In comments
likely to enhance his progressive reputation, Pope
Francis has written a long, open letter to the founder
of La Repubblica newspaper, Eugenio Scalfari,
stating that non-believers would be forgiven by God if
they followed their consciences.
Responding to
a list of questions published in the paper by Mr
Scalfari, who is not a Roman Catholic, Francis wrote:
“You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives
those who don’t believe and who don’t seek the faith.
I start by saying – and this is the fundamental thing
– that God’s mercy has no limits if you go to him with
a sincere and contrite heart. The issue for those who
do not believe in God is to obey their conscience.
“Sin, even
for those who have no faith, exists when people
disobey their conscience.”
John 3:16-18, "For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life. For
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved. He
that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that
believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Rev. 21:8, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the
abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and
sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:
which is the second death."
Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved."
1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."