Since his elevation to the head of the Catholic faith, I have become a fan of Pope Francis — a pontiff who has become truly revolutionary in his faith and his lifestyle. As someone raised in the Catholic Church, I have never seen his equal. He has washed the feet of a Muslim female prisoner, declined the pomp and formality of past popes, and remained a humble priest in his lifestyle. Now, Pope Francis has written a long letter to a non-Catholic saying that he believes that even atheists can go to heaven and that God cares more about your heart than your profession of religion. At one time, such views would have gotten you burned at the stake. Even today, conservatives in the Catholic Church, like those associated with Opus Dei, are grumbling about this new Pope. Mark recently discussed the same view of the Pope on non-believers and now there is a report of a possible consideration of dropping celibacy for priests.
What is interesting is to see the continued effort to make Pope John Paul a saint when Pope Francis may be the most truly revolutionary man to ever hold that religious office. In his letter to the founder of La Repubblica newspaper, Eugenio Scalfari, Francis stated that non-believers would be forgiven by God if they followed their consciences. He said “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.”
It is a remarkably tolerant and enlightened view of faith at a time of extreme orthodoxy and religious intolerance. It is all the more remarkable given the increasingly antagonistic language directed against non-believers. There is obviously a rising concern among political and religious leaders that faith is declining in society. Thus, even though the non-religious is now a majority in places like England, politicians are ratcheting up such rhetoric. The Pope’s words are in stark contrast to those of people like Tony Blair with his comparisons of atheists and agnostics to terrorists.
The Pope’s reforms also now include the possibility of allowing priests to marry — a major change in religious doctrine. Italian Archbishop Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s second-in-command, told Venezuela’s El Universal newspaper that celibacy is not dogma. As such, it is not unchanging divine law. Many have argued for years that marriage could bring a broader array of people to the priesthood and reduce the sexual scandals that have plagued the church.
I wonder if the error of Atheists can go to jail was a Freudian slip by the prof.
I hope these won’t just be words because they are not part of the “infallibility” and the rest of the church will fall in line with this appearingly sensible pope.
As a non-believer in heaven, hell, and the rest of that stuff, I am grateful to Pope Francis for allowing me into heaven.
Steely irony, don’t you think?
I reciprocate by allowing Pope Francis into Valhalla.
Mespo,
You beat me to it…. It’s a 29 year old Renault…..
This man is truly, truly amazing…..
Ms. Me:
“If he can bring some common sense back to the church, they will stop losing so many.”
**********************
Heal thyself.
Here’s the photo:
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2013/09/12/pope-francis-will-drive-car-with-186000-miles-around-vatican/
You gotta love a man who makes the new Popemobile a 1984 clunker that the fictional detective, Lt. Columbo, would like.
You may think Francis is the most revolutionary pope, but you weren’t around for John XIII.
I don’t know about atheists going to heaven, but as a Muslim, I think that believers who are sincere and monotheistic will if they are following the law/gospel/Quran in their behavior and ethics towards others. Too many in all those religions are just in it for family/tradition and don’t even care what God says. I think those people are in a world of hurt. I am heartened by his lack of attachment to man-made rules such as priestly celibacy. If he can bring some common sense back to the church, they will stop losing so many.
You need a proof reader.
This is indeed a good development. But really it just further demonstrates the arbitrary nature of religious “morality”, the make-it-up-as-we-go-along B.S. that is the foundation of all this irrational nonsense.
I mean really, what is the basis for religious morality? The Bible? Oh, except those nasty parts (killing non-believers, stoning women for any number of transgressions, etc.), they don’t apply anymore, some would say. So how do you know that? Who decides? And how is that not just arbitrary nonsense? And if you’re deciding your own morality, why do you need religion for that?
I could go on and on, but there’s really too much for a blog comment.
But I don’t want to go to heaven, infinity is far too long for me.
I for one am sorry he said an atheist can go to heaven. Lucifer/Satan must be so happy for that. It goes so well with his plan for a one-world religion coming. It’s so simple. We do not earn it. We do not deserve it . There are NO groups to join. It is a free gift. google: John 3:16.
he is anticipating trends in society and trying to get ahead of them.
He may have also read Dr. Tara Smith’s Normative Ethics.
HumpinDog, The Jesuits taught me, and millions, how to think, not what to think. Education today is mostly teaching kids what to think.
He is a Jesuit. Talk to someone of non catholic belief who attended a Jesuit college or university and they will inform you of the scholarly nature of the Jesuit Order. Fewer pedophiles too. This Pope is a revelation. No pun intended.
Elaine, Indeed he is. When they elected the first Jesuit, I was heartened. I’m now more so. I do fear for his safety.
His belief system is a common Christian belief system found among most of the sects of Christianity. What is refreshing is hearing it come from the head of the Roman Catholic Church rather than from a lowly parishioner. This is unusual. I hope he makes it fashionable for future Popes.
I was raised in the Catholic faith, too. I think this pope is a breath of fresh air.
“Now, Pope Francis has written a long letter to a non-Catholic saying that he believe that even atheists can go to jail . . .”
Did you mean go to heaven?
Jonathan,
I think you need to edit the following sentence in your post:
“Now, Pope Francis has written a long letter to a non-Catholic saying that he believe(S) that even atheists can go to JAIL and that God cares more about your heart than your profession of religion. “