Vatican corrects Pope

[Dr. Daniel R. Bowden]

Vatican corrects Pope: Atheists are still going to hell

• SECULAR
• MAY 25, 2013
• BY: MICHAEL STONE
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Pope Francis

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After Pope Francis told the world even atheists can go to heaven, the Vatican issued a correction: Atheists are still going to hell.

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• Secular
• Pope Francis
• Vatican
• atheist
• atheism
• heaven

The Vatican issued an “explanatory note on the meaning of “salvation,” on Thursday, May 23, after media reports circulated indicating that Pope Francis” promised heaven for everyone engaged in good works, including atheists.

In response to the media attention, the Rev. Thomas Rosica, a Vatican spokesman, said that people who know about the Catholic church “cannot be saved” if they “refuse to enter her or remain in her.”

(Translation: Atheists are going to Hell if they don’t accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.)

Rosica also said that Francis had “no intention of provoking a theological debate on the nature of salvation,” during his homily on Wednesday.

The current theological confusion began after the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics made comments during the homily of his morning Mass on Wednesday, May 22, indicating that atheists would enjoy the fruits of eternal salvation if they were good people. Francis said:

The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone!

We are created children in the likeness of God and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us all! And we all have a duty to do good. And this commandment for everyone to do good, I think, is a beautiful path towards peace. If we, each doing our own part, if we do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter: we need that so much. We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there.

What do you think? Do you believe atheists are worried about getting into heaven? Leave a comment - express yourself.

For more news, information and humor relevant to atheists, freethinkers, and secular humanists, check out Progressive Secular Humanist Examiner on Facebook.

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[Fan of Reason]

Dang! For about 24 hours there, I was saved! Thanks a lot Vatican for screwing that up for me. Wait a minute. I was first saved in the Baptist church and their motto is "once saved always saved." Therefore, all former Baptist atheists are still in the clear. Whew!

[fun4alll]

Correcting a pope, mr infallable himself?? Wait, I've seen this before. Spock says everything Kirk says is a lie, then Kirk says "I'm lying", but he's a lier so he must be telling the truth, so... And then smoke comes out of his ears. Is that right?

[Orson Zedd]

Good, I was worried I'd go to the same afterlife as Rev. Thomas Rosica.

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[Martin Atkins]

You challenge the Pope, the Vicor of Christ? I am sorry. You are damned and will burn in Hell for eternity, bless your heart. Have a blessed day.

That kind of thinking is so silly to me. :)

[Yackie]

I don't know if any of you realize it, but isn't this a rather damning president. "Oh, nevermind, the pope didn't know what he was talking about." Is there any historical president for issuing these kind of redactions of Mr. Infallible.

[Leo Alessi]

The pope, when he made the comments, was not speaking "ex cathedra."

From Wikipedia:

Statements by a pope which exercise papal infallibility are referred to as "solemn papal definitions" or ex cathedra teachings. Also considered infallible are the teachings of the whole body of bishops of the Church, especially but not only in an ecumenical council^[13](see Infallibility of the Church).

According to the teaching of the First Vatican Council and Catholic tradition, the conditions required for ex cathedra papal teaching are as follows:

1. "the Roman Pontiff"
2. "speaks ex cathedra" ("that is, when in the discharge of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, and by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority"....)
3. "he defines"
4. "that a doctrine concerning faith or morals"
5. "must be held by the whole Church" (Pastor Aeternus, chap. 4^[14]

For a teaching by a pope or ecumenical council to be recognized as infallible, the teaching must be a decision of the supreme teaching authority of the Church (pope or College of Bishops); it must concern a doctrine of faith or morals; it must bind the universal Church; and it must be proposed as something to be held firmly and immutably.

So, the pope can say what he said and be corrected by the Vatican. And atheists are still going to hell. Simple, see?

--

[fun4alll]

Hey, you forgot the singularly most important part of all by far!!! He is required to punctuate his remarks with the required holy-see postfix: "Simon says"