Pope Francis Condemns too much Keeping of the Ten Commandments

[Original Happy Camper]

In order to defend himself against his critics, Pope Francis accused some Christians of having too much concern for the Ten Commandments, saying they suffer from “cowardliness,” and warning that such people become “paralyzed” and unable to “go forward.”

“‘Obeying all the commandments, all of them…’” said the pope, negatively characterizing the thinking of such Christians, “paralyzes you too. It makes you forget so many graces received, it takes away memory, it takes away hope, because it doesn’t allow you to go forward.” Such people become “confined souls” who suffer from the sin of “cowardice,” the pope added.

In other words, keeping the Ten Commandments prevents progress. And if you want to have hope, you cannot keep the Ten Commandments.

The pope’s remarks were made during a homily in the Casa Santa Marta where he lives in the Vatican. They appear to be in response to criticism for his support for giving the Eucharist to those who are living in adulterous second “marriages,” which contradicts Canon Law. Pope Francis recently suggested that people in these kinds of “civil” marriages should be able to receive the Eucharist.

Some conservative cardinals have likened Francis’ position to “Aaronic” priests who enable their flock to sin against the Ten Commandments, like the High Priest Aaron in the Book of Exodus, who built a golden calf to allow the Israelites to violate the first commandment.

The papal position has traditionally prevented those who are not “validly married” and who are having sexual relations from receiving the Eucharist. Pope Francis recently compared his critics to “the doctors of the law who persecuted Jesus,” observing that “these men did everything prescribed by the law.”

 

[Tallguy88]

Source?

 

[Original Happy Camper]

Source?

WATCH: Pope accuses Christians of ‘cowardliness’ for overfocus on following ‘all’ 10 Commandments

 

[Tull]

Not surprised in the least

 

[John Hyperspace]

I wouldn't disagree with him. Christianity in general has put the cart before the horse, that's why it's virtually completely wrecked. The commandments were given not to give life, or be used for self-righteous justification; but to stop everyone's self-righteous mouths (Romans 3:19): but as the Pharisees of old, they continue in spirit still; using the thing that condemns to seek to estalbish their own righteousness before men. Too many Christians glorying in their own works of feigned obedience (which are filth in the eyes of God) and too few glorying in Christ's unfeigned obedience for their sake.

There is indeed a golden calf being worshipped; they are blind to the fact that it is them.

2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

 

[Fish and Bread]

I think LifeSiteNews is mischaracterizing this a bit (I'm not surprised, they miscategorize most things- some more than a bit).

Here is the Vatican website's account of the reflection Pope Francis gave at daily mass on January 27 (the day in question):

Shrunken souls (27 January 2017) | Francis

So, read that and judge for yourself, but remember, judge not lest ye be judged.

Anyway, beyond that, I would just like to say that, in context, what Pope Francis is saying is very similar to what Jesus said about some of the Pharisees and the old law. This is the Vicar of Christ speaking with the voice of Christ, adapted to modern conditions and circumstances- I say that not simply because I consider myself Catholic, I say that because I consider myself Christian, and I've read the scripture and I've read this homily (or accounts of it), and I have a degree of what I like to call "reading comprehension". I mean that with all due respect to anyone who was confused by the article in the original post, which casts the reflection in kind of an odd light. Read the link in this post and see what you think based on that, at least.

Actually, what Pope Francis is saying here reminds me a lot of some of Martin Luther's writings. Seriously. And I mean that with respect to both Martin Luther and the Pope, both of whom I respect in different ways. This has a lot of grace in it.

 

[Original Happy Camper]

If you love me Keep my Commandments is what Jesus said.
Pope says if you keep the commandments you are a coward.

I think I will go with what Jesus said.

 

[Tull]

The suggestion that people are obeying the commandments too well is in its self laughable.

 

[Original Happy Camper]

Actually, what Pope Francis is saying here reminds me a lot of some of Martin Luther's writings.

Is this one of the writings of Luther that you admire.
Martin Luther's Reply to the Papal Bull of Leo X

Where are you now, most excellent Charles the Emperor, kings, and Christian princes? You were baptized into the name of Christ, and can you suffer these Tartar voices of Antichrist? Where are you, bishops? Where, doctors? Where are you who confess Christ? Woe to all who live in these times. The wrath of God is coming upon the papists, the enemies Of the cross of Christ, that all men should resist them. You then, Leo X, you cardinals and the rest of you at Rome, I tell you to your faces: "If this bull has come out in your name, then I will use the power which has been given me in baptism whereby I became a son of God and co-heir with Christ, established upon the rock against which the gates of hell cannot prevail. I call upon you to renounce your diabolical blasphemy and audacious impiety, and, if you will not, we shall all hold your seat as possessed and oppressed by Satan, the damned seat of Antichrist; in the name of Jesus Christ, whom you persecute. But my zea1 carries me away. I am not yet persuaded that the bull is by the pope but rather by that apostle of impiety, John Eck....

