Interfaith Journeys
  • Home
  • Interfaith Journeys
  • Stella Reekie

Good News Indeed!

30/5/2013

1 Comment

 
Picture
The election of Pope Francis gave hope to many.  Here was a man who was known for his love for the poor, whom Jews and Muslims called friend, who showed a sensitivity to the beliefs of others by blessing them silently rather than articulating a blessing in words that were meaningless to them. 
Recently at his morning mass he suggested that everyone, even atheists,  were made in the image and likeness of God and were redeemed by the Blood of Christ.  Because of this, he suggested, everyone was  called to be good.  He saw living  a good life as a way to peace and a place of encounter.  Some atheists might not find talk of redemption very meaningful but these remarks show an inclusiveness and recognition of goodness outside of the Catholic Church and even organised religion.  Good news indeed!   What a wonderful way to encounter those who do not follow our particular way of life, to recognise the goodness that is around us if we have eyes to see it and to feel that we can engage with all human beings in spreading that goodness wherever we find ourselves.

Not such good news for the Vatican media office, however.  One of their spokesmen intervened to clarify the Church's position. Yes indeed salvation is available to all but anyone who " knows the Catholic Church cannot be saved if they refuse to enter or remain in her".  What exactly does this mean?    The niceties of the theology are not my concern here.  What the media office did was turn a generous, inclusive, warm approach to others into the opposite.  It seemed to suggest that goodness was not as universal as the Pope suggested.  Pope Francis knows the goodness that is to be found in others whether of a religious faith or not because he has worked with them and befriended them.  He has made the journey into the world of others.  He knows first hand the goodness to be found there.  Goodness is all around if we look for it but if we stay within our own microscopic world, do not look beyond our own community, do not reach out to others, do not encounter those who are different from us we will not see that goodness.  Someone has written a book entitled Why did  Jesus, Moses, the Buddha and Mohammed Cross the Road?'  I would suggest that the Vatican spokesman might cross the road and I can be sure he will be challenged by what he encounters when he does so!


1 Comment
Morag Mullen
18/7/2013 08:56:48 pm

Being a good ecumaniac I couldn't agree more with your comments.I attended funerals recently where it was suggested that we were damned if we hadn't been "born again" !!!!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I am  a Catholic nun, involved in interfaith relations for many decades.  For me this has been an exciting and sacred journey which I would like to share with others.

    Picture

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    RSS Feed

    Categories
    Religious Performances
    ​​

    All

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.