for”. Christians aren’t waiting on ourselves. We are waiting on Christ who comes to us every day through the sacraments and through the physically, spiritually or emotionally needy. do you accept or do you reject the dignity of each person. or are you king naming good and evil for yourself.
mike
I’m an ex-Catholic, a humanist and a religious None. I think this pope is a breath of fresh air. I could never again be a Catholic, but I may now wear the “ex” part a little more lightly.
Lucas
IF YOU WHO WANT TO BE SAVED AND ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:
Jesus (who is both God and man) laid the groundwork for salvation by stating; “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5).
The Catholic Church with its sacramental system (e.g., baptism, eucharist, confession, et. al. – all referenced by Jesus in scripture) is the straight and narrow to heaven (the later two sacraments sustain your faith until death) . As the Vatican stated a Christian who KNOWINGLY rejects salvation through the Catholic Church cannot be saved (unless they repent through confession).
For those of you who are not truly saved, pray that God the Holy Trinity give you, through the Holy Spirit, the free gift of faith so that you may be born again (have the first parents’ original sin removed and your personal sin freely forgiven) by repenting of all your sins, believing that Jesus died for your sins, is all God and all man, is the second person of the Holy Trinity, that God is three persons – one God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and that Jesus rose from the dead and is coming back to judge the living and the dead.
Also pick up and read the Bible and read a Catholic catechism and pray that the Holy Spirit guide you to an understanding of the mysteries of God, including salvation through the Catholic Church. Once you come to faith, call up a Catholic church and indicate you want to become a new Christian and be baptized; and then go to Church on all Sundays and holy days and be modest in your attire in and outside Church and avoid sin and occasions of sin. Remember the Church is full of saved sinners (and at times, as in our present times, many unsaved sinners who lack true faith). Also, pray for God’s continued grace throughout your life, especially in moments of doubt and temptation.
Those who do not accept the innocent blood atonement of the Jesus on the Cross for their sins cannot be saved and will be judged by God the Father, instead, for all the sins they ever committed and be sent to hell. Those who reject the mercy of the Son (Jesus) choose hell because failure to accept this mercy leads to continued hatred of God and all the myriad of wicked sins that flow from this rejection of God. The reason for this negative outcome is that without being born again (having original and personal sin removed through faith and baptism) we are born in rebellion against God from our conception/birth and we need this rebellious nature removed before we can enter heaven (hence, the need to be born [again] through the water and spirit). Otherwise, those who lack faith and are unbaptized will hate God and choose hell over heaven WILLINGLY.
However, unless you are convicted by God through the Holy Spirit (the third person of God) and then admit you are a weak sinner in need of Jesus for salvation, you will be blind, depth and dumb to the reality of your personal sin and the need for God in your life. Therefore, please pray that God give you a repentant and contrite heart and that He open your minds to the reality of His existence. Because of our frail sin nature from birth, God understands our weakness for sin and this is why Jesus said He did not come to judge sinners, but rather to save them from their own condemnation before God.
Humphrey
I left the Catholic Church because I came to see that for 1700 years it has been responding to a post-Constantine Satanic interpretation of what was originally a communal meal at which bread and wine were blessed and distributed to believers as a remembrance of Christ’s redeeming death; and a toast looking forward to His Return, His Second Coming, in power and glory. Satan said to himself ‘He says it is his Body and Blood, so I can have him crucified again and again if I can deceive them, step by step, into believing that it is a repeat of the crucifixion.’ That is what happens on the sacrificial altar fenced around with ritual. Also the apostles were to be ‘fishers of men’; to ‘catch’ men. Paul preached in order to persuade (some) men, and women to ‘change/be born again; people who could ‘remember what they were’. Soon the ‘fishing’ turned into fish-farming as EVERYONE was processed in the fish factory.
Pope Francis is correct in his emphasis again and again on the Holy Spirit; an emphasis which I believe is prompted to a degree by his experiences in S America where the Holy Spirit leads the Pentecostals and other evangelicals. After an adult religious experience when I received the Holy Spirit, my ‘before and after’ awareness taught me that I certainly did not receive the Spirit when processed as a Catholic child. I believe few do.
