Pope Francis Claims: ‘The Christian Who Does Not Feel Mary Is His Mother Is an Orphan’
ROME –
Pope Francis focused on the person of Mary in statements issued both
Tuesday and Wednesday, making assertions that some opine are unbiblical
and heretical.
“The Christian who does not feel that the Virgin Mary is his or her mother is an orphan,” he Tweeted on Tuesday, a post that generated much criticism from around the world.
Today,
the pope gave his weekly address in Rome, speaking about the Roman
Catholic Church serving as a “mother” to the world, and exhorting the
Church to follow Mary as an example of how to be a mother.
"In
our catecheses, we have often noted that we do not become a Christian
on our own, but by being born and nurtured in the faith in the midst of
the People of God, that is the Church,” he stated. “She is a true mother
who gives us life in Christ, and in the communion of the Holy Spirit,
brings us into a common life with our brothers and sisters.”
“The
model of motherhood for the Church is the Blessed Virgin Mary, who in
the fullness of time conceived through the Holy Spirit and gave birth to
the Son of God,” Pope Francis continued. “Her motherhood continues
through the Church, who brings forth sons and daughters through baptism,
whom she nourishes through the word of God.”
Christian
News Network asked Mike Gendron of Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries in
Plano, Texas to share his thoughts Wednesday regarding the pope’s
latest Tweet asserting that those who reject Mary as mother are orphans.
He expressed disagreement, stating that as per Romans 8:15, those who
receive the adoption of sons through the blood of Jesus can never be
orphans.
“The
pope continues to display his biblical ignorance,” he said. “Pope
Francis does not know that Christians cannot be orphans because they
have been adopted into God’s eternal family. No one can be an orphan who
has received the Spirit of adoption as sons joyfully cry out ‘Abba!
Father!’”