ARTICLE

Pope Rebuked For Claiming The Heart Is Inherently Good

News Image By PNW Staff May 28, 2024
Share this article:

Pope Francis is under fire including several accusations of heresy on social media after after claiming that human beings are "fundamentally good" in a recent interview with 60 Minutes host Norah O' Donnell. "We are all fundamentally good," he said. "Yes, there are some rogues and sinners, but the heart itself is good."

Evangelical leaders have pointed out that the pontiff's statements are contrary to the teaching of original sin, one of Christianity's basic doctrines. "If this is true, we don't need a Savior to die on the Cross," wrote Eric Metaxas, best-selling author and national radio host.

"This is contrary to basic Christian theology," radio host Erick Erickson wrote. "We are all sinners. There aren't just 'some sinners.'"


Alluding to the pope's statements in light of the 24/7 news cycle, Southern Baptist Convention President Bart Barber posted on X: "The remainder of the content of this news program and all the other programming on your TV suggests otherwise. And certainly Jesus taught to the contrary."

Allie Beth Stuckey, conservative Christian author and podcast host, pointed out that the Bible refutes Pope Francis' claims that humanity is inherently good. She quoted Mark 10:18--"No one is good except God alone"--and Jeremiah 17:9--"The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick"--among other verses. "This is core to Christianity," Stuckey wrote. "Because if everyone is basically good, the Gospel is not good news. If the Gospel is not good news, what's the point?"


One person pointed out that while Catholics and Protestants disagree on many fine points of theology, the one thing we have always held in common is the belief in the pervasiveness of sin. All confessing orthodox Christians should be able to affirm two basic truths: First, sin is universal. No one is worthy. None of us are good. “For there is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10). 

Second, denying this first point makes you nothing less than a liar about yourself and God. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us… If we claim we have not sinned, we make God out to be a liar.” (1 John 1:8,10)

Some X users also noted that Pope Francis' statement echoed Pelagianism, a heresy spread by 5th century monk Pelagius and his followers. They denied original sin and taught and taught the essential goodness of humanity before they were excommunicated from the Catholic church.




Other News

July 15, 2025Canadian Police Warn: Embracing Traditional Values Could Make You An Extremist

In yet another disturbing escalation of state‑sponsored madness, a spokeswoman for Canada's national police force, the RCMP, has warned th...

July 15, 2025The Coming Pacific War? China, Taiwan, And The West Prepare For Conflict

The war for Taiwan hasn't begun-but the world is already training for it. This week, dramatic footage emerged from China's southeastern co...

July 15, 2025Welcome To Spain, Where Pastors Face Jail For Offering Biblical Counselling

In a staggering act of spiritual betrayal and moral collapse, Spain’s lower house has voted 311–33 in favor of a bill that would criminali...

July 15, 2025Europe's Quiet War On Christians: The Violence No One Wants To Talk About

Across Europe, Christian believers are facing a surge of hatred that's rarely covered in headlines, barely whispered about in press rooms,...

July 10, 2025We're One Deepfake Away From A Digital Point Of No Return

Last month several foreign officials received Signal messages from what appeared to be U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. These weren't ...

July 10, 2025Europe On Edge: Five Ways The EU Is Preparing For Potential War With Russia

Perhaps most alarmingly-and most revealing-is the psychological transformation taking place in many European societies. Defense ministers ...

July 10, 2025Men Can't Breastfeed - But That Hasn't Stopped Trans Activists From Trying

One of the most disturbing developments in recent years is the growing push to normalize "chestfeeding," a term and practice promoted by t...

Get Breaking News