The Independent reports that: 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.
“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?”
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?”
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?”
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?”
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?”
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?”
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?”
No comments:
Post a Comment