SEEDS OF DOUBT

 

The topic of an eternal Hell is not a pleasant one.  No sane person wants to go to this horrible place (Mark 9:42-48).  Most of us would rather not even talk about it and we would like to think that no one goes there.  If only we could be assured that it will remain empty!  Wouldn’t that be great?

Some may say that if Hell is indeed a reality, maybe it is just there as a warning so that we will live right and steer clear of the sins that God warned us about in the Bible.  It would be an effective deterrent.  Then everyone could go to Heaven!  We can hope, can’t we?  So, is there a chance that Hell will remain empty?

Well, it seems that Pope Francis, the head of the largest church in the world (the Catholic Church) may be convincing himself (and others) that it could indeed be empty.

According to an article from the Catholic News Agency (CNA) dated January 24, 2024, Pope Francis did an interview and appeared on Italy’s most prime-time talk show.  It was an hour-long broadcast with a viewership of three million people tuning in.

The pope was asked how he imagines the concept of Hell.  He responded, “What I am going to say is not a dogma of faith but my own personal view: I like to think of Hell as empty; I hope it is.” 

See the article here:

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256542/pope-francis-i-like-to-think-of-hell-as-empty

To his credit, the pope says that this is not a dogma, that is, it is not an official or infallible teaching of the Catholic Church.

But the Bible is clear.  Jesus Christ, Himself, said:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14 – emphasis added).

This passage is unmistakably clear, and of course the pope is well aware of what Jesus said.  He could have told his audience:

“Hey folks, what Jesus said about Hell is clear: There will be many more people in Hell than in Heaven.  Let’s not fool ourselves.  We’d like Hell to be empty, but Jesus cannot lie.”

But no, he decided to confuse his audience and plant seeds of doubt.

We can all hope that it will be empty, but Scripture tells us otherwise.  Our “hope” does not override God’s truth.  This type of hope is not a biblical one.

Misleading the Flock

It is interesting that in this same interview, the pope also stated:

“As a bishop, I have a very great responsibility to the Church.”  He was also asking for prayer “that I do not end up in the attitude of a mediocre shepherd who does not take care of his flock.”

Yes indeed, he does have a great responsibility.  People are actually placing their souls in this man’s hand.  And part of that responsibility is to NOT mislead the flock (Ezekiel 34:7-10; Acts 20:28).

It is true that the pope did not directly say that Hell is (or will be) empty.  But planting that subtle, yet false, little seed about Hell is not “taking care of his flock.”  It makes him worse than a “mediocre” shepherd – this just adds to the already-known fact that he is a false shepherd.  His hope of Hell being empty is a direct contradiction of God-breathed Scripture (Matthew 7:13-14).

Pope Francis is flirting with the teaching of universalism.  Universalism is a doctrine claiming that all humans will eventually be saved.  But this is certainly not what the Bible teaches (Matthew 25:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10).  He is toying with the idea without actually officially declaring that Hell will be empty.  It is an extremely dangerous suggestion.  He is actually giving these people a false hope by planting seeds of doubt.

Sadly, when people believe in universalism, they will ultimately say, “Hey, I don’t have to worry, since no one goes to Hell!  So I can live any sinful way I want and still go to Heaven.”  This produces moral indifference and it is the obvious fruit of this teaching.

Not Just Suggesting…

But just in case anyone was wondering, there is evidence that Pope Francis does indeed lean toward universalism.

Here is a link to a speech given by the Pope containing some interesting (and unbiblical) statements:

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2022/documents/20220202-udienza-generale.html

According to this official speech to a general audience by the pope, titled St. Joseph and the Communion of Saints:

“No one can exclude themselves from the Church….”

And again, a little later the pope says:

“‘Father, let us think about those who have denied the faith, who are apostates, who are the persecutors of the Church, who have denied their baptism: are these also at home?’  Yes, these too, even the blasphemers, everyone.  We are brothers.  This is the communion of saints.”

Interestingly, there is absolutely nothing in this speech about repentance, forgiveness, guilt, contrition, or sorrow for sin.  Apparently, a person does not need repentance after blaspheming or becoming an apostate, and he can still be a member of the Catholic Church!

Again, the pope says that no one can exclude himself from the Catholic Church.  Is Francis teaching some kind of “Once Saved, Always Saved” doctrine for Catholics?

Is God’s Justice Too Harsh?

In another article concerning the same interview, Pope Francis is said to have also commented on the phrase from the traditional Act of Contrition prayer:

“… because I have sinned, I have deserved your punishments.” 

But the pope doesn’t seem to like this wording and described this as “overly harsh.”  See here:

https://ucatholic.com/news/pope-francis-discusses-hope-for-empty-hell-in-candid-tv-interview/

Overly harsh?  Is punishment for sin really a radical concept?  Our very laws in America are indeed based on biblical principles – including punishment for crime and punishment for sin.  Why should this surprise anyone?

While the idea of an “empty Hell” may seem “compassionate,” this concept is not biblical.

