Pope Francis : "God willed the plurality of religions"

[LilyM]

God didn’t make Adam and Eve Catholic, nor reveal the fullness of the Catholic faith to Noah, Abraham or Moses. So there’s that …

 

[Trying2overcome]

Actively wills? Or permissively wills? If the former, heresy.

Just another Francis-ism

 

[Trying2overcome]

I’m not sure what that has to do with anything

 

[marybrian]

You have to be careful you don’t take this out of context. It needs to be read in the context of the whole document. God wills our freedom therefore he wills (allows) a diversity of religions within the context of human freedom. Otherwise, there would be no room for free will.

 

[Trying2overcome]

Yes, in that sense it make some sense.

 

[skelly]

I think history of the last 100 years and current events bear out that he has been unleashed in a unique way in that the nations of the world see authority as purely secular and do not recognize the Divine authority. Not in morality, not in economics, not in human rights, not in the stewardship of the earth, not in any institution.

 

[LilyM]

I’m not sure what that has to do with anything

Plurality of religions (at a minimum Judaism and Christianity), each being planned and willed by God and given to man by means of progressive revelation to the Old Testament patriarchs and prophets culminating with the fullness of truth in Christ’s incarnation and ministry.

 

[joseie]

The document under discussion was released for the visit of Pope to some Muslim countries where he is welcomed with great fun fare.The tone and content of the document is unmistakable, which is that the different Religions are ok and are as per God’s plan only.Nothing special about any particular Religion.We are Catholic believe Jesus as God,you Muslims don’t believe so,but no problem,it is God’s will.Seemingly nice things to tell when visiting muslim countries .
But the idea contained in the document may be interpreted by Catholic believers are dangerous.We believe that only Christian faith is the true religion,only Jesus is the real God and all others are false and those believing in such religions can get salvation only through Christ.
At any rate this document does not reflect the spirit of what Jesus himself said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He is not a way, as in one of many; He is the way, as in the one and only.

 

[Latin]

We must look the diversity of religions in the context of Catholic Soteriology.

The pluralism and the diversity of
religions,
colour,
sex,
race,
language
are willed by God in His wisdom, through which He created human beings.

.
DIVERSITY OF RELIGION IN THE CONTEXT OF CATHOLIC SOTERIOLOGY

The Divine will is cause of all things that happens, as Augustine says (De Trin. iii, 1 seqq.).

Hence if this divine influence stopped, every operation would stop.
Every operation, therefore, of anything is traced back to Him as its cause. (Summa Contra Gentiles, Book III.)

.
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA Divine Providence explains;

His wisdom He so orders all events within the universe that the end for which it was created may be realized.
God is the sole ruler of the world, His will governs all things.

He directs all, even evil and sin itself, to the final end for which the universe was created.

Yet all things, whether due to necessary causes or to the free choice of man, are foreseen by God and preordained in accordance with His all-embracing purpose.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12510a.htm

.
Aquinas said, “God changes the will without forcing it.
But he can change the will from the fact that He himself operates in the will as He does in nature,” De Veritatis 22:9.

Phil.2:13; For it is God who works in you BOTH to WILL and to ACT in order to fulfil his good purpose.
.
2022 The divine initiative in the work of grace PRECEDES, PREPARES, and ELICITS the free response of man.

God effects everything, the willing and the achievement. … (Thomas Aquinas, S. Th.II/II 4, 4 ad 3).

.
God’s graces does NOT hinders our free wills, God’s efficacious graces enlightens our minds and we always freely choose the good.

.
God’s will is immutable; therefore, God’s will always accomplished.

.
The way God willed (at this stage of our road to perfection) the diversity of sex, colour, the same way God willed the diversity of religion as well.
.
When perfection comes, will be no diversity of religion, in this side of eternity only God can see the benefit and the wisdom in the diversity of religion, in heaven we will see God’s wisdom in it too.

Diversity of religion nothing to do with our free wills, but everything to do with God’s will and His wisdom, even if we cannot understand it yet.
.
The Divine will is the cause of all things (even the diversity of religions) that happens, His wisdom He so orders all events within the universe and all events designed/ planned by God and predestined from all eternity.
.
John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The way known only to God, He can and He will save everyone in Christ. - Eph.1:10-11; Col.1:20; etc.
.
God bless

 

[Wannano]

I think history of the last 100 years and current events bear out that he has been unleashed in a unique way in that the nations of the world see authority as purely secular and do not recognize the Divine authority. Not in morality, not in economics, not in human rights, not in the stewardship of the earth, not in any institution.

This Skelly I totally agree with, and I would also add “religion”.

The first thought I had yesterday when I read the document that Pope Francis signed in agreement was…" Peace, peace, when there is no peace" and “Peace and safety, then comes sudden destruction.”

True believers in Christ are to keep their lamps trimmed as we await the coming of the Bridegroom.

