Christian or Catholic?

http://christiannews.net/2015/09/25/i-unite-myself-pope-calls-muslims-brothers-and-sisters-in-message-at-st-patricks-cathedral/


NEW YORK — During a speech at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on Thursday night, the Roman Catholic pontiff known as Francis offered prayers for his Muslim “brothers and sisters” on the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice following word of a deadly stampede during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

“I would like to express two sentiments for my Muslim brothers and sisters,” he began. “First, I send my greetings as they celebrate the Feast of Sacrifice [Eid al-Adha]. I would have my greeting to have been warmer. My sentiments are closeness.”

“I am close to them in the face of tragedy, the tragedy they suffered in Mecca,” Francis continued. “In this moment, I give assurances in their prayers. I unite myself with you all in prayer to Almighty God, all merciful.”

Approximately 700 people were killed yesterday and nearly 1,000 more injured during a ritual in Saudi Arabia called “stoning the devil,” during which participants throw stones at three pillars in a reenactment of Abraham’s alleged stoning of the devil to avoid temptation—according to Muslim tradition. During the ritual, the large crowds began to surge and some fell and were trampled to death.

Stampedes have occurred during the pilgrimage in years past with hundreds being killed, but Thursday’s incident is considered to be the deadliest since 1990.

Jorge Bergoglio, who was selected as the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics in 2013, has expressed a desire for ecumenicism toward Muslims from the beginning of his tenure, issuing greetings during Muslim holy days.

“Turning to mutual respect in inter-religious relations, especially between Christians and Muslims, we are called to respect the religion of the other, its teachings, its symbols, its values,” he wrote in a 2013 statement during Ramadan.


The pontiff also met with Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), later that year and visited Turkey’s Blue Mosque last November, expressing reverence during a moment of prayer observed by the nation’s grand mufti, who led him on a tour of the Islamic facility.

Mike Gendron of Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries of Plano, Texas notes that harmony with Muslims is consistent with Roman Catholic doctrine.

“The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 841, reads, ‘The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims … together with us they adore the one, merciful God,’” he told Christian News Network. “This is a blatant rejection of the teachings of Christ, who declared He is the only way to the Father. Those who do not believe Jesus is God will die in their sins.”



Christian or Catholic?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 841, reads, ‘The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims … together with us they adore the one, merciful God,’” he told Christian News Network. “This is a blatant rejection of the teachings of Christ, who declared He is the only way to the Father. Those who do not believe Jesus is God will die in their sins.”


Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6


The Vine and the Branches

1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunesa so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.


5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 15:1-8


To the seven churches in the province of Asia:


Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spiritsa before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.


To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.


7“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”b

and “every eye will see him,

even those who pierced him”;

and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”c

So shall it be! Amen.

8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Rev 1:4-8


For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:2


11For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

15These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Titus 2:11-15