The “Gradual Decline” Concept

There is a principle, a concept, in which the devil operates – one that I will term the “gradual decline.”  When the devil wishes to attack most people, when he wants you to move away from God and His Word, he will not show up as a scary monster in a red suit with a pointy tail and a pitchfork, and announce that he is here to steal your soul!  That’s much too obvious.  If he did that, everyone would easily recognize the danger and reject him.  But since he is very subtle and deceptive (2 Corinthians 11:13-14), he is more likely to introduce false teaching a very little bit at a time, so that no one notices the damage until it is too late.

A fitting analogy would be if you were talking to someone and a third person was hiding and he ever-so-slightly turned down the light dimmer switch every fifteen minutes while you talked.  And before you know it, after a couple of hours, to your surprise, you are almost completely in the dark!

It is the same concept that the devil uses to deceive people with a little bit of false doctrine, given every so often, until it is too late and you are neck deep in heresy.

This, I think, accurately describes the pope’s subtle twisting of Scripture.  First he plants a tiny “harmless” seed by suggesting Hell may be empty.  To the faithful Catholic, the pope is seen as the “Vicar of Christ.”  He represents Jesus Christ on earth, or so they teach.  This faithful Catholic has never seen Jesus, but he has seen his representative (the pope).  It is hard for him to doubt the leader of Christ’s Church, since they see him as utterly trustworthy.  If the pope says that he hopes that Hell will be empty, then this Catholic can say the same thing! 

This seed sits there in his brain and becomes quite real to him and may become a “foundational” concept.  After this idea is completely saturating his mind, it becomes easier to accept this teaching as absolute.  Once that happens (and an empty Hell becomes a “reality”), it is just a small step to feel free to go deeper and deeper into sin, and finally, his heart becomes hardened (Romans 2:5) and anything goes.  You know, because there is no danger of Hell anyway, right?

This person is in a gradual decline, falling directly into the devil’s trap.  And it all started “innocently” with the pope’s “hope” that Hell will be empty.

Conclusion

Make no mistake – Universalism is a false teaching.  The Bible is clear when it tells us that Hell will not be empty. (1 Corinthians 9:16, Romans 2:6-10 and Revelation 21:8)

This is bad enough, but what’s next for the average Catholic?  What deception does the pope have in store to convince the world tomorrow or next week?  He’s been a very controversial pope in the past, and this idea of an empty Hell is certainly raising eyebrows, as well.  We know that this is not an official Catholic teaching, but this is still being pushed by its leader.

Some may be thinking that what the pope said is no big deal – he’s just talking or pondering, not teaching.  But words have meaning and many of the one billion Catholics in the world are impressionable and may be easily swayed by him.

My prayer is that they would be swayed by the Holy Scriptures and not be corrupted by these seeds of doubt. 

 “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Revelation 18:4)

 

CAN THE POPE BE TRUSTED?

Let’s rewind back to March 2021.  The Associated Press published an article saying that the Vatican, under the authority of Pope Francis, issued a formal response to the question of whether the Catholic Church could bless gay unions.  And the answer, according to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in a two page explanation published in seven different languages, was that the Catholic Church COULD NOT bless the unions of two men or two women because “God cannot bless sin.”  See here:

https://apnews.com/article/vatican-decree-same-sex-unions-cannot-bless-sin-077944750c975313ad253328e4cf7443

Of course, those pushing the LGBT agenda were disappointed, while many staunch Catholics were pleased.  But this has been the official long-standing teaching of the Catholic Church since the beginning.

Ok, fast forward to December 18, 2023, when this same pope did a complete turnabout and made another formal declaration allowing Catholic priests to now bless same-sex unions!  The Associated Press calls it a “radical change in Vatican policy,” and so it is.  The article said that the pope’s reasoning was that people seeking God’s love and mercy should not be subject to “exhaustive moral analysis.” 

Well, that may be true, but the real analysis should be focused, in this case, on the pope and his complete reversal of his previous formal declaration.  In two short years, Pope Francis’ view changed from “God cannot bless sin” to “God does indeed bless sin.”

So, can one formal Catholic declaration nullify another formal Catholic declaration only two years later?  It certainly seems so.

But in an attempt to do damage control, the pope said that this ritual of blessing such couples was not to be confused with the sacrament of marriage.  See here:

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/pope-says-priests-can-bless-sex-couples-radical-change-vatican-policy-rcna130236

It appears that this new document offers an “extensive definition” of the term “blessing” in Scripture.  Yes, as is often the case, the Catholic Church is playing fast and loose with certain biblical terms.   Apparently, it is now ok to bless perverted and unbiblical lifestyles.  But is the Church also willing to bless murderers, whoremongers and slave traders (1 Timothy 1:9-10) in their chosen lifestyle?  How about blessing the lives of idolaters, thieves, drunkards and swindlers (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)?  If not, then why not?  Aren’t these offenders listed together in the Bible with homosexuals?  Yes, indeed (read the two Scripture passages I just quoted above).  So, if one of these lifestyles is wrong, they are all wrong!  Let’s be biblically consistent. 

