Pope Francis assures atheists: You don’t have to believe in God to go to heaven

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Graybeard

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In comments likely to enhance his progressive reputation, Pope Francis has written a long, open letter to the founder of La Repubblicanewspaper, 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.”
Robert Mickens, the Vatican correspondent for the Catholic journal The Tablet, said the pontiff’s comments were further evidence of his attempts to shake off the Catholic Church’s fusty image, reinforced by his extremely conservative predecessor Benedict XVI. “Francis is a still a conservative,” said Mr Mickens. “But what this is all about is him seeking to have a more meaningful dialogue with the world.”
In a welcoming response to the letter, Mr Scalfari said the Pope’s comments were “further evidence of his ability and desire to overcome barriers in dialogue with all”.
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?”​

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Acts 16:30-31
And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household - or just follow your conscience, that's good too."


Yeah.... no.


Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12
 
The Vatican has quickly clarified that atheists - they believe - are still going to hell, despite Pope Francis appearing to say non-believers could be saved through Christ if they do good.
Vatican spokesman Rev. Thomas Rosica said people who know about the Catholic church “cannot be saved” if they “refuse to enter her or remain in her.”
In an unprepared speech on Wednesday, the Pope emphasised the importance of “doing good,” for all people.
According to a report from Vatican radio, he explained how upset Jesus’ disciples were that someone outside their group was doing good.
He said: “They complain, ‘If he is not one of us, he cannot do good. If he is not of our party, he cannot do good’. And Jesus corrects them: 'Do not hinder him', he says, 'let him do good.'”
The disciples, he said, “were a little intolerant,” thinking that “those who do not have the truth, cannot do good.”
He said: “This was wrong . . . Jesus broadens the horizon. The root of this possibility of doing good – that we all have – is in creation.”
"The Lord created us in His image and likeness, and we are the image of the Lord, and He does good and all of us have this commandment at heart: do good and do not do evil. All of us."

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Just follow your conscience... I personally have a very selfish one... I don't know about you guys but my 'conscience' is very sinful...
 
You have to be "in Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:22). This is a function of a genuine conversion and spiritual rebirth.

Membership in the Catholic Church or any other church does not equate to this. One can be a member of the Catholic Church or a Christian Church and be unconverted and spiritually unregenerate. They cannot enter heaven in that state. As Jesus told Nicodemus, you must be born again. John 3 NASB - The New Birth - Now there was a man of - Bible Gateway
 
Graybeard said:
The Vatican has quickly clarified that atheists - they believe - are still going to hell, despite Pope Francis appearing to say non-believers could be saved through Christ if they do good.
Vatican spokesman Rev. Thomas Rosica said people who know about the Catholic church “cannot be saved” if they “refuse to enter her or remain in her.”
In an unprepared speech on Wednesday, the Pope emphasised the importance of “doing good,” for all people.
According to a report from Vatican radio, he explained how upset Jesus’ disciples were that someone outside their group was doing good.
He said: “They complain, ‘If he is not one of us, he cannot do good. If he is not of our party, he cannot do good’. And Jesus corrects them: 'Do not hinder him', he says, 'let him do good.'”
The disciples, he said, “were a little intolerant,” thinking that “those who do not have the truth, cannot do good.”
He said: “This was wrong . . . Jesus broadens the horizon. The root of this possibility of doing good – that we all have – is in creation.”
"The Lord created us in His image and likeness, and we are the image of the Lord, and He does good and all of us have this commandment at heart: do good and do not do evil. All of us."

link
Click to expand...

They'll be issuing another statement soon then.

The message there was that people who know about the Catholic church “cannot be saved” if they “refuse to enter her or remain in her.” So either they have gone back to the stance that non Catholic denominations cannot be saved, or they have made yet another oops statement.
 
I would prefer a church with 25 bible believing Christ centered born again christians than a billion member church who accepts all ideals...

wouldn't you?
 
hmm a little bit worrying as it's straying from the truth.

Maybe he's doing it to try and modernise the church i.e try to get everyone to convert?

Otherwise I have no idea.
 
A number of pastors have stated that a one world "all-inclusive" church consisting of a union between liberal ecumenical Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church using Christ in name only is forming.


Kreation said:
hmm a little bit worrying as it's straying from the truth.

Maybe he's doing it to try and modernise the church i.e try to get everyone to convert?

Otherwise I have no idea.
Click to expand...
 
What we're witnessing was prophesied back in 1973.

[video=youtube_share;JRjXNQPTkJo]http://youtu.be/JRjXNQPTkJo[/video]
 
Whatever is coming, we must purpose to remember that GOD DOES NOT CHANGE! For those of us in Christ, God knows who we are, what we do, and He loves us anyways. Our circumstances may change, our health may change, the people around us may change, etc... but God does not. He will be there for us, working for us, loving us, encouraging us, comforting us, etc... come what may.

pio_un28021.jpeg
 
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

God bless
 
Wow, just listened to David Wilkerson. Lots is already happening. Jesus is coming soon. We, as Christians, do not need to fear because we know the truth and we know where we are going. We will eventually be with the Lord no matter what happens. We are going home any day, and we are closer to this than ever before.
 
I believe the Catholic church plays a big part in Revelation. She is the whore spoken of in Rev. and the Pope is the false prophet. I too have listened to David Wilkerson. Jesus is coming soon. Prepare ye the way of The Lord. I really believe that things are being set up everywhere for all of this to come down very soon. I still believe the antichrist must be revealed and the 2 witnesses must show up. But we are closer than ever.
 
T_Laurich said:
Just follow your conscience... I personally have a very selfish one... I don't know about you guys but my 'conscience' is very sinful...
Click to expand...

If it's very sinful, then I don't think that's your conscious but your flesh (Rom 2:14-15)

and for this thread, Acts 4:12. :)
 
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