September 17, 2013

You Don’t Have To Believe In God To Go To Heaven – Pope Francis

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 extremel 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 se*uality, asking:
“If someone is gay and is looking for the Lord, who am I to judge him?