But it seems that being consistent with Scripture is not high on the list of the pope’s agenda.

What is His Agenda?

So how does this work?  From the Catholic Church’s standpoint, does this mean that the priest can now encourage and even bless the union of a gay couple, but it is not ok to bless them in marriage?  But why bless a homosexual “union” at all, if you are not willing to go all the way?  It’s either right in the eyes of God… or it’s not.  The pope needs to choose one and stick with that choice. 

But blessing these unions in any way is an approval, an acceptance, of their ungodly behavior.  The pope, because he knows it is very controversial, is not fully accepting homosexual marriages at this time.  Francis should show the world what he really believes.  The question is, will he side with the God of the Bible or will he refuse to because of some global agenda? 

This is just an incremental game he’s playing.  It is pretty obvious to me that the pope will indeed cave in somewhere down the line and eventually allow such “marriages.”  It’s just a matter of time.  When the winds of change are strong enough, and he convinces enough people, I believe the pope will reject the Scriptures and justify homosexual marriages.  But I am certainly glad that many Catholics are standing against the pope on this issue.

He wants to embrace the idea so that he can appease one group, and yet he is distancing himself from it to appease another group.  He is trying to please both sides.  As they say, he wants to have his cake and eat it, too.  But either way, this “cake” will cause his downfall, either in the eyes of God, or in the eyes of the LGBT crowd.

A few months ago, I posted an article addressing the pope’s views on homosexuality and dealt with it in more detail.  See here:

https://answeringcatholicclaims.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-pope-on-homosexuality.html

How to Actually Handle This Sin

In another NBC News article on this topic, the pope is quoted to have said, “We cannot be judges who only deny, reject, and exclude.”  See here:

Pope Francis signals he's open to blessings for same-sex unions by Catholic priests (nbcnews.com)

If you’ll notice, people who are constantly trying to justify their sins will often say things like what the pope said just above.  They will quote Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not, that ye be not judged,” and say, “See!  Jesus, Himself, says you can’t judge me!” 

But while it is true that Christians should not just alienate and exclude people for selfish reasons, it is right to exclude them for biblical reasons.  It is also true that Jesus commanded us to judge people, i.e., to be fruit inspectors.  Yes, judging rightly (John 7:24) is indeed a biblical mandate.  

Furthermore, Jesus commanded us to treat those in the church WHO REFUSE TO REPENT OF THEIR SIN as outcasts (Matthew 18:15-17), including the sin of homosexuality.  But this alienation is only exercised by the church after first trying to reconcile them to God.  They must first point out the offender’s sin.  And if he refuses to confess his sin, they should approach him with witnesses, and if he still refuses to listen, he must be brought before the church (the local assembly).  And if he’s still unrepentant, he should be excommunicated for his refusal to turn from his sin, and the whole local assembly is obligated to treat this person as an outsider (unless and until he repents).  If the Catholic Church (or any church) wants to be biblical about this, they would confront homosexuals about their open sinful lifestyle in the manner prescribed by Jesus in Matthew 18.

Just Being Respectful?

Trying to excuse the pope’s action, some say that Francis, up to now, held back on his present view out of respect to honor his predecessor (Benedict XVI), who was more conservative.  But since Benedict XVI is now dead, the new pope can move in the direction he sees fit.

See here:

https://slate.com/human-interest/2023/12/pope-francis-same-sex-relationships-blessing-backstory.html

Whether that’s true or not is pretty much irrelevant.  If Francis is really concerned about honoring his more conservative predecessor, he would maintain the previous pope’s ideals.  But because he hasn’t, I think that this is just an excuse and that he really doesn’t care what Pope Benedict XVI believed.  Remember, he has an agenda to follow.

Repent While There is Time

At the beginning of this article, Francis was quoted as saying, “People seeking God’s love and mercy should not be subject to ‘exhaustive moral analysis.’” 

Two things I want to address here.  First, the pope is assuming that those in a gay union are seeking God’s love and mercy.  But the simple truth is that if someone really wants to seek God, he will humbly recognize his sin (from the Scriptures) and turn away from it.  If he really wants God’s love and mercy, he will abandon his sinful lifestyle.  But if he refuses to do this, then this just proves that he is really not concerned about seeking God at all.  He just wants God’s love and blessings, but refuses to get it on God’s terms. 

He, like the pope, wants to have his cake and eat it, too.  He wants to do whatever his sinful heart desires, but also have God’s approval in doing it.  But the truth is the acceptance that gays so desperately desire will never be found apart from God’s way of doing things.

Secondly, it is true that no one can prevail in an “exhaustive moral analysis.”  We are all sinners (whether homosexual or heterosexual) and we all deserve Hell.  We all fail the test when analyzed.  And yes, as humans, we should not analyze someone simply to throw his sin in his face, or to be “holier than thou.”