If anyone despises my fraternal warning, I am free from his blood in the last judgment. It is better that I should die a thousand times than that I should retract one syllable of the condemned articles. And as they excommunicated me for the sacrilege of heresy, so I excommunicate them in the name of the sacred truth of God. Christ will judge whose excommunication will stand. Amen.

Source: Roland H. Bainton, Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther (Hendrickson Classic, 1950)(pp. 153-155).

 

[Fish and Bread]

If you love me Keep my Commandments is what Jesus said.
Pope says if you keep the commandments you are a coward.

I think I will go with what Jesus said.

I think you're missing the point of what both of them said.

Is this one of the writings of Luther that you admire.
Martin Luther's Reply to the Papal Bull of Leo X

No.

 

[Original Happy Camper]

I think you're missing the point of what both of them said.

Explain it to me then, especially the coward part by the pope

 

[ken777]

I think we are expected to obey God's commandments as well as show love to others - doing one does not prevent us from doing the other.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." Matthew 23:23 NIV)

 

[Tull]

A spirit of lawlessness disguising its self as "love"

 

[redleghunter]

Source?

What up with this Pope?

 

[DrBubbaLove]

What up with this Pope?

Nada, I figure if the media is either hating him or attempting to say he sides with them, then he is OK with me. Gotta go read what he actually said as it never matches what media, even some "Catholic" media claims.

 

[DrBubbaLove]

What up with this Pope?

Ok, so I read it now. And as I said it is never what the media claims. Here is the link again Note that the Popes word are from a Vatican narrative translated into English rather than a word for word translation. I have added the end of this morning Homily said a the Jan 27 morning Mass, homily being a reflection on Scripture, in this case Hebrews 10:32-39. Commenting more next post.

Shrunken souls (27 January 2017) | Francis

Pope Franics

"To conclude, the Pope highlighted “a little thing to which the author” of the Letter to the Hebrews “calls the attention of the community to whom he is speaking: a sin”. It is a sin “which does not let them have hope, courage, patience and memory: the sin of pusillanimity”. It is a sin, Francis explained, “that does not let one be Christian, it is a sin that does not let you move forward because of fear”. For this reason, “many times, Jesus said: ‘Fear not’” — precisely to warn of “pusillanimity” and thus not to give up, not to “always back up”, being too careful, out of a “fear of everything”, and citing “prudence” as a reason for “not taking risks”.

You could also say, the Pope stated, that you follow “all the commandments, yes, it’s true; but this paralyzes you, it makes you forget many graces you have received; it takes away your memory; it takes away your hope because it doesn’t allow you to go”. Thus, “the present of a Christian is like that of a person going along the road when an unexpected rain comes, and his or her garment is not very good and the fabric shrinks: shrunken souls”. This very image shows the sin of “pusillanimity: the sin against memory, courage, patience and hope”.​

 

[DrBubbaLove]

What up with this Pope?

Notice that the twist is only possible by leaving out the intro of the conclusion to this Homily. It is not that long BTW if one wants to go read it. The audience is Catholic at a Mass of course so the idea this is a public statement in defense to his "critics" is just wrong.

Pope Francis is saying we cannot live in fear and need to live our lives, not shrink back simply because living it right can be hard. So the part about the 10 Commandments is definitely not granting one can violate them. The whole homily is an encouragement, just like Letter to the Hebrews is doing. He speaking against the pusillanimity, which for Catholics anyway, is the sin against memory, courage, patience and hope.
Am sure the translation gets a little tricky making it harder to grasp how it was expressed so am adding and paraphrasing but these [points] are repeated in more detail in the body of the homily - remember this is the conclusion the media focused on and only part of it.

In the last paragraph above the Pope is clearly saying we can't cling to our fear by saying yes, well but I follow all the commandments. He is says, "yes, it's true", meaning just that - yes it is true you follow the commandments. But saying that to rationalize clinging to our fears about living life "paralyzes" us [no courage], helps us forget all the supernatural help [graces applied in our life] we have received, takes away our memory[of the lessons hardships taught], robing us of our hope because we don't allow ourselves to go [GO live your life - don't loose hope because it is hard and you might fall down or have trouble - be patient & forgive yourself and move on].

So you can see all this last paragraph is cover in less detail what was said early about sins against memory, courage, patience and hope. And that it was never enough for any believer to just say I follow all the commandments.

 

[Tull]

2 peter 2:18

Only Jesus was qualified to speak in parables for lesser beings to figure out,plain language is what is needed today.....and again the suggestion that anyone is following the commandments to well is absurd or that if they did they would somehow be a worse Christian for doing so.

 

[Goatee]

One can be too scrupulous which can lead to many problems!

 

[Armoured]

in other words,

strawman red flag