September 18, 2022 from LifeSite News by Michael Haynes
Bishop Athanasius Schneider has hit back at the ecumenical Congress Pope Francis recently attended, saying that Catholicism is “the only one true religion which God commanded to all people to believe.”
Speaking to EWTN’s Alexey Gotovskiy outside the Archdiocese of Astana’s Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the auxiliary bishop awaited the arrival of Pope Francis to a meeting with Kazakhstan’s Catholic clergy.
We’re not one of the many religions; we’re the only one true religion which God commanded to all people to believe,” Bishop Schneider stated. “There is no other way to salvation.”
He made his clear remarks in light of the ongoing ecumenical meeting – the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions – which Pope Francis was in Kazakhstan to attend.
The previous day Pope Francis had delivered an opening address at the Congress in which he decried conversion efforts, and told the various representatives that their “religions” remind them all that they are “journeying towards the same heavenly goal.” Assembled were numerous religious and political leaders, including, among many other Muslim leaders, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb; Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel Yitzhak Yosef; as well as Buddhist, Shintoist, and Taoist leaders, as well as representatives from the U.N.
Pope Francis employed numerous quotes from a local Mulism philosopher to make his argument, but did not reference Jesus Christ or Sacred Scripture during his speech.
PAT SAYS
I do not agree with Bishop Schneider.
To me, spirituality / God, is like a multifaceted diamond.
Each facet reflects God.
Catholicism is one facet.
There are hundreds of other facets.
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 