Heartsick Boy Asks If Atheist Dad Is In Heaven. Pope Francis Reveals The Answer With A Hug.

[Potoooooooo]

So if he had not had his kids baptized , he would be in Hell
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/heartsick-boy-asks-atheist-dad-193340202.html
The child, whom Francis referred to as Emanuele, met the pope during a papal visit to the St. Paul of the Cross parish on the outskirts of Rome. During a question-and-answer session with children of the parish, Emanuele approached the microphone to ask Francis a question.

But the child froze before he could get his words out. He can be seen sobbing into his hands in videorecordings of the encounter.

Francis encouraged the boy to come forward and whisper the question into his ear. The pope gave the boy a hug and the pair had a quiet chat before Emanuele returned to his seat.

Francis then addressed the crowd, saying that Emanuele had granted permission to share the conversation.

He revealed that Emanuele was crying for his father, who had recently died. The boy told the pontiff that his dad was an atheist, but a good man who had all four of his children baptized.

“Is Dad in heaven?’” the boy asked the pope.

“That man did not have the [gift] of faith, wasn’t a believer. But he had his children baptized. He had a good heart,” Francis added.
The pope said that God decides who goes to heaven, and that God has “the heart of a father.” He asked the young girls and boys in the audience if they thought God would abandon a father like Emanuele’s, who was a good man.

“No,” the children shouted back.

“There, Emanuele, that is the answer,” the pope said, according to a translation provided by the Catholic News Service. “God surely was proud of your father, because it is easier as a believer to baptize your children than to baptize them when you are not a believer. Surely this pleased God very much.”

 

[Keith&Co.]

Did DAD have the kids baptized? Or did he just not put up a fuss when Mom had the kids baptized?

That's my situation. I promised the Church that our kids would be raised Catholic, because She (is?/was) Catholic, and wanted a church wedding. As Her relationship with the Church has soured, her participation and support has soured. My promise is fulfilled as I see it. My kids are no less Catholic than anyone else in the house.

Props to the Pope, though, for navigating the question and the situation in an uplifting manner. Now wait for the talking heads at the Vatican to issue statements on what The Pope actually MEANT to say, IAW dogma and tradition.

 

[Playball40]

When I was a believer, I asked about baptizing my son. I was rejected by multiple 'churches' as he was born 'out of wedlock'. Fuck them and their out of wedlock crap. Hence began my rode to non-belief.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

So wait ... was it the fact that the father had his kids baptized which got him into Heaven or the fact that he was a good man?

Also, is the official Catholic position now that entry into Heaven is based upon measuring the applause levels in a crowd?

I get that vague and wishy-washy Christianity lite is a far more palpable version of the religion than any of the alternatives, but lack of proper structure and regulations is what led to the improper handling of pedophile priests, so maybe the Catholic Church should be looking into a firmer set of rules.

 

[Keith&Co.]

So wait ... was it the fact that the father had his kids baptized which got him into Heaven or the fact that he was a good man?

The RCC is kinda like Trump, but better educated.
If you're good to/for the RCC, you're a good person.
So, baptizing them within the RCC is what makes him a good man.

 

[ronburgundy]

My sister was the Godmother to her Catholic friend's kid. During the baptism, which I was at, the priest asked if the God-parents were Catholic, which they/we were not. The priest said, "Then this child will not enter heaven."

I was 12 at the time. That is when I realized that Catholicism is not merely nonsense but evil. Shortly thereafter, I came to the same realization about all of Abraham monotheism.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Did DAD have the kids baptized? Or did he just not put up a fuss when Mom had the kids baptized?

That's my situation. I promised the Church that our kids would be raised Catholic, because She (is?/was) Catholic, and wanted a church wedding. As Her relationship with the Church has soured, her participation and support has soured. My promise is fulfilled as I see it. My kids are no less Catholic than anyone else in the house.

Props to the Pope, though, for navigating the question and the situation in an uplifting manner. Now wait for the talking heads at the Vatican to issue statements on what The Pope actually MEANT to say, IAW dogma and tradition.

It was indeed good thinking on his feet. He reassured a child without actually answering the question. He should run for Congress.

When I read it initially thought the children answered “No” as to if he was in heaven.

 

[J842P]

Did DAD have the kids baptized? Or did he just not put up a fuss when Mom had the kids baptized?

