POPE Francis has suggested that it would be better to be an atheist than a Catholic who leads a "double life".
In comments made during the sermon at morning Mass at his residence Casa Santa Marta, the Pope 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'; but 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'.
"How many times have we heard – all of us, around the neighbourhood and elsewhere – 'but to be a Catholic like that, it's better to be an atheist.'"
The Pontiff added: "And this happens every day, it's enough to see the news on TV, or to read the papers. In the papers there are so many scandals, and there is also the great publicity of the scandals. And with the scandals there is destruction."
The head of the Catholic Church urged people to convert, adding that Jesus's response to people living a double life would be: "'Yes, I remember. The offerings, I remember them: All dirty. All stolen from the poor. I don't know you.' That will be Jesus's response to these scandalous people who live a double life.
"It would be good for all of us to consider....if there is something saying, 'Sure, this is not going well, I will convert, but not today: tomorrow.' Let's think about that."
