Just in from the Vatican, “Pope revises ‘limbo’ for babies”.
I have addressed this subject some time ago but in my new “aggressive secularism” mode, I have to comment a little bit more.
To repeat a little, I was taught from the beginning that if a baby dies on its way to baptism it goes to hell. Later they modified this stance and said the baby goes to Purgatory or limbo; neither here nor there.
Remember in the time of Luther, the Catholic Church made a lot of money selling indulgences and getting people out of purgatory for $5.00.
The obvious question is “HOW IN THE HELL DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH?” How can a priest stand in front of his congregation and in all seriousness tell them that HE knows what the hell happens to babies that do not get baptized.
This non-biblical fact was so ingrained into us Catholics that my parents threatened to have my children baptized in secret if we did not; we relented and said that if it means so much to my parents what harm will it do. Imagine, grown rationale people believing in such absurdities.
Now the Pope puts the matter to rest by declaring the there was reason to hope that babies who die without baptism go to heaven.
The actual document said that there were “serious theological and liturgical grounds for hope that unbaptized infants who die will be saved and brought into eternal happiness”. The document stressed “these are reasons for prayerful hope, rather than grounds for sure knowledge”.
WOW. I am amazed that the Church at least admitted that there may be a chance that this all is a bunch of hooey! That is actually historical for the Church; the Pope is infallible you know.
These are educated, bright people. Philosophers and theologians with doctorate degrees and they issue “findings” out of the International Theological Commission after long study and investigation?
This is tantamount of gathering scholars to debate how many angels can fit on the end of a pin.
I hope the absurdity of this whole issue by people who are dressed in absurd vestments is discussed in circles made up of people with some sense of what can be addressed in a serious manner and what can only be challenged as the mutterings of deranged individuals.
I should not get so exited…
I have addressed this subject some time ago but in my new “aggressive secularism” mode, I have to comment a little bit more.
To repeat a little, I was taught from the beginning that if a baby dies on its way to baptism it goes to hell. Later they modified this stance and said the baby goes to Purgatory or limbo; neither here nor there.
Remember in the time of Luther, the Catholic Church made a lot of money selling indulgences and getting people out of purgatory for $5.00.
The obvious question is “HOW IN THE HELL DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH?” How can a priest stand in front of his congregation and in all seriousness tell them that HE knows what the hell happens to babies that do not get baptized.
This non-biblical fact was so ingrained into us Catholics that my parents threatened to have my children baptized in secret if we did not; we relented and said that if it means so much to my parents what harm will it do. Imagine, grown rationale people believing in such absurdities.
Now the Pope puts the matter to rest by declaring the there was reason to hope that babies who die without baptism go to heaven.
The actual document said that there were “serious theological and liturgical grounds for hope that unbaptized infants who die will be saved and brought into eternal happiness”. The document stressed “these are reasons for prayerful hope, rather than grounds for sure knowledge”.
WOW. I am amazed that the Church at least admitted that there may be a chance that this all is a bunch of hooey! That is actually historical for the Church; the Pope is infallible you know.
These are educated, bright people. Philosophers and theologians with doctorate degrees and they issue “findings” out of the International Theological Commission after long study and investigation?
This is tantamount of gathering scholars to debate how many angels can fit on the end of a pin.
I hope the absurdity of this whole issue by people who are dressed in absurd vestments is discussed in circles made up of people with some sense of what can be addressed in a serious manner and what can only be challenged as the mutterings of deranged individuals.
I should not get so exited…
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