Pope set to replace concept of limbo

[Keith]

Pope set to replace concept of limbo

LIMBO, the resting place for the souls of unbaptised children, is being written out of Catholic tradition.

The concept, which developed during the Middle Ages, was never official doctrine and now Pope Benedict XVI will abolish it.

According to sources reported in London's The Times, the Vatican's International Theological Commission will recommend on Friday that it be replaced by a more compassionate doctrine that children who die do so "in the hope of eternal salvation".

The Pope is expected to agree because, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he presided over the first sessions of the commission, which had been asked to examine the matter by the late pope John Paul II.

And as long ago as 1984, the then cardinal told Catholic author Vittorio Messori that limbo had "never been a definitive truth of the faith".

"Personally, I would let it drop, since it has always been only a theological hypothesis," he said.

Australian Catholic University professor Neil Ormerod called the move a piece of "theological housekeeping".

"A lot of Catholics, especially those of an older generation, would have grown up with the notion of limbo in their catechism teaching," Professor Ormerod said. 'But it was never an official teaching of the church. It was a theological position."

The old catechism, adopted under the papacy of Pius V from 1903 to 1914, defined limbo as a place where the dead "do not have the joy of God but neither do they suffer ... they do not deserve Paradise, but neither do they deserve Hell or Purgatory".

It takes its name from the Latin word limbus, meaning hem, edge or boundary.

Professor Ormerod said that apart from providing an answer to the problem of the fate of souls of unbaptised babies, it also encompassed the "noble pagan" - the good person who had never been baptised or heard of Jesus. While such people did not deserve damnation, neither could they be saved.

"It was a resting place that was not heaven, but neither were they were condemned to hell," he said. "It was called a place of natural happiness."

While the idea was popular in Catholicism for centuries, there was a shift in attitude during the Second Vatican Council in the mid-1960s.

"It was determined people could be saved even if they were not Christian, as long as they observed the dictates of their consciences," Professor Ormerod said. Limbo was excluded from the new version of the catechism, published in 1994.

[Arthur Durnan]

Replace "limbo"? I have seen many non-sequitors in my life, baby ones, middle-sized ones and great big ones, but they all pale & stand aside in awe at this papal "limbo" confession. The far better option would be for the universal Church of Jesus Christ composed of twice-born individuals from all the ages to immediately & completely replace the entire papacy itself, which as any student of Holy Writ surely knows and understands, is totally foreign to the Scriptures of Truth....including R.C. versions themselves! Why revel in the minuitiae?

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

[Leonard]

I suppose the Pope could eliminate the concept of limbo once and for all by speaking on the issue 'ex cathedra.' But that has only been done less than half a dozen times in all history, so it seems unlikely the 'Pope' will do so.

This is something the theologians will take care of, and the Pope will only be there to give them an "Attaboy!"

[Guest jvande5344]

Pope set to replace concept of limbo

LIMBO, the resting place for the souls of unbaptised children, is being written out of Catholic tradition.

The concept, which developed during the Middle Ages, was never official doctrine and now Pope Benedict XVI will abolish it.

According to sources reported in London's The Times, the Vatican's International Theological Commission will recommend on Friday that it be replaced by a more compassionate doctrine that children who die do so "in the hope of eternal salvation".

The Pope is expected to agree because, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he presided over the first sessions of the commission, which had been asked to examine the matter by the late pope John Paul II.

And as long ago as 1984, the then cardinal told Catholic author Vittorio Messori that limbo had "never been a definitive truth of the faith".

"Personally, I would let it drop, since it has always been only a theological hypothesis," he said.

Australian Catholic University professor Neil Ormerod called the move a piece of "theological housekeeping".

"A lot of Catholics, especially those of an older generation, would have grown up with the notion of limbo in their catechism teaching," Professor Ormerod said. 'But it was never an official teaching of the church. It was a theological position."

The old catechism, adopted under the papacy of Pius V from 1903 to 1914, defined limbo as a place where the dead "do not have the joy of God but neither do they suffer ... they do not deserve Paradise, but neither do they deserve Hell or Purgatory".

It takes its name from the Latin word limbus, meaning hem, edge or boundary.

Professor Ormerod said that apart from providing an answer to the problem of the fate of souls of unbaptised babies, it also encompassed the "noble pagan" - the good person who had never been baptised or heard of Jesus. While such people did not deserve damnation, neither could they be saved.

"It was a resting place that was not heaven, but neither were they were condemned to hell," he said. "It was called a place of natural happiness."

While the idea was popular in Catholicism for centuries, there was a shift in attitude during the Second Vatican Council in the mid-1960s.

"It was determined people could be saved even if they were not Christian, as long as they observed the dictates of their consciences," Professor Ormerod said. Limbo was excluded from the new version of the catechism, published in 1994.

[Guest jvande5344]

I suppose the Pope could eliminate the concept of limbo once and for all by speaking on the issue 'ex cathedra.' But that has only been done less than half a dozen times in all history, so it seems unlikely the 'Pope' will do so.

This is something the theologians will take care of, and the Pope will only be there to give them an "Attaboy!"

The Pope and Catholic church are making a big todo about nothing. When one dies he either goes to heaven or hell based on his acceptance of Jesus death burial and resurrection. There is no limbo in the first place. They should be more concerned about changing their doctrine of works salavation to faith salvation

[Leonard]

They should be more concerned about changing their doctrine of works salavation to faith salvation

You don't listen to Catholics much, do you?