The reason we point out someone’s sin should be out of compassion (Jude 1:20-23) and to make him aware of the danger – so that he can repent and ultimately avoid the Lake of Fire.  Pointing out sin (in the right spirit) is actually an act of love.  I understand that it is never pleasant when someone points out a person’s sin and it may be easy to get offended.  But it is better to be offended now and end up in Heaven than to pacify your feelings now, and later suffer an eternity apart from God (Revelation 20:11-15).

Conclusion

To all those who are in the LGBT camp, this pope is not doing you any favors by promoting this lifestyle.  There are so many supporters of gay rights out there who are more concerned with your present feelings than with your eternity.  If I didn’t care, I’d remain silent and never talk about it.  But this lifestyle of unrepentant homosexuality is indeed spiritually dangerous and will draw you away from God… just like the unrepentant heterosexual can be drawn away by his own lusts, as well.  Both end up in Hell. (1 Corinthians 6:9)

So, can Pope Francis be trusted?  Is it ok for a man of such power and influence to formally make two absolutely contradictory Church declarations? Does this “Vicar of Christ” really care for your soul?  I will leave you to ponder these questions.   

 

 

THE POPE ON HOMOSEXUALITY

 

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, also known as Pope Francis, is from Argentina and is recognized as the first Jesuit pope the Catholic Church has ever had.  He has been in office now for about ten and a half years and his reign has been a highly controversial one.  For one thing, his views on homosexuality have been in dispute.

In an interview with the Associated Press on January 25, 2023, concerning gays, he stated:

“We are all children of God, and God loves us as we are and for the strength that each of us fights for our dignity.  Being homosexual is not a crime.  It is not a crime.” 

The pope does acknowledge that homosexuality is a sin, but He added:

“It’s also a sin to lack charity with one another.”  See this link:

https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/pope-clarifies-remarks-about-homosexuality-and-sin

But let’s unpack his comments to see what the pope is really saying. 

Child of God or Child of the Devil?

First of all:

He says that “we are all children of God.”  But that’s just false.  We are indeed all part of His creation, but so is the devil.  So, by that same reasoning, shouldn’t God be obligated to love the devil and call him His child, as well?  Of course not. 

It is also true that humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), and we have to recognize and respect that truth, but simply being made in the image of God doesn’t stop the majority of humans from missing Heaven (Matthew 7:13-14).

So, no, we are not all children of God.  The apostle John tells us:

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” (John 1:12)

Just because you were born into the human race doesn’t mean you are a child of God.  Those who have NOT received Him nor believed on Him are NOT His children.

No Need to Change?

The second point: 

Pope Francis says that “God loves us as we are.”

Yes, He loves us all in the general sense; that’s why He came to die for the sins of mankind:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” (John 3:16). 

But you are not an object of His affection (in the sense of being His child) if you insist on staying in your sins.  He is longsuffering and loves you enough to chastise you for your sin and to give you time to seek Him.  But Jesus also tells us that we are to repent of (turn away from) our sins (Luke 13:1-5), not look for an excuse to stay in them.  Yet, the pope seems to be “helping” homosexuals to do exactly that – to find an excuse to continue in that lifestyle.

Yes, God loved us “while we were yet sinners, and died for us” (Romans 5:8), but that love can, and will, turn to judgment if we ignore or trivialize God’s commandments.

Twisted Honor

Third point:

The pope said that God loves us “for the strength that each of us fights for our dignity.”

The word “dignity” means “the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect” (Oxford dictionary, online):

https://www.google.com/search?client=avast-a-1&q=dignity+definition&oq=dignity&aqs=avast.1.69i57j0l7.506323276j0j15&ie=UTF-8

But there is nothing “honorable” or “respectable” about unrepentant sin, whether it is homosexuality or any other sin.  What the pope is saying sounds good, but it is deceptive and, due to his worldwide influence, will certainly cause many to end up in Hell.

So You’re Not a Criminal…

Fourth point:

He says that “being homosexual is not a crime.”  That’s true (in America, at least), but you can’t always defend something simply on the basis of it being “legal.” 

Because of the pope’s statements, many people will no doubt reason in their hearts that if it’s not a crime, then it’s ok to do.  But that line of reasoning fails when considering the sin of abortion.  Abortion (until just recently) had not been considered a crime since 1973 when it became legal in the U.S.  Ever since then, the Catholic Church rightly seems to have been officially against it.  Actually, most Catholics would have been up in arms if someone had said that abortion was ok since it was “not a crime.”

Consider also Adolf Hitler’s reign of terror in Germany.  He “legally” established the Holocaust, and it was the law of the land to turn Jews (and others, including homosexuals) over to the authorities to be exterminated.  But the great majority of people today see that as greatly sinful, even if it was “legal” in Germany.

So, you can’t soften the impact that homosexuality has on society simply by saying it’s “not a crime.”  In fact, it is indeed a sin/crime in God’s eyes, just like every other sin. 

True Love Corrects

And the fifth and final point:

Pope Francis said, “It’s also a sin to lack charity with one another.”

