We can’t answer that question because so far the Vatican has neither confirmed it nor denied it. But according to the victim of a pedophile priest in Chile, Pope Francis told him, in a private meeting, “God made you like this and God loves you like this” (https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6337719/pope-francis-gay-man-god-loves-you/). This man is our only source for that remark.
Not exactly orthodox Catholic teaching, is it?
What does the Bible say? I Corinthians 6:9-11: “Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Fornication is any sex outside of a marriage between a man and a woman, and all fornication is sin, whatever the Red Pope says to the contrary. He was right to comfort this man, who was victimized, as a child, by a pedophile. He was right to tell him that God loves him. But he was wrong in every other respect.
Meanwhile, all 34 of Chile’s bishops last week offered to resign.
Why didn’t the Pope tell the pedophiles that “God made you like this and God loves you like this”? Is it only some sins that get the free pass? You can see this is extremely slippery theology.
My heart goes out to faithful Catholics who are so poorly served by the leaders of their church. They’re not the only ones. Protestant denominations, many of them, are also rife with false teaching and leaders who are very far from honoring God’s word.
But every hope for redemption rests in Jesus Christ; and they can’t change that.
Pope Francis will deny saying it. It seems what he says in private does not always jive with what he says publicly – kind of like a politician. There is a movie coming out soon about this pope which puts him in a good light,and his emphasis on humility is especially required of those with great power.
It wasn’t God that made him that way, it was being victimized that made him that way.
Pope Francis is sure full of surprises.
I have a feeling there’s going to be a break between conservative and liberal Catholics in our lifetime…
Probably sooner or later. As I understand it, the Episcopal Church in the US is losing their conservative membership to the Anglican Church in North America, which is more aligned with traditional values.
Good point. The Episcopalian leadership has gone episcopagan
It’s an interesting time. Lots of institutions are changing dramatically.
Indeed!
It’s happening in a lot of denominations. Go deep into the Archives and see my articles on “Paganism in the Church.” No denomination is immune.
Agreed Lee.
Why it has been so hard for my family to find a decent church since we moved. Too many have either completely bought into secular culture, or they’ve been so watered down they have nothing of substance to offer. Really sad.
I have the same dilemma.
What do you mean by the “Red Pope”?
Red as in communist.