Pope Says All Religions are Path to God?

[Jermayn]

Could someone, preferably who is Catholic, break this down for me? Is the Pope promoting a Universalist Unitarian view where you can worship anyone/anything and be saved or is there some nuance the general public is not seeing here? How does the Catholic community feel about this statement? Article linked below:

All faiths lead to God, Pope tells youth in Singapore | News Headlines

A chief provider and curator of Catholic information on the web since 1996. Our editorial voice, always faithful to the teachings of the Church, assists and inspires Catholic clergy and laity.

www.catholicculture.org

 

[SabbathBlessings]

There's a post on it here as well

The Pope Denies John 14:6.

https://notthebee.com/article/pope-francis-to-children-in-singapore-all-religions-are-paths-to-reach-god--some-are-sikh-muslim-hindu-christians-they-are-different-ways-to-god If Jesus said he is the ONLY WAY to the Father, but the Pope says all religions lead to God, then the Pope is denying...

www.christianforums.com

 

[DaisyDay]

Interesting, and surprising.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Obviously I'm not Catholic (or any religion for that matter), but the Vatican softening certain stances has been following a pattern. Both they, and some other denominations, have been "softening" their positions on certain things out of concern for their membership numbers.

Churches that have higher operating costs and overhead have more of a tendency to "go with the direction the wind is blowing" so to speak because their operating costs necessitate that they get a certain amount of tithing coming in from members.

To put it more bluntly, they need a certain amount of "meat in the seats". And when an increasing number of the population no longer agrees with the stances (due to generational turnover) and feel they're outdated (to the point where they'd just rather stay home on Sunday morning), some of these larger "fancier" churches have opted for getting a little more lax.

That's why the churches that have more expensive operating costs and "professional clergy" (meaning, the clergy & staff of the church have that task as their regular full time job) have been a little more susceptible to that than the small modest churches who have a tendency to "stick their guns" so to speak (as they don't need to have a congregation of 1800 people regularly showing up to tithe and pay for the operating costs of a $4M building and salaries of 15 church staff)

General rule of thumb would probably be: The more a church operates like a business, the more they'll need to "cater to marketplace" in the same way businesses do. Which means being forced to find a balance between doctrinal/"mission statement" adherence, and "market appeal".

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

I don't think he is promoting religious indifference so much as he is trying to promote religious tolerance in this poor world riven with conflict.

 

[public hermit]

Obviously I'm not Catholic (or any religion for that matter), but the Vatican softening certain stances has been following a pattern. Both they, and some other denominations, have been "softening" their positions on certain things out of concern for their membership numbers.

Churches that have higher operating costs and overhead have more of a tendency to "go with the direction the wind is blowing" so to speak because their operating costs necessitate that they get a certain amount of tithing coming in from members.

To put it more bluntly, they need a certain amount of "meat in the seats". And when an increasing number of the population no longer agrees with the stances (due to generational turnover) and feel they're outdated (to the point where they'd just rather stay home on Sunday morning), some of these larger "fancier" churches have opted for getting a little more lax.

That's why the churches that have more expensive operating costs and "professional clergy" (meaning, the clergy & staff of the church have that task as their regular full time job) have been a little more susceptible to that than the small modest churches who have a tendency to "stick their guns" so to speak (as they don't need to have a congregation of 1800 people regularly showing up to tithe and pay for the operating costs of a $4M building and salaries of 15 church staff)

General rule of thumb would probably be: The more a church operates like a business, the more they'll need to "cater to marketplace" in the same way businesses do. Which means being forced to find a balance between doctrinal/"mission statement" adherence, and "market appeal".

You seem to be discounting the possibility Pope Francis believes what he said:

“There is only one God, and each of us has a language to reach God. Some are Sikh, some Muslim, Hindu, Christian. And they are all paths to God.”

 

[durangodawood]

Obviously I'm not Catholic (or any religion for that matter), but the Vatican softening certain stances has been following a pattern. Both they, and some other denominations, have been "softening" their positions on certain things out of concern for their membership numbers.

Churches that have higher operating costs and overhead have more of a tendency to "go with the direction the wind is blowing" so to speak because their operating costs necessitate that they get a certain amount of tithing coming in from members.

To put it more bluntly, they need a certain amount of "meat in the seats". And when an increasing number of the population no longer agrees with the stances (due to generational turnover) and feel they're outdated (to the point where they'd just rather stay home on Sunday morning), some of these larger "fancier" churches have opted for getting a little more lax.

That's why the churches that have more expensive operating costs and "professional clergy" (meaning, the clergy & staff of the church have that task as their regular full time job) have been a little more susceptible to that than the small modest churches who have a tendency to "stick their guns" so to speak (as they don't need to have a congregation of 1800 people regularly showing up to tithe and pay for the operating costs of a $4M building and salaries of 15 church staff)

General rule of thumb would probably be: The more a church operates like a business, the more they'll need to "cater to marketplace" in the same way businesses do. Which means being forced to find a balance between doctrinal/"mission statement" adherence, and "market appeal".

How does this all-paths attitude fill the pews, or the treasury, more than exclusivism?

