A most unpleasant place to spend eternity
The latest befuddling statement from Pope Francis
Having compiled a considerable track record for making befuddling statements during his decade-long papacy, it is no longer surprising when Pope Francis goes off script and says something that seems contrary to two thousand years of Christian teaching. His latest gaffe will, no doubt, keep the press office at the Vatican busy issuing “clarifications” in order to fend off the usual backlash.
All religions are paths to reach God. They are—to make a comparison—like different languages, different dialects, to get there. But God is God for everyone. If you start to fight saying 'my religion is more important than yours, mine is true and yours isn't', where will this lead us? There is only one God, and each of us has a language to arrive at God. Some are Sheik [sic], Muslim, Hindu, Christians; they are different ways to God.
Already, some papal apologists are trying to blunt the obvious scandal of the pontiff’s words by attempting to reconcile them with the official teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 843).
The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as “a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life.”
A valiant effort, to be sure, but it falls short. The Catechism’s teaching is consistent with the biblical account of St. Paul’s ministry in Athens (Acts 17:16-34), in which the Apostle deftly appeals to the religious sensibilities of the Athenians, noting that they even have erected an altar “To the unknown god” (v. 23). Seizing upon the opportunity, Paul appeals to the citizens to abandon their man-made temples and idols and serve, instead, “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth” (v. 24). The Apostle even quotes some popular Athenian poets as having somehow managed to anticipate the truth he is now pleased to reveal to them in its fullness (v. 28).
The Athenians had certainly been given “a preparation for the Gospel” in the general truth that their pre-Christian religious sentiments sought to express. But, apart from a knowledge of Christ, those pagan religions could lead them only away from the truth. Indeed, upon Paul’s arrival in Athens, “his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols” (v. 16). Idolatry is not a path to God. At its core, Paul’s message to the Athenians was, in fact, “My religion is more important than yours, mine is true and yours isn’t.” This was not arrogance on his part. He could appreciate the veiled truth contained in the people’s devotion to their various religions. But “his spirit was provoked within him” because those things that had become idols to the Athenians were the very things that would keep them from knowing the fullness of God’s truth revealed in Jesus Christ. The “unknown god” would remain unknown as long as the idols remained standing.
There is nothing in the pope’s remarks that suggests that Sikhs, Muslims, or Hindus must ultimately forsake the idols that keep them from knowing God’s truth in its fullness. Rather, there is the implication that following any and every religion to its logical conclusion will lead you to see that “God is God for everyone.” That is a dangerous path down which to go. For any and every religion that denies Christ, that is, any and every religion other than Christianity, can only lead away from God—and away from God is a most unpleasant place to spend eternity.
Here's what the Pope said. Read it all, in context.
I don’t normally jump into “Pope-splaining”. I will be the first to agree that his Holiness has said some head-scratching things during his pontificate. But I don’t see the knee-jerk reaction to the above speech at the end of his trip to Indonesia as being justified.
Can it be read uncharitably as a sort of universalism? Yes.
Does that fit the context of the gathering, the trip, and the magisterium? No.
Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world. But it is not like most of the Muslim countries we’ve spent the last 34 years fixated on in the Middle east. They have a Christian minority, and by most measures, they manage to live in peace with each other. Francis wants to highlight this. It’s an essential first step. If we can live next to each other without shooting at each other, maybe we can talk to each other.
Context matters. If some of the people bewailing this latest comment as universalism and questioning the Pope’s faith were to speak to the interfaith gathering instead of his Holiness, would they give you the time of day? Is your hardline reaction going to build bridges? Probably not.
If your 13 year old says “all religions lead to God” at the dinner table one night, are you going to send them to their room without dessert, or inquire as to what they mean. Because words mean things, and sometimes, they mean different things.
“All religions lead to God” meaning “it doesn’t matter, just pick one and go” is not true. This is the belief of the “spiritual but not religious” crowd who just want to feel good so they over-simplify.
“All religions lead to God” meaning what Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” then yes. If we seek him with sincere hearts, we can only start where we can start. For me, it was in an anabaptist church in Indiana. I got to Rome, eventually, but it was a long, winding road and took me over 30 years.
The Pope is winding up the longest trip of his pontificate to the largest Muslim nation in the world, and he’s been welcomed and well received. We should be celebrating and praying that this kind of living side by side would spread. Evangelization by violence isn’t a very effective tactic. Actual dialogue can get us somewhere, but, unfortunately, in the West, we seem to have forgotten how to do that.
The attempted reconciliation of Francis' word with the Catechism of the Catholic Church fails utterly; it's not what he said. He "gave away the farm."
Thanks for this.