Is Pope Francis is a heretic? No, but he does r...
[...] (RNS) Is Pope Francis endorsing heresy? It might look that way from headlines that made it seem as though the pontiff had said that everyone – even atheists! – were destined for heaven. What he actually said was boilerplate Catholic doctrine. [...]
Geoff
Is the pope a heretic? Well, he claims to be head of the whole universal church (Christ’s role alone) and the church still mixes works and faith for justification. So just by accepting the role, he’s a heretic.
But yes, the Roman church has been drifting towards universalism for quite some time now. If you got into a time machine 120 years ago, that would not have been the position of the church. Nor 500 years ago. Nor 1000 years ago. Just read Unam Sanctum. I would love to see them defend their position against a sedevacantist.
If you want a thorough takedown of almost all forms of inclusivism, including the Roman Catholic form, Robert Reymond did good work on it: http://www.trinityfoundation.org/journal.php?id=107
Graham-Michoel
You clearly don’t understand the role of the Pope. Why do people keep trotting out these old misconceptions?
gordon lucas
REDEMPTION DOES NOT MEAN SALVATION. I was an Evangelical for 25 years before I returned to the Catholic Church. It was through simplistic misunderstandings like this I was compelled to leave the “Bible Believing” churches that understand scripture when it suits their convenience. Jesus redeemed everyone, but salvation must be reached out and grasped.
Florida Tom
Pope Francis appears to be reaching to the edges, as he has asked all Catholics to do, to open dialogue with atheists regarding redemption. I don’t see a blanket statement but a calculated invitation to engage non believers in receiving Jesus as the path to redemption. I hear Pope Francis loud and clear saying entry into The Kingdom is through Jesus, good works here on earth is but an important step towards redemption. Non believers are not forgotten and our ministries have only begun.
Mike Haigerty
Who Can Be Saved?
With Pope Francis’ recent comments about Atheists (May 22, 2013, at Daily Mass in Domus Sanctae Marthae) I think it’s a great time to dust off The Documents of the Second Vatican Council, specifically “Lumen Gentium” (Light to the Nations) and read all of chapter II (sections 9-17 of the document). If you can’t, here’s a key passage that could help:
“Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of conscience – those too may achieve eternal salvation.”
It doesn’t say “will achieve,” though we hope they will, if we care about people and try to love them as God does. It says, “may achieve.” It’s a possibility. Only God knows how. We can hope and pray. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states (#1257):
“The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are ‘reborn of water and the spirit.’ God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism; but he himself is not bound by his Sacraments.” (emphasis theirs)
This means God can save “extra-sacramentally.” Can and does, I’m sure. But we don’t know exactly how that happens. What we as Catholics do profess and believe is that:
1) There is a loving God – an Eternal Father, First Person of the Holy Trinity – who made us all out of love, in union with the Son and Holy Spirit (2nd and 3rd Persons of the Holy Trinity, respectively). Our very existence is a free gift from God.
2) Sin – a rejection of God – entered the world though our own free choice and the temptation of the devil. We chose wrongly “in the beginning” and still do choose wrongly; still do give in to these satanic/adversarial temptations. Sin has wounded us all and has divided us all from our loving God. Not because He wanted this separation from His creatures, but because we rejected Him who made us and sustains us in love. Why would we do that? Why would we make an enemy of the One who made us and allows us to exist? Isn’t that insane? Yes, criminally and sinfully insane!
3) Our loving God desires to be reconciled to us and therefore sent his only begotten Son, the 2nd person of the Holy Trinity (in union with Father and Spirit), who became incarnate in Jesus Christ and suffered, died, and was resurrected so that we could have forgiveness for our sins and true reconciliation with God. Jesus bore the punishment we deserve for our hostile rejection of God; for our act of criminal insanity toward God. Through his sacrificial death he restores us to sanity and God’s friendship. To paraphrase St. Paul: “He who knew no sin was made sin for us.” (2 Cor. 5:21).
4) God has given us a guaranteed means by which we can share in this forgiveness and reconciliation: when we become part of his people, the Church, the Body of Christ, through the Sacraments and the Holy Spirit – 3rd Divine Person of the Holy Trinity, in union with Father and Son – we receive through these Sacraments to sanctify us/make us holy/free us from sin/restore us to God’s friendship.
