When Benedict and the Catholic Church Changed Course
We've all heard it. Perhaps there are readers who have said it, "The faith never changes." Pope Benedict was considered the perfect Pope by the conservative branch of Catholics. He brought back the Latin Mass. He also changed the Church's teaching on who gets to heaven and who not. Because he was a hero to conservatives he could get away with changing the church's teaching. Pope Francis would be kicked around for doing what Benedict did.
The change involved Limbo. Limbo is that when an unbaptized infant dies, that infant goes to hell. It was not part of Catholic theology until Augustine. Augustine decided infants were sinful when born and only by baptism could the curse be lifted and heaven available. From the time of Augustine until 2006 this was Catholic theology.
Pope Benedict moved Limbo from church doctrine to a lower ranking of concern. It became a hypothesis or theory. The faithful could decide for themselves whether to believe it or not. When Benedict changed church doctrine, one would think conservatives who say repeatedly, "The church never changes," would be up in arms.
But Benedict was a member of the club. We don't criticism another member of church's political elite. So no one said much of anything. Today, Limbo remains off the list of theological rules followed by the Catholic Church. It's quite clear that if Pope Francis had done such a thing conservatives would be saying he is changing the rock solid values of the church. After all, the Bible itself says baptism is necessary to wash away sin. No baptism, sin remains.
After Benedict reversed Limbo, the Vatican bureaucracy went to great lengths, as it always does when it changes its mind, to say the church was not wrong. Instead it happened because, to paraphrase, the same kind of language used to wiggle out of the Gallello mistake, "Mistakes were made somewhere other than at the office of the Pope."
When people say, "The faith never changes," it's time for an eye roll.
Too many bad conclusions based on somewhat logical but flawed thinking.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the Catholic Church does not declare who is in Hell except for the Devil and the fallen angels. They are spirits. So, no particular humans or their spirits are known to exist in Hell.
We have some data which strongly suggests there are souls in Hell. The Bible has stories of Hell and the condition of the souls there. A vision of Hell was granted to the three Fatima children a little over 100 years ago in Portugal. I'm sure there are others.
Unborn babies who are murdered by abortion, are stillbirth, are killed in car wrecks, etc. are not baptized. Their spiritual state is in limbo and most probably, in Limbo. Most of what I consider sound theological thinking, assumes a merciful, loving God would have them in Heaven.
If you want to make enemies of Benedict and Francis, be my guest. I think they were different in many ways, including their outlook on the Latin Mass.
First off, limbo has never been declared a dogma by the Magisterium, and is subject to change, among other "traditions", including other adiaphora, (things neither commanded or forbidden.
Delete2nd, As a result of the only unpardonable sin, (deny the Holy Spirit) the aborted, stillborn, infants, etc., up to the age of self conscience, those noted have not the ability to reject the HS. Thankfully, the Grace of God is applied to those unable to reject. Thus, limbo was a fabrication to explain the unexplainable at the time, although they had the information to answer the question correctly, but by that time philosophy was the tool used instead of Biblical study, which led to several other errors still practiced.
Re. Baptism; Baptism does dispense forgiveness through the water and spoken word, (the visible Gospel) in the stead of the unbaptized. However, Baptism in special circumstance is unnecessary, as in the malefactor on the cross, when he asked The Christ to remember him in his kingdom, with the reply; :"Today thou shalt be with me in paradise". (He wasn't baptized). The RCC calls this "Baptism by intention". (The Holy Spirit at work,) There is the old saying; "Repentance takes only as long as it takes from the time one jumps, and the rope gets tight.
By the way, Baptism does not erase original sin up to the point of Baptism. only forgiveness. The so called "stain of sin" is simply more original sin. There was quite a controversy on this, (called the baptismal controversy), as evidenced by Constantine refusing baptism until the hour of his death. Thankfully, forgiveness is forgiveness, no matter when received.