Here, the pope is basically saying “You are a Christian and you are supposed to be showing love to gays instead of condemning them!”  This is usually the type of response that people use when their sin is exposed and then they demand, “Don’t you judge me!  Even Jesus said not to judge!”  But we don’t want to see people in error, and see them pay the consequences.  The fact is, if we really love them, we will try to correct them.

Ok, so why does the sin of homosexuality seem to demand more “charity” from Christians than other sins?  It seems that you don’t see nearly as many adulterers, drunkards, or thieves go out of their way to demand that you show them charity, doesn’t it?  I think that this is because they know what’s expected of them and they know that what they’re doing is wrong – that’s why they try to hide it.  But it seems that many in the homosexual community just don’t want to admit the “wrongness” of their lifestyle.  They no longer hide it, and continue in their sin openly, even cheering others on who do the same:

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:32)

Yes, Christians are indeed supposed to show mercy and love (charity) to those who are caught up in this sin (or any sin), lest we ourselves fail to live up to God’s standards (1 Corinthians 10:12).  But if there is no repentance involved, there is no obligation for the church to coddle them in their sins.  Again, Jesus gave us a model to follow in dealing with unrepentant people in the church (Matthew 18:15-17).  And we should use this model for all types of sin, homosexuality included.

Many people still don’t believe that the LGBT lifestyle is actually a sin.  So right now I will turn to the Scriptures to demonstrate the sinfulness of homosexuality, lesbianism, bi-sexuality, the transvestite lifestyle, etc, etc.  I know that there are other designated letters/numbers to add to the LGBT title, but I am simply using “LGBT” to cover all the bases.

Homosexuality is Indeed a Sin

At the risk of sounding cliché, I want to be clear that we should love the sinner, but hate the sin, as the Bible tells us.  I, personally, have a number of friends who are gay/lesbian.  Most of them are basically “good” people (according to worldly standards), some of whom would help you any time you asked.  They are generally nice, friendly and giving.  To their credit, the ones that I am friends with do not try to shove their sinful lifestyle down anyone’s throats.  They mind their own business and mostly remain friendly.  I have had discussions with them concerning their lifestyle.  Some are less open than others, and it grieves me that they don’t always want to listen to the gospel.  But I pray that every single person in that lifestyle who reads this, does so prayerfully and with an open mind, to remove any doubt as to whether God sees homosexuality as sin or not.

Genesis 18:20 – The angels who visited Abraham tell him that the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah (homosexuality) is great, and they go to visit the city of Sodom.

Genesis 19:1-10 – We all know the story of how God destroys the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (and their neighboring cities – Jude 7).  It is obvious what the sin is: the men of the city want to have relations with the two newcomers in town (angels mistaken for men), and they threaten Lot if he doesn’t turn the two over to them.  The city is then completely destroyed and only righteous Lot and his two daughters escape safely.

Some people argue that the sin of Sodom was not homosexuality, but a refusal to be hospitable to the angels.  They’ll say that the people were only guilty of wanting to FORCE themselves onto their targets.  They tell us that it would have been ok if it would have been CONSENSUAL homosexual sex.  But Scripture, taken together as a whole, tells us otherwise.

Leviticus 18:22 – Male to male sex is an abomination to God.

Leviticus 20:13 – Same as above, but adds the death penalty for both of them.  Note that no one is advocating the legal killing of homosexuals today (at least they shouldn’t be).  These civil laws were specifically given for the Jews, and for that specific period in history (the Old Testament).  It does not mean that they must be punished civilly today in the same way as they were back then.  Thank God for grace! 

However, not only was this sin condemned in the Old Testament, but the recognition of its depravity is also carried over into the New Testament.  Yes, God still considers this sin an abomination, just as He did then. 

First of all, Jesus was very clear concerning God’s intention for mankind and sexuality from the beginning:

Matthew 19:3-6

v. 3 - “The Pharisees also came unto Him, tempting Him, and saying unto Him, ‘Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?’ 

v. 4 - “And He answered and said unto them, ‘Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

v. 5 - “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

v. 6 - “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”

Again, Jesus makes it clear that God’s intention from the very start was for one husband (male) to have one wife (female).  These two would be “one flesh,” joined together by God.  Two males (or two females) will never be considered “one flesh” in the eyes of God, nor can they produce children.  This sin is totally unnatural and would eventually cause society to unravel and crumble, as it has already done in other cultures.

Romans 1:26-27 – Clearly talks about forbidden sexual relations between men with men, and women with women – calling it unnatural /indecent/shameful acts and dishonorable/degrading/vile passions.  It doesn’t get much clearer than this.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 – This passage lists homosexuality with many other sins (fornication, sodomy, idolatry, adultery, theft, drunkenness, reviling, covetousness and extortion).  They are deceived and unrighteous and THEY WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.  Their destiny is very clear.

1 Timothy 1:9-10 – Again, homosexuals are listed with the lawless, rebellious, ungodly, sinners, unholy, worldly, murderers (even of parents), sexually immoral, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever is contrary to sound doctrine.  Note that the sin of homosexuality (considered “mild” today) is in the same camp as murder!  You cannot say it is not sinful!

