Good News for Athiests

Good news for atheists …

But only if they believe that the Pope is infallible.

There’s a story about an atheist who was stopped by a paramilitary in Belfast. ‘Are you a Protestant or a Catholic?’ asked the paramilitary.

‘I’m an atheist’ said the atheist. ‘Ok’ said the paramilitary. ‘But are you a Protestant atheist or a Catholic atheist?’

It now seems that to be a ‘Catholic atheist’ might be distinctly advantageous. Last Wednesday, speaking in his public homily, and no doubt in an unscripted moment, Pope Francis announced that atheists could go to heaven, even if they don’t believe in Jesus!

He said,

The Lord created us in His image and likeness, and we are the image of the Lord, and He does good and all of us have this commandment at heart: do good and do not do evil. All of us. ‘But, Father, this is not Catholic! He cannot do good.’ Yes, he can… “The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone!”.. We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there.”

Great news indeed if it was true. But then atheists don’t believe in papal infallibility, any more than Christians do. So let’s see how atheists can REALLY get to heaven…

Ephesians 2:11-13

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God (Greek atheoi) in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

So there it is, from the REAL SOURCE OF INFALLIBILITY – THE WORD OF GOD… Atheists CAN go to heaven, but only if they turn from their disbelief (repent) and put their trust in Christ, the Saviour!

Now, what about the Pope?