 

[JohnJFarren]

Hello Angreen – My name is John Farren. Your posting made me feel that Jesus is Living in your heart and abides in you … and you in Him. I am 88 and have two master degrees, one in Philosophy and the other in Theology. I rejoice in my heart what Pope Francis stated clearly. The treasures of Vatican II are coming more and more to fulfillment. If more people read the documents of Vatican II (I have read several times all of them) they would begin to realize the Church (Roman Catholic) heavily burdened by the heavy and repeated sins of its own members and especially by its consecrated leaders was mightily released from its coldness and darkness. / you wrote, “Atheists … God may want them too” Angreen, God wants them so very much, that God Almighty took to Himself a real human nature and God Suffered and God Died for them, the Atheists, the sinners all, for those who chosen to spurn and even hate God. St John in Scripture tell us simply and clearly, “GOD IS LOVE.” I must stop now, Angreen. If you wish you may write me by email> Trinity5635@aol.com God Loves every creature Infinitely and God cannot change. Blessing … John

 

[yankeesouth]

Francis Signed Document Saying That God Willed the “pluralism and diversity of religions”. What’s Up With That?

https://wdtprs.com/2019/02/francis-signed-document-saying-that-god-willed-the-pluralism-and-diversity-of-religions-whats-up-with-that/

We must seek a way to understand this without it sounding like heresy. Note well that, after that awkward phrase, the continuation speaks to our freedom to believe, etc. That hints at a solution.

God did not will a diversity of religions in the sense that all religions are equal paths to God. False religions are evil. God does not actively will evil.

 

[Latin]

Pope Francis signed document saying that God willed the “pluralism and diversity of religions”.
.
From Catholic Soteriology I knew God willed the pluralism and diversity of religions long before Pope Francis signed the above document, it is plain and simple.

.
The Divine will is cause of all things that happens.
All things means all things, includes God’s design/ plan of the pluralism and diversity of religions.
.
His wisdom He so orders all events within the universe that the end for which it was created may be realized.

From all events, the design/ plan of the pluralism and diversity of religions and their operations CAN NOT be excluded.

He directs all (includes every events/ operations of all diverse religions), even evil and sin itself, to the final end for which the universe was created.

.
Hence if this divine influence stopped, every operations (includes all events/ operations of all diverse religions) would stop.

Every events/ operations, therefore, of anything is traced back to Him as its cause. (Summa Contra Gentiles, Book III.)
.
Hence Providence is at once universal, immediate, efficacious, yet all alike postulate Divine concurrence and receive their powers of operation from Him (I, Q. xxii, a. 3; Q. ciii, a. 6); efficacious, in that all things minister to God’s final purpose, a purpose which cannot be frustrated (Contra Gent., III, xciv);
.
As we see above, probably Catholic Soteriology is far better than the other religion’s Soteriology combined together.
.
God bless

 

[adgloriam]

Maximilian75:

…
“The pluralism and the diversity of religions … are willed by God in his wisdom…”
…

Also Catechism:

843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as “a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life.” 332

332 LG 16; cf. NA 2; EN 53.
LG Lumen gentium
NA Nostra aetate
EN Evangelii nuntiandi

@Vico best post in this thread. I should say, however, that I have regrettably come across one sect that had nothing but evil to it, although presenting itself as good. And I do hope the Catholic Church doesn’t become too permissive in institutionally engaging with those kinds of evil.

 

[RealisticCatholic]

If God didn’t will the plurality of religions, then he sure set up the world in a funny way…

 

[Gorgias]

How can this be reconciled with Church teaching?

It’s couched in a discussion of individual freedom, in the context of choosing one’s religion. This is precisely what the Church teaches!

From the Catechism:

1747 The right to the exercise of freedom, especially in religious and moral matters, is an inalienable requirement of the dignity of man. But the exercise of freedom does not entail the putative right to say or do anything.

Now, to say that God willed human freedom, knowing that He was allowing humans to make their own choices, and (being omniscient) also knowing what those choices would be, it follows that “pluralism and diversity of religions … are willed by God in His wisdom.”

Jesus himself said, "Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

So, no… this statement doesn’t need to be “reconciled with Church teaching” – it already is Church teaching!

 

[Metis1]

Maybe in regards to there possibly being a “God-gene” that might have been programmed into us by the “Boss” may it be compatible.

 

[Kima]

I don´t think it is. It´s a problem connected to him as a pope.

 

[Genesis315]

The problem is the document does it backwards (maybe that’s from Islamic thought influencing it?). The document’s reasoning is that since the plurality of religions is God’s will, therefore we can’t force someone to convert. But the Christian position is the reverse. It is the Christian position that we can’t force someone to convert and therefore the practical consequence will be a plurality of religions. It mixes up what God wills antecedently and what follows as a consequence.

 

[Gorgias]

The problem is the document does it backwards (maybe that’s from Islamic thought influencing it?). The document’s reasoning is that since the plurality of religions is God’s will, therefore we can’t force someone to convert.

Huh? Are we reading the same document?

Francis starts with faith and the human fraternity that proceeds from it. It continues with the notion of freedom, which gives rise to diverse opinion.

That’s how the Catechism teaches it, too – freedom and human dignity require us to allow people to make their own choice of belief.