Jude 7 – It says that Sodom and Gomorrah indulged in sexual immorality/perversion/fornication/unnatural vice and they went after “strange flesh.”  They (the people who engage in this sin) are headed for eternal fire.  Note that Jude 4-14 is speaking of the condemnation of those who rebel against God’s stated design and purpose.  This is exactly what homosexuality is about.

There may be more verses on this issue, but these pretty much sum up God’s attitude on this topic.

The Church is a Hospital for Sinners

It would be different if a person is struggling with the sin of homosexuality, and trying to get out of that lifestyle.  Then we (the church) should have mercy on him and do what we can to help him.  Just like any other sin, a person may occasionally have a lapse and fall into that sin, but if he is indeed a Christian, he will definitely have an inner conflict and be earnestly fighting to overcome that sin. 

But if he loves the sin and doesn’t really care what God thinks about it, willing to stay in it and even do it openly, then that’s a problem.  The rest of the church should approach him and treat him as an outsider (if he remains unrepentant), as Jesus instructed (Matthew 18:15-17). 

But if he is indeed repentant, the rest of the church should lovingly help and encourage him, to get him back on the right path (Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20).

Conclusion

According to one source, the pope wants gays to feel welcome in the (Catholic) Church.  Furthermore, the pope has even told one gay man, “God made you like this.” 

See here:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/20/pope-juan-carlos-cruz

We just saw the list of sins of which homosexuals are a part.  Would the pope also say to the murderer, “God made you like this”?  Or to the liar, idolater, or drunkard?  God does not make a person gay, just as he doesn’t make him with any other sinful characteristics.  Sin is something each of us chooses to do.  You can’t blame God for your sinful condition.  If God “made them that way” then why should they feel the need to repent?

It looks as though the pope is trying hard to protect unrepentant homosexuals and let them feel ok about their sin.  There is plenty homosexuality within his own Church and he knows it.  He knows that this is a sin, but it seems to bother him that the Church has always (officially, at least) been against homosexuality.

Again, what the pope is saying is deceptive, and he will have to answer for that.  And so will many others who live in and promote this sin.

 

IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S UNITY BETTER THAN THAT OF OTHER CHURCHES?

When Catholics debate issues about Bible teaching with Protestants, they will often say, “That’s just your opinion, and just your interpretation of the passage.  You Protestants can’t really know what the Bible says in many cases, since there are so many differences and divisions when interpreting Scripture within Protestantism.  You guys can’t agree on anything!” 

The Catholic Church claims that they are the one true church, specifically, “the one Church of Christ” which is “one, holy, catholic and apostolic” (Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, Lumen Gentium, paragraph 8).

But when Protestants point out the fact that there are many arguments within Catholicism (sometimes even about doctrine), Catholics will backtrack and are forced to admit it, but they’ll say that the Catholic Church is truly unified because it can “officially” settle disputes within its ranks.  They have the pope to do that, and he can do it “infallibly”!

But if that’s true, why do Catholics still have so many arguments with each other?  That fact is undeniable.  In just one recent example, there was an issue about Pope Francis complaining about a prominent Catholic television network (EWTN) that was attacking and insulting him. 

See these links for details:

https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2021/09/21/pope-francis-says-attacks-and-insults-against-him-are-work-of-the-devil/

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/09/21/pope-francis-ewtn-critics-241472

https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/pope-francis-issues-thinly-veiled-criticism-ewtn-comments-gender-ideology

In these articles, the pope claims that he doesn’t mind so much EWTN’s criticism of him – what he claims to be against is this Catholic network attacking the Church.  However, it seems that the problems EWTN has with the Catholic Church revolve largely around what the pope, himself, is allowing in the Church!  After all, as the sole “human head” and “Vicar” of the Church, isn’t he the one ultimately responsible for the things going on within the Church?  And isn’t he the one who is supposed to discipline leaders, clarify misunderstandings and establish Catholic teaching?  If Pope Francis is the answer to the problem of disagreements in the Church, then why is there still such major division in Catholic circles today?

It is true that EWTN has had some strong things to say, especially about the liberal-leaning Church leaders, and the way the church is being run.  Some critics are claiming that the pope said that EWTN was a “work of the devil.”

Catholic writer and apologist Dave Armstrong (as well as other pope supporters) claims that Pope Francis did not say EWTN was a “work of the devil,” but that criticizing the Church is.  Maybe the pope meant that, or maybe he didn’t, but isn’t that pretty much the same thing?  If EWTN is attacking the Catholic Church, wouldn’t that also reflect on the pope who runs it?

Furthermore, in his article, Armstrong also names several prominent Catholic people/teachers/publishers with whom he disagrees.  You can find Armstrong’s article here:

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2021/09/pope-francis-did-not-say-ewtn-work-of-the-devil.html

So we can see that this “unique” harmony and unity that the Catholic Church claims to enjoy simply does not exist. 

