Jesus H. Christ! The pope embraces atheists

On Wednesday the pope during a homily preached something that many christians probably feel is some sort of blasphemy: be kind to atheists and you will meet them in heaven! Whoa!

The part that brings this message home is pope Francis’ recounting a story about a conversation between a priest and himself (I think). The transcript has quotes within quotes indicating this is a conversation but, I think it is just a device to convey his message. One part in bold on on the Vatican Radio’s website is:

“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! And this Blood makes us children of God of the first class! We are created children in the likeness of God and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us all! And we all have a duty to do good. And this commandment for everyone to do good, I think, is a beautiful path towards peace. If we, each doing our own part, if we do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter: we need that so much. 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.”

Text from page of the Vatican Radio website

It is nice as an atheist to hear a christian talking like a christian and embracing all people of all faiths and non-faiths. So often, you hear condemnation and threats toward atheist views. Of course, pro-christian organizations are already claiming the pope was misinterpreted. One example is Jimmy Akin from the National Catholic Register. His central point seems to be the meaning of “there” as in when pope Francis stated “‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there.”

Mr. Akin’s argument is that without the word-for-word transcript of the pope’s sermon we cannot be sure “there” was meant as “heaven.” To which I say bullshit. The pope is not speaking in code to legion of christian spies. He is talking in simple language for common people – he wants the people to understand him. It seems Akin (and his ilk) doesn’t like the idea that atheists may end-up in heaven and no matter of hatred toward them will prevent it.

Related articles

• The Pope Just Said Atheists Go To Heaven (thesuperficial.com)
• Pope defends atheists: Atheists who do good are good, says Pope Francis (csmonitor.com)
• Heaven for atheists? Pope sparks debate (richarddawkins.net)