One world religion of Pope Francis is upon us

[Maria]

VATICAN: Pope Francis has invited 5,000 migrants to pray with him ...

The January 17 event, which is also part of the Catholic church's Jubilee Year, will see a group of asylum seekers and migrants ... entering the basilica through one of the 'holy doors' opened for the special year which is dedicated to the theme of mercy.

In Catholic tradition, passing through a holy door in a spirit of repentance enables a believer to be cleansed of his or her sins. ...

The communion wafers for the mass, which will be led by Cardinal Antonio Veglio, have been made by three prisoners currently serving sentences for murder in a high-security prison near Milan.

http://dailystar.com.lb/News/World/2016 ... eters.ashx

Have these migrants been vetted? Are they Catholics or Muslims? Will they receive communion from hosts made by murderers?

Now view Pope Francis' short message, which was published on January 6, 2016. It promotes one belief in God whether Buddhist, Jew, Muslim, or Christian.

[Matthew]

Well, I can tell you, none of that "grandstanding" and "political statement making" would fly in any Orthodox Church. "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath CLEAN HANDS, and a PURE HEART; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." This psalm (24) is about entering into the divine Liturgy of the Lord's Kingly House. How on earth can they use the Eucharist to grandstand and blow their own trumpet and glory in "Look, WE have murderers make our communion wafers because WE are SOOOOooo holy and merciful!" This foulness makes me sick! Shame, shame on them!

[Agios_Irineos]

First, I wouldn't be so sure that this wouldn't fly in certain world orthodox circles.

Second, I am not sure about the source of outrage regarding the murderers. Murder is not an unforgivable sin. We aren't Donatists or Novationists. Assuming a proper repentance and confession, there is no reason a murderer could not be considered to have a clean heart. They might have quite a penance, St. Basil suggested 20 years, but still, we should not only recognize the possibility, we should pray urgently for it.

Obviously likely being Romans this hasn't happened, but we really shouldn't pretend like we have some ultra purity test in Orthodoxy that would forbid this. Sometimes I think we confuse our justice system with God's justice. The Church isn't in the business of administering civil justice. We are the hospital for sinners, murderers included.

[Matthew]

Your point is very well taken Father Irinaios. Yes, with God there is certain forgiveness and plenteous redemption for murderers. However, the canons specify that certain sins (albeit after baptism) do bar one from touching holy things, such as celebrating the Eucharist, for example. That is all I was referring to.

[Barbara]

Just APPALLING !
What is next ?

When will this man be 'impeached' and all his 'reforms' overturned ?

[Maria]

First, I wouldn't be so sure that this wouldn't fly in certain world orthodox circles.

Apparently, this new video by the Pope is getting raves in certain World Orthodox circles where they also teach that the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) is not heretical. In the CCC it states that Jews, Muslims, and Christians all worship the God of Abraham. While I was in World Orthodoxy, in 2002 or 2003, I attended a retreat held by the Antiochians in Sylmar in which Father Thomas Hopko stated that the CCC was not heretical and he encouraged everyone to read it.

Second, I am not sure about the source of outrage regarding the murderers. Murder is not an unforgivable sin. We aren't Donatists or Novationists. Assuming a proper repentance and confession, there is no reason a murderer could not be considered to have a clean heart. They might have quite a penance, St. Basil suggested 20 years, but still, we should not only recognize the possibility, we should pray urgently for it.

Certainly, we are not Donatists or Novationists, but to have murderers making altar bread is a stretch. When I was in a Catholic monastery, the nuns baked the altar breads, but now the nuns cannot compete with cheap prisoner-produced altar breads because prisoners can be paid with slave labor wages below the minimum wage, like a couple of bucks per hour. Such cheap wages motivate the for-profit prisons to engage the prisoners in baking goods and in making commercially product at a good profit.

Furthermore, these altar breads are supposed to be baked and cut in a prayerful and silent setting. In a prison setting, prayers and silence would be impossible.

Obviously likely being Romans this hasn't happened, but we really shouldn't pretend like we have some ultra purity test in Orthodoxy that would forbid this. Sometimes I think we confuse our justice system with God's justice. The Church isn't in the business of administering civil justice. We are the hospital for sinners, murderers included.

Already in World Orthodoxy, there are some Greek bakeries that bake altar breads because people in the parish do not want to volunteer for this opportunity to serve the church. With the death of dedicated yia-yias, many younger folks no longer know how to bake the altar bread properly, what prayers to say, and how to knead it and properly place the seal on the bread.

[Matthew]

Sorry, I should have said, in True Orthodox Circles. Of course we know the EP has decades of being gushy about WCC-sponsored "love-ins" and holding or participating in political statement-making religious events.

Also, thank you both Fr Irinaios and Maria, for your remarks that offer good perspectives on this sort of thing.