That's my situation. I promised the Church that our kids would be raised Catholic, because She (is?/was) Catholic, and wanted a church wedding. As Her relationship with the Church has soured, her participation and support has soured. My promise is fulfilled as I see it. My kids are no less Catholic than anyone else in the house.

Props to the Pope, though, for navigating the question and the situation in an uplifting manner. Now wait for the talking heads at the Vatican to issue statements on what The Pope actually MEANT to say, IAW dogma and tradition.

It was indeed good thinking on his feet. He reassured a child without actually answering the question. He should run for Congress.

When I read it initially thought the children answered “No” as to if he was in heaven.

It's the very typical Jesuit mastery of talking out of both sides of one's mouth.

 

[Potoooooooo]

Do you think it could have been staged.

 

[Keith&Co.]

Do you think it could have been staged.

unlikely. Pro's always say it's horrible, working with kids and animals.

Plus, these days, you have to know that any vonspiracy is one tattletale away from a scandal.
Or one tweet away from looking foolish.

After Ratzinger, this pope just needs to avoid scandal to be top pope of the century so far...

 

[Emily Lake]

It's the very typical Jesuit mastery of talking out of both sides of one's mouth.

You know, I always found Jesuits to be some of the least objectionable catholics. Then again, my exposure to catholocism has mostly consisted of easter egg hunts in a fancy dress and time spent at a Jesuit college. So... maybe not representative.

 

[Thomas II]

This is the video with simultaneous translation...



The Pope allowed the other children to answer the question...and encouraged them to speak up.
Under the circumstances, I think it was a good answer.

What I find sad is that children, or believers in general, have to ask such questions because of their indoctrination. (I also went to the Jesuits. Not a believer now)

 

[J842P]

It's the very typical Jesuit mastery of talking out of both sides of one's mouth.

You know, I always found Jesuits to be some of the least objectionable catholics. Then again, my exposure to catholocism has mostly consisted of easter egg hunts in a fancy dress and time spent at a Jesuit college. So... maybe not representative.

I have nothing particularly against Jesuits, but when it comes to argumentation, they are slippery like eels. Which is probably why the create such great schools. I'm an atheist, hell, probably would consider myself an antitheist, but I would still happily send my kids to a Jesuit school.

In college, I had a group of friends that had come from a very good Jesuit high school in New York. Those kids were some of the best prepared for college that I have ever seen, and I came from one of the best public high school systems in the country, but all these AP classes don't hold a candle to having to read the Aeneid in Latin, reading Marcus Aurelius, etc.

So, again, it's not that I find them objectionable, but when it comes to debating the existence of God, be prepared for people at the top of the game. I think many are effectively atheists, when you can pin them down on specifics.

 

[Lion IRC]

So wait ... was it the fact that the father had his kids baptized which got him into Heaven or the fact that he was a good man?

Francis was casting doubt on whether the dad was really an atheist.

Also, is the official Catholic position now that entry into Heaven is based upon measuring the applause levels in a crowd?

The crowd prefers good works over faith.

I get that vague and wishy-washy Christianity lite is a far more palpable version of the religion than any of the alternatives, but lack of proper structure and regulations is what led to the improper handling of pedophile priests, so maybe the Catholic Church should be looking into a firmer set of rules.

Palatable?

 

[Potoooooooo]

Do you think it could have been staged.

unlikely. Pro's always say it's horrible, working with kids and animals.

I am not so sure, don't get me wrong I like gorillas but I really doubt that what Koko says in this video was spontanious

 

[Thomas II]

The crowd prefers good works over faith.

You don't?

 

[Lion IRC]

I've always thought it was a false dilemma.

 

[Thomas II]

I've always thought it was a false dilemma.

Faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26)

I don't see works being dead without faith.

Why do you see a false dilemma?

 

[Lion IRC]

Because faith and works aren't mutually exclusive - they are inseparable.
Works without faith is like a robot that simply follows orders.
And faith itself is a form of works - works of the heart. If that were not so, faith would be imperceptible.

 

[Juma]

Because faith and works aren't mutually exclusive - they are inseparable.
Works without faith is like a robot that simply follows orders.
And faith itself is a form of works - works of the heart. If that were not so, faith would be imperceptible.

No no: faith is like robot. Doing stuff without questioning.