It’s deceptive to claim a “final human authority” who can settle all disputes, when this pope, himself, is chiefly responsible for causing so many of the divisions within his own Church, including contradicting traditional Catholic beliefs that were deeply held for centuries.

Look, divisions are inevitable (1 Corinthians 11:18-19), especially when such large groups are involved.  We Protestants are not complaining about the Catholic Church because it has divisions; every church has them.  We are simply protesting the hypocrisy and pretension involved on the part of Catholic accusations of Protestant divisions, as though Catholics don’t have them.

This whole issue of divisions is simply a distraction used by Catholics to deny the doctrine of “Sola Scriptura” (the Bible alone).  This just means that the Bible is the only infallible rule of faith for the Christian church today.  The idea is not complicated.

Protestants assert that the principles of Scripture are clear enough to settle arguments within the body if simple interpretation principles and common sense are used.  See these links:

https://answeringcatholicclaims.blogspot.com/2013/07/quick-notes-on-sola-scriptura-part-6.html

https://answeringcatholicclaims.blogspot.com/2014/02/there-aremany-important-choices-that-we.html

https://answeringcatholicclaims.blogspot.com/2009/12/dialogue-on-bible-interpretation.html

Yes, we must strive for unity in the church (John 17:20-21) – but God wants us to have unity in the TRUTH (John 17:17), not just an external, cosmetic type of unity where everyone says the exact same prayer at the same time and everyone uses the same gestures.

A small church that is unified in biblical truth is vastly superior to a billion-member church that is unified in error.  If we really want unbelievers to be drawn by our unity (John 17:22-23), then this unity must be based on scriptural truth.  A “unity” based on error is worse than irrelevant.  True unity may not come easy, but it is better to be honestly divided, than to have an artificial unity.

So, to answer the question first posed in the title of this article, no, Catholicism’s unity is not any better than anyone else’s.

 

THE POPE’S IDOLATRY AND THE VATICAN’S SILENCE

 

As far as I am aware, Pope Francis has certainly been one of the most controversial popes within this last century.  A simple internet search will show that this is the case.  He has done much to erode the trust of Catholics worldwide, and to confirm the suspicions of Protestants and others.

There are a number of articles on this topic, and the following one cites a fairly recent example of his controversy.  On October 4, 2019, the pope attended the Amazonian Synod during the worship services in the Vatican gardens.  It is said that in this synod, “Pope Francis attended an act of idolatrous worship of the pagan goddess ‘Pachamama.’”  Pachamama is a wooden image depicted as a naked, pregnant Amazonian woman.  He “further participated in this act of idolatrous worship by blessing a wooden image of Pachamama.”

This particular article also stated, “On October 7, 2019, the idol of Pachamama was placed in front of the main altar at St. Peter’s and then carried in procession to the Synod Hall.  Pope Francis said prayers in a ceremony involving this image and then joined in this procession.”

Looks like full participation from the pope, to me.  Then the backlash came:

“When the wooden images of this pagan deity were removed from the church of Santa Maria in Traspontina, where they had been sacrilegiously placed, and thrown into the Tiber [river] by Catholics outraged by this profanation of the church, Pope Francis, on October 25, apologized for their removal.”

Because of his ecumenical agenda, Francis would rather apologize to (and save face with) his pagan Amazonian members, than he would with the God of the Bible (Exodus 20:1-6; 1Corinthians 10:14).

“Another wooden image of Pachamama was returned to the church.  Thus, a new profanation was initiated.”

The people were not happy about this, but Francis wasn’t finished with his idolatry:

“On October 27, in the closing Mass for the Amazonian Synod, Pope Francis accepted a bowl used in the idolatrous worship of Pachamama and placed it on the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica.”

See this link:

https://www.cleansingfire.org/2021/03/the-silence-of-death-at-st-peters-basilica/

But reportedly, the Vatican was silent about all this. 

In an interview with Vatican Media, Paulo Suess, a German priest who served for decades among the indigenous peoples of the Amazon, recognized the pope’s sin.  The priest who interviewed Suess acted as though paganism in the Catholic Church was no big deal, and Suess stated:

“Even if that had been a pagan rite, what took place was still a worship service.  A rite always has something to do with worship.  Paganism cannot be dismissed as nothing...” 

The article states that “Vatican Media eventually removed those comments from its interview with the priest, with no note or indication of the redaction.”

Hmmm.  Seems that the Vatican didn’t want this detail in the story to go public.  Even among many Catholics, the pope’s actions did not sit well.  In fact, it caused quite a stir and it was the “subject of fierce social media debate among Catholics.” 

What the people were seeing clearly looked like worship to them:

“Figures used prominently in unexplained and unfamiliar rituals or spiritual expressions, even with persons prostrating themselves in front of the statues, led journalists to ask what connections the figures have to indigenous religious rituals.”

“But at least three times, Vatican officials or synod participants were asked about the statues, and the events in which they were involved.  Questions went mostly unanswered. Vatican officials pointed to organizers of synod events, who pointed back to Vatican officials.”