Sometimes I think the "hidden economic angle" is overrated, or even a red herring. People are also motivated by straight up ideological conviction.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

This isn't really a new concept, though it's been a while since I've seen it so plainly articulated - perhaps due to the Evangelicalization of the American Catholic Church. My Catholic education 20-30 years ago was quite clear on the idea that one does not have to be Catholic (or even Christian) in order to go to heaven.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Could someone, preferably who is Catholic, break this down for me? Is the Pope promoting a Universalist Unitarian view where you can worship anyone/anything and be saved or is there some nuance the general public is not seeing here? How does the Catholic community feel about this statement? Article linked below:

All faiths lead to God, Pope tells youth in Singapore | News Headlines

A chief provider and curator of Catholic information on the web since 1996. Our editorial voice, always faithful to the teachings of the Church, assists and inspires Catholic clergy and laity.

www.catholicculture.org

The pope is rambling his personal view, which is universalist. This is nothing new for him. And of those Catholics who have heard of his statement lots of us are actively facepalming if not pounding our heads on walls. He is a poorly catechised old man who will not be around forever. His pontificating is his personal opinion and not binding on us. Jesus is still LORD in a way Krishna and Buddha and Pachamama just aren’t and can’t be. I wish pope Francis knew that.

 

[HIM]

I don't think he is promoting religious indifference so much as he is trying to promote religious tolerance....

It is wrong regardless. We are to be intolerant when sin wags it's tale. The fact that most aren't is why a majority in the church are not Christ's.

 

[chevyontheriver]

How does this all-paths attitude fill the pews, or the treasury, more than exclusivism?

Sometimes I think the "hidden economic angle" is overrated, or even a red herring. People are also motivated by straight up ideological conviction.

The ‘all paths’ attitude doesn’t fill pews but empties them. I mean, why fill a pew when I can sleep in and still be saved? Why worship in a Catholic church when the Church of Walmart and the Church of Target are so compelling? Why bother? Truth is few will bother with the ‘all paths’ attitude. As a marketing ploy it’s kind of dumb.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

DECLARATION ON THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS NOSTRA AETATE PROCLAIMED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI ON OCTOBER 28, 1965 1. In our time, when day by day mankind is being drawn closer together, and the ties between different peoples are becoming stronger, the Church examines more closely her relationship to non-Christian religions. In her task of promoting unity and love among men, indeed among nations, she considers above all in this declaration what men have in common and what draws them to fellowship. One is the community of all peoples, one their origin, for God made the whole human race to live over the face of the earth.(1) One also is their final goal, God. His providence, His manifestations of goodness, His saving design extend to all men,(2) until that time when the elect will be united in the Holy City, the city ablaze with the glory of God, where the nations will walk in His light.(3) Men expect from the various religions answers to the unsolved riddles of the human condition, which today, even as in former times, deeply stir the hearts of men: What is man? What is the meaning, the aim of our life? What is moral good, what is sin? Whence suffering and what purpose does it serve? Which is the road to true happiness? What are death, judgment and retribution after death? What, finally, is that ultimate inexpressible mystery which encompasses our existence: whence do we come, and where are we going? Nostra aetate Declaration on the Relation of the Church to non-christian religions - Nostra aetate www.vatican.va

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

It is wrong regardless. We are to be intolerant when sin wags it's tale. The fact that most aren't is why a majority in the church are not Christ's.

"Sin" is a different issue. There is plenty of sin within Christianity also.

 

[HIM]

S
"Sin" is a different issue. There is plenty of sin within Christianity also.

No there is not. There is plenty of sin in many who profess Christ and there are many calling them on it through and in Christ.
And False worship is sin. A fail from the start with no hope whatsoever.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

The ‘all paths’ attitude doesn’t fill pews but empties them. I mean, why fill a pew when I can sleep in and still be saved? Why worship in a Catholic church when the Church of Walmart and the Church of Target are so compelling? Why bother? Truth is few will bother with the ‘all paths’ attitude. As a marketing ploy it’s kind of dumb.

I agree, but these days, the pews are emptying for a multitude of reasons....

 

[chevyontheriver]

I agree, but these days, the pews are emptying for a multitude of reasons....

Not all churches have empty pews. Some are rather full. For reasons too. It’s not random. Some congregations have average ages above the retirement age. Others are full of children and young adults. It’s not random. And it’s not the promotion of universalism that draws people.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Not all churches have empty pews. Some are rather full. For reasons too. It’s not random. Some congregations have average ages above the retirement age. Others are full of children and young adults. It’s not random. And it’s not the promotion of universalism that draws people.

Obviously.

 

[Tinker Grey]

No there is not. There is plenty of sin in many who profess Christ and there are many calling them on it through and in Christ.
And False worship is sin. A fail from the start with no hope whatsoever.

Really? You don't sin?

 

[RileyG]

Not all churches have empty pews. Some are rather full. For reasons too. It’s not random. Some congregations have average ages above the retirement age. Others are full of children and young adults. It’s not random. And it’s not the promotion of universalism that draws people.

Yup. My parish is always full. The "empty pews" depends on where you live, I suppose.

 

[RileyG]

I think it's very possible it's taken out of context. The MSM loves to do that.