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

[Skwim]

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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 Repubblica newspaper, 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."
source

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So, do you think the Pope is onto something here?

EDITED to add:

Do you think any of the Protestant denominations can/will go along with the idea?​

 

[LuisDantas]

I definitely like this Pope.

 

[fallingblood]

I think this Pope is going to open up yet another window and have a new breath blown into the Catholic church. While I didn't live during Vatican II, and the years after the council, it does remind me quite a bit of that time. I expect that there will probably be another ecumenical council while he is in office.

 

[FranklinMichaelV.3]

I'm waiting for him to be called Anti-Christ....

 

[sojourner]

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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 Repubblica newspaper, 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."
source

​

So, do you think the Pope is onto something here?

EDITED to add:

Do you think any of the Protestant denominations can/will go along with the idea?​

The reasonable ones, whose theology is rooted in God's unlimited grace will go along with it.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Maybe I'm being cynical and have been disappointed too many times, but this new Pope seems too good to be true. Makes me wonder if there is something seriously up with this guy or if the Vatican is under new management. It would be interesting if he mentions anything about Judas sitting at Christ's side in Heaven.

 

[Sunstone]

What the Pope wants, and what the Pope gets, might be two different things. The rich diversity of the Catholic Church, and the weight and inertia of its traditions, might be a two-edged sword.

 

[Cephus]

He's gone off the reservation a couple of times and the real power behind the Vatican has had to rein him in. Funny, I thought the Pope was supposed to be in charge, but he's said that atheists can go to heaven and gays aren't bad people, both of which were later "corrected" by other Catholics.

Go figure.

 

[nazz]

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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 Repubblica newspaper, 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."
source

​

So, do you think the Pope is onto something here?

EDITED to add:

Do you think any of the Protestant denominations can/will go along with the idea?​

On to something in what way?

As for the second question I think some already do.

 

[Astravalon]

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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 Repubblica newspaper, 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."
source

​

So, do you think the Pope is onto something here?

Sure sounds like it! :yes:

Between this and PPJII's statements that sound for all the world like he believed that everyone would be saved, it's like .... sweeeet!

-

 

[psychoslice]

Yep I agree with him, believing in god will never get you anywhere, its when you experience what is beyond and live from there that you are transformed into the Christ Consciousness, and I feel that this Pope realizes this, I also feel that he is a mystic Christian, not your regular run of the mill Christian.

 

[sojourner]

He's gone off the reservation a couple of times and the real power behind the Vatican has had to rein him in. Funny, I thought the Pope was supposed to be in charge, but he's said that atheists can go to heaven and gays aren't bad people, both of which were later "corrected" by other Catholics.

Go figure.

"In charge" doesn't necessarily mean "irrefutable." He has not spoken ex cathedra on any issue, which means that his statements are not infallible.

 

[LuisDantas]

"In charge" doesn't necessarily mean "irrefutable." He has not spoken ex cathedra on any issue, which means that his statements are not infallible.

And I find that a good idea. I have no doubt that he will face opposition no matter what, and by making his thought clear yet not inequivocally canonical he gives those afraid of his positions some time to consider and adjust. He is choosing dialog over confrontation, which is a wise choice.

 

[sojourner]

And I find that a good idea. I have no doubt that he will face opposition no matter what, and by making his thought clear yet not inequivocally canonical he gives those afraid of his positions some time to consider and adjust. He is choosing dialog over confrontation, which is a wise choice.

Indeed!

 

[InformedIgnorance]

Certainly more progressive than many of his predecessors.

Of course obeying one's conscience (I never spell that correctly) would seem to indicate the socio or psychopath who acts on their impulses need not be barred from heaven if one exists (but perhaps he considers that acting on such impulses is merely a mental disorder and therefore not something that would preclude forgiveness)

 

[nazz]

Of course obeying one's conscience (I never spell that correctly) ...

this time you did!

 

[InformedIgnorance]

I used spell check cause i ish shmart!

Usually I spell it as conscious *face palm* that in writing that I fail to be aware that I had erred.

 

[Cephus]

"In charge" doesn't necessarily mean "irrefutable." He has not spoken ex cathedra on any issue, which means that his statements are not infallible.

If nothing else, it shows that there's a distinct lack of communication going on.

 

[LuisDantas]

If nothing else, it shows that there's a distinct lack of communication going on.

I don't think so. It looks a lot more like political division to me.

 

[averageJOE]

I was listening to a talk radio show about this subject today. All the callers were saying how this pope is totally wrong on this issue. For me, personaly, I think It's the best answer I've heard to the question "How can you truly be happy in heaven knowing your loved one(s) are in hell?"

Also, I've heard some Christians on this forum say this very thing for a long time now!