Top Ten Myths About Pope Francis’ First Year

http://www.dominicanablog.com ^ | March 13, 2014 | By: Br. Gabriel Torretta, O.P.

[NKP_Vet]

Of the writing of many books there is no end, says Ecclesiastes. If Quoheleth had lived during the last year, he might well have said, “Of the making of many myths about Pope Francis there is no end.” As we give thanks to God for the Holy Father on this first anniversary of his papacy, it’s worth taking a moment to look back on some of the myths about Pope Francis that have made the rounds on the Internet this year. While this list could be many more pages long, what follows is my own Top Ten List of Myths about Pope Francis. Myth #10: That Pope Francis wrote this text: “The church no longer believes in a literal hell where people suffer. This doctrine is incompatible with the infinite love of God.”

This particular myth could be called the Myth that Facebook Made. Different versions of the quote circled around Facebook feeds for a good couple of months, always paired with sunshiney images of smiling Pope Francis oozing sweetness and light from every pore. It’s got everything you could want: it sounds so tolerant and sensitive, it relegates uncomfortable doctrines to the rubbish heap of antiquity, and it sets out the dirty laundry about Hell to be air-dried by the non-violent, non-judgmental love of God (now with Spring Fresh scent!).

The only problem is that everything about it is a lie.

[fwdude]

I still want to know if he really used the Italian version for the “F”-word.

[RPTMS]

Filioque?

[Mrs. Don-o]

;o)

[Salvation]

For later.