He caused an uproar.
During a recent three-day visit to Singapore, Pope Francis made a statement that has stirred controversy among U.S. religious leaders. Speaking at an interfaith gathering with young people at a Catholic junior college just before returning to Rome, the Pope deviated from his prepared speech to assert that “all religions are a path to God.” He likened different religions to “different languages” for reaching the divine and questioned the value of religious disputes. “If you start to argue that ‘my religion is better than yours, mine is true and yours isn’t,’ where will that lead us?” he remarked. “There’s only one God, and each of us has a way to approach Him. Some are Sheik, Muslim, Hindu, Christian; these are different paths to God.”
This comment has provoked backlash from figures such as Bishop Joseph Strickland, formerly of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler, Texas. Strickland, who was removed by the Vatican last year for his disagreements with Pope Francis on various issues, took to X to urge prayers for the Pope to affirm that Jesus Christ is the sole way to God. Strickland’s removal was partly due to his opposition to the Pope’s stance on pro-abortion politicians receiving communion and his views on outreach to the LGBT community.
In his remarks, Pope Francis emphasized the universal nature of God, suggesting, “Since God is God for all, then we are all children of God.” In Singapore, Catholics make up about 3.5% of the population, with Christians at 19%, Buddhists at 31%, Muslims at 15%, and notable Hindu and Sikh communities.
The Pope also encouraged young people to actively participate in and maintain interfaith dialogue, calling it a courageous act appropriate for their stage in life. However, Fr. Calvin Robinson, recently relocated from England to Michigan, also criticized the Pope’s statement on X. Robinson argued that the Pope’s view contradicts Scripture, citing Jesus’ words: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
The Pope’s comments have drawn criticism similar to past controversies. In May, he faced backlash for his belief that the human heart is “fundamentally good,” which some on social media saw as a misinterpretation of Gospel teachings. Critics argued that this view aligns with Pelagianism, a fifth-century heresy denying original sin and asserting human goodness.
Pope Francis had previously made analogous statements during his 2022 visit to Kazakhstan, leading Auxiliary Bishop Athanasius Schneider of Astana to caution against creating a “supermarket of religions.”
A retiring pastor in Brooklyn made similar statements. A young priest disagreed with him, “ruffling some feathers” both the pastor and priest were transferred.
I say yay for the Catholics who are finally recognizing that this pope is a liar and misrepresenting God and His Word ( the Bible)