Limbo and the Roman Catholic Chruch

[Gregory Matthews]

In its traditional construct, Limbo is thought to be the place where infants (and in a later version, some adults) spend eterenity without God, if they die before they are baptized.

Take the following poll to see how you understand the Roman Catholic position.

[Gerr]

So what's the correct answer?

Gerry

[Woody]

OK. How is it that we can have one vote for each option. Are we brilliant or just plain stupid? Which is it?

PS. Later ... I see now that we could vote more than one ... but I just voted for one.

[Gregory Matthews]

You can vote for any of the listed items. You can vote for any number of the listed items--1 - 5.

There is at least one correct answer. There may be more than one correct answer, or ther may not be more than one.

I will give you the correct answer(s) when I decide that this has gone long enough.

[Woody]

I think I may have not spoken well. I was trying to say it was curious that each statement had one vote when I knew that I had only voted for one. But I understand what you have said.

[Gregory Matthews]

Well, as people seemed to have stopped responding to my questions, I will post the answers:

On April 20, 2007, teh International lTheological lCommission published THE HOPE OF SALVATION FOR INFANTS WHO DIE WITHOUT BEING BAPTIZED. In this 41 page document the following statement was made: THe traditional concept of Limbo reflects "an unduly restricive view of salvation." This document was published with the permission of Pope Benedict XVI.

The teaching of the Catholic church as expressed in the CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH is: "As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God,. . ."

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger stated in 1984, when he was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: "Limbo was never a defined truth of faith. Personally . . . I would abandon it since it was only a theological hypothesis."

NOTE: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is presently known as Pope Benedict XVI.

According to Father Norman Perry, OFM, of the ASK column, the concept of Limbo arose from the statement of Christ in John 3:3.

"The sacrament of Baptism. . . does not guarantee that someone will necesarily be saved. Likewise, not haveing received it does not mean that a person cannot be saved. That is up to God alone." SST. ANTHONY MESSENGER, "God's Mercy Is Great," September 2007, Fr. Pat McCloskey, page 52.

I trust that this will provide you with the answers to the questions that I posed in the poll.

[Gerr]

Some neat backpedalling! I wonder if he is now speaking ex cathedra?

Gerry