5) These rituals then are then the ordinary means of salvation given to us by God, ordinary in the sense that “this is the way that God usually saves,” yet they are absolutely extraordinary because they are an infallible means to receive God’s grace and attain salvation if we approach them with the proper disposition! Yes, a flawless path to God, which is why we should share this Good News! Yet, individuals, given the gift of free will, must choose to participate in these gifts/rituals. God will not force nor should we because that is not true love, which is God.
So what is the status of one who does not believe in God and does not want to enter His Church? Can they be saved from sin? Yes, it’s possible. Will they? We don’t know. That’s for God to decide. He can do miracles, i.e., extraordinary things. We can pray for these people and hope for them, that sin does not divide them eternally from their Creator; that they are not knowingly, freely, willfully rejecting God in hostility (and we need to make sure we aren’t rejecting God either!). We need to: 1) share with them the Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit and invite them to become part of the Church and partakers of the Sacraments that God established for our salvation, which is the #1 tried and tested and best remedy for the misery – both on earth and eternally – that sin causes; and 2) we must also be living examples of God’s love to them. Maybe if we did a better job of both endeavors, there would not be so many atheists. - Mike Haigerty, 5/26/2013
Disler Eolia
As a French woman (a catholic country… well not so any more these days) and as a Latter-Day Saint (mormon FYI), I follow Pope Francis’ path with great interest. He seems a man of sincere conviction, faithful to the Lord’s gospel, and with a brave wisdom. No desire of being famous for his power, but full of hope for every human beings.
In his speech, he was teaching the listeners about the Redemption we could all be bless with. The Atonement and, after, the Resurrection were essential for us to have the opportunity to rise again at the resurrection of the Deaths (we will all have a glorified body) and to go near God (Salvation) or be sent to the desolation of Satan’s darkness (Hell if you prefer). Yes, even the atheists are redeemed in the light of Jesus’ sacrifice..But they have to make the choice of choosing if they want to be save or not by it. God love knows no boundaries.
The fact that Pope Francis talks about it and that he wants for the Catholic Church to be more prozelyte and true to Jesus’ will of Charity (the pure love of Christ) sounds like a warning bell. The Believers (and I am sure he also thinks about all the religious persons in the world) have to open their hearts and be willing to follow more thoroughfully the Path. The world is going in the way of the Devil (he said the “savage capitalism” and the riches…) and he thinks it’s time to stand his ground.
May God bless him in his efforts of returning to the basics of the doctrine, against all the trials the proud and falling men tend to put on his way..
RNS: Is Pope Francis is a heretic? No, but he does raise questions | The Biblical False Prophet Has Arrived
[...] Excerpts from RNS [...]
Graham-Michoel
‘eye-catching headlines’ – At the end of the day, isn’t that all they were. The media has simply latched on to another arena of ‘gotcha’ type news gathering, except it isn’t really news, it’s 2000 years old, it’s as old as time. Surely the real message of Pope Francis – following in the footsteps of his illustrious name sake – is that no one is beyond redemption. That’s God at work, that’s pure Gospel, that’s Catholicism.
As was pointed out to me recently, Jesus didn’t turn to the ‘bad thief’ and say, “Today you will not be with me in paradise.”
Chris
I’d like to quote Father Max Zerwick, S.J., who addressed the difficulty with using a literal translation of “pro multis” back in 1970:
“…why in our liturgical translations is the venerable pro multis replaced by pro omnibus? Here is my answer. This is appropriate because of an inconvenient fact, accidental but true. The phrase “for many” (it is said) in our minds today is understood without reflection to exclude the universality of Christ’s redemptive work. The Semitic mind of the Bible could see that universality connoted in the phrase “for many.” In fact that connotation was certainly there, because of the theological context. However eloquent it was for ancient peoples, today that allusion to the Suffering Servant of Isaiah is clear only to experts.”
The full article is archived at http://www.americancatholicpress.org/Father_Zerwick_Pro_Multis.html and is excellent reading. (As are his books; essential to any Bibical scholar, imnsho.)