In other words, they were playing the old “pass the buck” game.  But it got worse:

“… the same commentators began to claim that the figures were indigenous symbols about which asking questions was somehow an expression of prejudice, or even racism… Even in the Vatican press room, one journalist said during a press conference that other reporters, presumably those who had asked questions about the statues, had committed lamentable acts of racism against indigenous persons.  Vatican officials did not refute that charge.”

“Still, one synod participant told CNA [Catholic News Agency] that behind closed doors, some Vatican officials dismissed concerns as either propaganda from ‘anti-Francis Americans’ or overt racism.”

Boy, does this sound like American leftist politics of today, or what!  If you say something they don’t like (or don’t want to answer), you are immediately labeled a racist (even if there is no evidence for that claim).  That’s when you know they have an ulterior motive.

There seemed to be questions about the actual identity of these images, but on October 25, after the statues had been recovered from the river, Francis acknowledged the truth about the Amazonian statues and indeed referred to them as “Pachamama.”  But sensing that his own people were recognizing the obvious idolatry, he tried to counter and stated that the idols had been placed in the Church without “idolatrous intentions.”

See here:

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/42644/analysis-why-pachamama-took-a-dip

Of course, the Vatican tried to downplay these events.  Just one month after this happened Catholic World News wrote a short editor’s note defending the pope:

“Pachamama is not a divinity or idol that is worshiped, but is mother earth, honored as the ‘creation and manifestation of the love of God,’ writes retired Mexican Bishop Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel.  He recalls that years ago, while in Bolivia for a meeting, he asked a member of the indigenous Aymara people whether his people consider Pachamama and Inti to be gods.  The man replied, “Those who have not received evangelization consider them gods; for those of us who have been evangelized, they are not gods, but God’s best gifts.”  Bishop Arizmendi commented, ‘Wonderful response! … They are manifestations of God’s love, not gods.”

It looks as though the Vatican just does not want to admit to the pope’s idolatry!

See here:

https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=44075

But my response is, how can a demon be a manifestation of God’s love?  And how can this Catholic bishop, a leader in the Church, call the Amazonian man’s reply a “wonderful response”?!!! 

Someone might ask, “But why do you call Pachamama a demon?

The apostle Paul, himself, calls idols demons/devils:

“But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.  Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?  Are we stronger than He?”  (1 Corinthians 10:20-22) 

Not only that, but according to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, Pachamama is an Andean deity (a god/goddess), especially in Peru and Bolivia, where she is worshipped as “the goddess of the Earth.”  It goes on to say, “Through the centuries, the Roman Catholic Church has accepted some indigenous rituals and customs by assimilation [i.e., taking in and fully understanding information or ideas], mainly through combined Catholic and traditional celebrations that continue to be an important part of life in rural and urban settings.” 

See here:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pachamama

In other words, the Catholic Church purposely allows the pagan aspects to be blended into their Catholicism for the sake of Amazonian “tradition.”

Furthermore, according to World History Encyclopedia, on the Inca religion, Pachamama was considered a “lesser” deity, although still important.  She was considered the “earth goddess.”  See here:

https://www.worldhistory.org/Inca_Religion/

And interestingly, all this stuff that the pope did ties in with the “Mother Earth” movement, nature worship, and the “going green” mentality that leftists are pushing today.  Just an observation.

Conclusion

So there is no escaping the fact that Pachamama is an idol, a false god.  And it has no business in ANY church that claims to be Christian.  Many of the Catholics recognized this fact.  So, kudos to those Catholics who did recognize the pope’s idolatry concerning Pachamama – but what about Mary?  Why can’t Catholics see their own prayers to (and prostration before) Mary and other “saints” as idolatry?  What’s the difference?  Yes, what the pope did was wrong, but the “devotion” given to Mary by many Catholics is, I would say, not less than those Amazonians’ devotion to Pachamama.  If the Amazonians can’t worship as they do, then the pope and other Catholics can’t either.  If what the Amazonians do is worship, then how much more is it worship when the same things (and more) are done by Catholics toward Mary?  We would do well to stick to the biblical examples of worship for everyone.

One of the previous articles that I mentioned above says that the synod’s working document proclaims that “Jesus was a person of dialogue and encounter.”

As if to say that Jesus would not have been offended by the pope’s actions.  They seem to think that rather than condemning those involved, Jesus would have encouraged dialogue and promoted diversity with them, instead.

But why do you think that Jesus was turning over the money changers’ tables in righteous anger (Mark 11:15-17; John 2:13-16)?  It was because of the idolatry of the Jewish leaders, concerning their love of money (e.g., Luke 16:14).  Neither Jesus nor the early church was tolerant toward idols.

So, the problem here is not just a bad pope whose cohorts in the Vatican are covering his every evil deed – it is the fact that the Catholic Church is an unbiblical religious system in which he is the head.  This is a hard pill to swallow for members of the Catholic Church, but hopefully, many Catholics’ eyes will be opened after this.