(CNN) -– American atheists welcomed Pope Francis’ comments that God redeems nonbelievers, saying that the new pontiff's historic outreach is helping to topple longstanding barriers.

 

“The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone,” the pope told worshipers at morning Mass on Wednesday. “‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone!”

 

Francis continued, “We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there.”

 

Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association, said that although he has been skeptical of Francis' outreach to the nonreligious, he welcomed Wednesday’s comments.

 

“I gather from this statement that his view of the world's religious and philosophical diversity is expanding,” Speckhardt said. “While humanists have been saying for years that one can be good without a god, hearing this from the leader of the Catholic Church is quite heartening."

 

He continued, “If other religious leaders join him, it could do much to reduce the automatic distrust and discrimination that atheists, humanists, and other nontheists so regularly face. “

 

Francis’ comments received a great deal of attention on social media, with a number of people asking whether the Catholic leader believes that atheists and agnostics go to heaven, too.

 

On Thursday, the Vatican issued an “explanatory note on the meaning to ‘salvation.'"

 

The Rev. Thomas Rosica, a Vatican spokesman, said that people who aware of the Catholic church “cannot be saved” if they “refuse to enter her or remain in her.”

 

At the same time, Rosica writes, “every man or woman, whatever their situation, can be saved. Even non-Christians can respond to this saving action of the Spirit. No person is excluded from salvation simply because of so-called original sin.”

 

Rosica also said that Francis had “no intention of provoking a theological debate on the nature of salvation,” during his homily on Wednesday.

 

Although the pope's comments about salvation surprised some, bishops and experts in Catholicism say Francis was expressing a core tenant of the faith.

 

"Francis was clear that whatever graces are offered to atheists (such that they may be saved) are from Christ," the Rev. John Zuhlsdorf, a conservative Catholic priest, wrote on his blog.

 

"He was clear that salvation is only through Christ’s Sacrifice. In other words, he is not suggesting – and I think some are taking it this way – that you can be saved, get to heaven, without Christ."

 

Chad Pecknold, an assistant professor of theology at the Catholic University of America, agreed with Zuhlsdorf, pointing out that the pope’s comments came on the Feast of Saint Rita, the Catholic patron saint of impossible things.

 

“The remarks about atheists show that there is even a saint for atheists,” Pecknold said. “Including all of humanity, on this day especially, remarks like that are almost called for.”

 

“To stress that the gospel redeems all people, including atheists, is the teaching of the church,” he added. “This is an objective fact that the church believes.”

 

Greg Epstein, the humanist chaplain at Harvard University, said Francis' comments reflect “the interfaith and inter-community work many of us nontheists are dedicated to.”

 

That said, Epstein hopes that lay Catholics are listening.

 

Heaven for atheists? Pope sparks debate ? CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

Hmmmn...what do you say?

 

I understand there is one path to heaven, and just doing good isn't enough.

Hmmmn...what do you say?

 

I understand there is one path to heaven, and just doing good isn't enough.

 

So, you disagree that Jesus redeemed all of us?

THIS> "bishops and experts in Catholicism say Francis was expressing a core tenant of the faith."

So, you disagree that Jesus redeemed all of us?

No Jesus did redeem us all, but John 14:6: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me." Would seem to clearly say that you must accept Jesus to go to heaven. Jesus may redeem us all, but we must also accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

 

But that is my belief and may not agree with others.

BTW anyone think Alabama Larry is trying to figure out a way to post in this thread...

So, you disagree that Jesus redeemed all of us?

 

He provides redemption for everyone, but not everyone chooses to receive it.

He provides redemption for everyone, but not everyone chooses to receive it.

I agree for the most part. Each soul is given the chance to redeem itself.

 

But I don't care how much of an atheist one is, when they know that they are gone, and they see anything afterwards, they know that they were wrong, and if asked if you accept Jesus, I don't see how anyone could then say no at that point.

I can't say what the pope meant by this, but I find it difficult to believe that he would overturn two millenia of theology in one throw-away statement made at Mass on a Wednesday.

 

Obviously I can't speak for the holy father but it seems to me that his point is that Christ's redemption is available to everyone. It is up to each individual person to decide to accept it.

 

FWIW, once the Catholic Church decides to admit you don't need the sacraments to enter heaven, then Martin Luther's revolution will be complete and there won't be any more Catholic Church.

I agree for the most part. Each soul is given the chance to redeem itself.

 

But I don't care how much of an atheist one is, when they know that they are gone, and they see anything afterwards, they know that they were wrong, and if asked if you accept Jesus, I don't see how anyone could then say no at that point.

 

I had a good friend who was a Methodist minister who pretty much believed this.

I had a good friend who was a Methodist minister who pretty much believed this.

My Methodist Pastor is in my Sunday school class, we had a similar discussion in Sunday School last week. But we didn't get to this exact discussion. This alone could give us enough material for a couple of weeks Sunday School discussions.

No Jesus did redeem us all, but John 14:6: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me." Would seem to clearly say that you must accept Jesus to go to heaven. Jesus may redeem us all, but we must also accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

 

But that is my belief and may not agree with others.

 

I can read that scripture to say that heaven is simply not available without Jesus, but since Jesus is the way, he redeemed us all.

 

 

Also, "a soul redeeming itself" . . .

 

And, there is not 2k years of the the same theology. Some sort of Universalism has always existed - even in Catholicism.

...I find it difficult to believe that he would overturn two millenia of theology in one throw-away statement made at Mass on a Wednesday.

A Friday maybe...but definitely not a Wednesday.

We are given a choice to accept Jesus, either you or you don't is how I believe. The free gift is there for everyone to obtain if they would.

No. If you don't believe in him or believe that he exists then why should you be allowed to go to heaven?

 

I don't know about you all but Jesus is more than welcome in my house anytime!!