Better to be atheist than hypocritical Catholic – Pope

Better to be atheist than hypocritical Catholic – Pope

Pope Francis delivered another criticism of some members of his own Church on Thursday , suggesting it is better to be an atheist than one of “ many” Catholics who he said lead a hypocritical double life .
In improvised comments in the sermon of his private morning Mass in his residence, he said , “ It is a scandal to say one thing and do another. That is a double life. ”
“ There are those who say ‘ I am very Catholic, I always go to Mass , I belong to this and that association ’ , ” the head of the 1 . 2 billion - member Roman Catholic Church said , according to a Vatican Radio transcript .
He said that some of these people should also say “‘my life is not Christian , I don ’ t pay my employees proper salaries , I exploit people , I do dirty business , I launder money, ( I lead) a double life ’ . ”
“ There are many Catholics who are like this and they cause scandal, ” he said .
“ How many times have we all heard people say ‘ if that person is a Catholic , it is better to be an atheist ’ . ”
Since his election in 2013 , Francis has often told Catholics , both priests and lay people, to practice what their religion preaches .
In his often impromptu sermons , he has condemned sexual abuse of children by priests as being tantamount to a “ Satanic Mass ” , said Catholics in the mafia excommunicate themselves and told his own cardinals to not act as if they were “ princes” .
Less than two months after his election, he said Christians should see atheists as good people if they do good .