"The Pope has struck a surprisingly conciliatory tone towards atheists and
agnostics, saying that God
will "forgive" them as long as they behave morally
and live according to their consciences.
The 76-year-old pontiff was responding to editorials written in July and August by Eugenio Scalfari, an agnostic and the paper's founder, in which he was asked whether "the Christian God forgives those who do not believe and do not seek faith".
Mr Scalfari said he had not expected the South American pope to respond "so extensively and so affectionately, with such fraternal spirit".
The Pope wrote: "The question for those who do not believe in God is to follow their own conscience. Sin, even for a non-believer, is when one goes against one's conscience.
"To listen and to follow your conscience means that you understand the difference between good and evil."
He said that the "mercy of God has no limits" and encompassed even non-believers, but his remarks failed to impress the Italian Union of Atheists and Agnostics. " TheTelegraph
John gives us a different definition of "sin" than the Pope does -
....for sin is the transgression of the law.
1 John 3:4
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened,
Francis, who has won praise for
spontaneous and unusual moves during his six month papacy, wrote a lengthy letter to a newspaper, La
Repubblica, which the Italian daily printed over four pages, including page
one, under the simple byline "Francesco".
"God forgives those who obey their conscience," he wrote in the unprecedented
letter, the latest example of the markedly different tone and style from his
predecessors that he has set since being elected in March. The 76-year-old pontiff was responding to editorials written in July and August by Eugenio Scalfari, an agnostic and the paper's founder, in which he was asked whether "the Christian God forgives those who do not believe and do not seek faith".
Mr Scalfari said he had not expected the South American pope to respond "so extensively and so affectionately, with such fraternal spirit".
The Pope wrote: "The question for those who do not believe in God is to follow their own conscience. Sin, even for a non-believer, is when one goes against one's conscience.
"To listen and to follow your conscience means that you understand the difference between good and evil."
He said that the "mercy of God has no limits" and encompassed even non-believers, but his remarks failed to impress the Italian Union of Atheists and Agnostics. " TheTelegraph
John gives us a different definition of "sin" than the Pope does -
....for sin is the transgression of the law.
1 John 3:4
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened,
That it cannot save;
Nor His ear heavy,
That it cannot hear.
And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.
And your fingers with iniquity;
Your lips have spoken lies,
Your tongue has muttered perversity.
Isaiah 59:1-3
