Pope Francis took time off from promoting radical climate change and cultural Marxism to grant an interview with Norah O’Donnell from CBS. O’Donnell, who took time off from being offended by former world champion tennis player John McEnroe, conducted the 60-Minutes interview for CBS.
According to Newsweek, the Pope said it would be "madness" for the U.S. to close the border to illegal immigrants. To that, some people responded:
The Pope says it's wrong for us to close our southern border...
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) May 20, 2024
Meanwhile, he's protected by the Swiss guard, screening while entering the Vatican and the walls that still stand around it. pic.twitter.com/7WPZMkdddr
The interview revealed the strange theological vacuum that Pope Francis lives in. He contradicted a large number of Catholic teachings in his odd Loyola ‘Society of Jesus’ way. For instance,
The Popes before him were staunch defenders of the sanctity human life (anti-abortion), especially Benedict and John Paul II. Francis has very little to say about his Church’s pro-life stance, favoring liberal causes over moral issues like abortion and sexuality.
Regarding human sexuality, early in his reign, he infamously replied to a question about homosexuality, “Who am I to judge?” Uhh…. you call yourself the Vicar of Christ, you guys have been ‘judging’ for centuries. You claim to hold the keys of the kingdom, wrested from Peter in Matthew 16. Your church claims that you are infallible. As Adventists, we, of course, don’t believe that.
As Protestant Christians, we don’t recognize the papacy, but we do recognize the problem that they represent. And Pope Francis represents the absolute worst of theological irresponsibility, along with others on the left.
Francis was praised by the liberal interviewer that he is more ‘open’
“That’s why so many people found hope with you, because you’ve been more open and accepting perhaps than other previous leaders of the church.”
Francis responded,
“You have to be open to everything. The church is like that. Everyone, everyone, everyone. That so-and-so is a sinner, me too. I am a sinner. Everyone. The Gospel is for everyone. If the church places a customs officer at the door, that is no longer the Church of Christ. Everyone.”
Open to everything?? The Bible says to abstain from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22), and to not associate with believers who are sexually immoral or idolaters, or greedy or a drunkard or a cheater (1 Corinthians 5:9-13). And “Have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11).
This is classic leftist jargon that the Pope is espousing.
True, the Gospel is for everyone who accepts it (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 3:16). But Church membership and fellowship are not for everyone, indeed not for those who reject Christ and wish to import evil into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 5:10-13). Church leaders are selected from within the Body of Christ and their responsibilities and qualifications are outlined carefully in the Bible. The Bible is also clear on who comprises the Body of Christ. Members of the Body are comprised of different parts (1 Corinthians 12:12-24) and are qualified by spiritual gifts given to each believer (Galatians 5; 1 Corinthians 13).
Francis is purposely being deceptive in his comments about openness, seeking to destroy or confuse biblical distinctions. He appears to be claiming that every human being is now part of the Roman Catholic Church. Pure nonsense.
He says he is a ‘sinner.’ We agree with him. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Notice that the Pope offers no instruction on how a person can be justified and sanctified through Christ. Just be a sinner, that’s good enough for him.
The interviewer asks what gives him hope (Pope hope). His answer is full of empty words,
“Everything you see, tragedies, but you also see so many beautiful things. You see heroic mothers, heroic men, men who have hopes and dreams, women who look to the future. That gives me a lot of hope. People want to live. People forge ahead and people are fundamentally good. We are all fundamentally good. Yes, there are some rogues and sinners, but the heart itself is good.”
First, after saying that he and everyone else is a sinner, earlier in the interview, he now says there are only “some rogues and sinners.” Make up your mind, sir..
But, the most egregious thing is how he directly contradicts Scripture “The heart itself is good.” No. It is not!
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked..” (Jeremiah 17:9).
Notice what is missing from the Pope’s answer, or should I say ‘Who is missing’? Jesus the Christ. When asked about hope, the Vicar of Christ does not even once mention our Lord, the Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13; 1 John 5:13-14; 1 Peter 1:3-6; Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; John 4:13-14). Not once.
It shouldn’t be surprising.
The Roman Catholic Church contradicts the gospel of the Bible in many ways, and is mentioned in the Everlasting Gospel and the Book of Revelation as the conduit of false worship. Roman Catholicism undermines the authority of Scripture, and created a whole religion around it. Notice how liberal Protestant Christians (and some Adventists) are also undermining Scripture, abandoning Bible teachings as they prepare to reach across the abyss and clasp hands with the Roman Church. They are apostates, as was Julian before them.
By the way, Newsweek Magazine came out with a cover story in April, with Pope Francis on the front and rainbow colors behind, “Woke Pope: How the Culture Wars are Dividing the Catholic Church.” Be sure, this Pope is right where he wants to be.
Millions and millions of Catholics despise what this Pope is teaching. I have personally spoken with some of them. This presents a good opportunity for us to share the Bible and the Great Controversy theme with them.
When asked about conservatives who oppose him, Francis said they have a “suicidal attitude.”
Questioned about the controversial Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in December 2023 that includes guidelines on the blessing of same-sex couples, Pope Francis craftily said that he didn’t allow blessings of “the union” but of “each person.” Homosexuality “is a human fact,” Pope Francis told O’Donnell.
She asked him how he would respond to “conservative bishops in the United States that oppose your new efforts to revisit teachings and traditions.” In his reply, Pope Francis defined a conservative as the “suicidal attitude” of “one who clings to something and does not want to see beyond that.” As conservatives, they are despised by this Pope.
Of course he did. Like apostate Protestants and lefty Adventists, Francis has bought into the woke cultural Marxist agenda.
I only have one question. When they shake hands across the abyss, will they wear green or rainbow gloves?
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“For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
