Philippine Senator-"Theologian": There is no hell

[CivisRomanusSum]

MANILA, Philippines - Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago is also adept in Bible teachings that she is willing to debate with a priest who said she should be consigned to the “fires of hell” over her actions in the impeachment court.

In a statement, Santiago told Fr. Catalino Arevalo that under “[the Second Vatican Council], there is no hell; but even if there is, there is nobody there.”

“Under Vatican 2, the story of Genesis is no longer a historical fact but a myth. The Bible should not be read literally, but should be read in its Aramaic context. Unfortunately, some of the religious refuse to accept the changes started by Vatican 2,” she said.

She added that in theology, hell is not a geographical place but is “a metaphor for distance from God.” …

Santiago, who also holds a masters in theology from the Maryhill School of Theology, said the Catholic Church does not have monopoly over the truth.

“Under Vatican 2, priests and nuns should be treated like everyone else. They are not special people just because they have joined a religious community. It does not make them any more smarter or holier than you and me,” she said.

From: abs-cbnnews.com/nation/03/05/12/miriam-debates-priest-there-no-hell

Filipino Catholics would be familiar with this. To those who are not, Miriam Defensor-Santiago is a senator known for being outspoken, angry, and even rude. I personally believe that she’s an arrogant loudmouth. Many times I’ve disagreed with her political opinions, like her support for the RH bill for example (the RH bill in the Philippines is currently being debated on; it mandates the funding and distribution of artificial contraceptives, as well as “age-appropriate” sex education).

But what really ticked me off is this. Not only is she a traitor to the Church for publicly espousing the very bill that the Church is fighting hard against, now she flaunting her theology degrees to make heretical declarations (e.g. hell does not exist, the Church does not have the monopoly of the truth, artificial contraceptives are not sinful, etc.). This is another example of an absolutely terrible misreading of Vatican II. Who is she to interpret Vatican II on her own, when she could not even provide the exact documents and passages that support her lies? Who is she to defy the Magisterium of the Church? A theology degree or two gives no justification to revamp what the Church has consistently taught for centuries!

Please pray for our madam Senator, that she may be brought back to the light of Catholic Orthodoxy and fight for the Truth, not the lies of her secular humanist agenda masquerading as authentic Catholicism.

Here’s the article referenced above, about the priest “judging” her: newsinfo.inquirer.net/155525/priest-says-sen-santiago-deserves-the-%E2%80%98fires-of-hell%E2%80%99

I think the problem is that people could not tell the difference between judging and admonishing. The priest was not judging or condemning the senator to hell; he was merely regurgitating Church teaching and admonishing what he believes to be unjust conduct. As a priest, it is his duty to safeguard the holiness of the flock and make the proper corrections when he sees it fit, but the arrogant senator only sees this as judging and fights back by displaying her theology degrees and her being bible-savvy, even going so far as to proudly announce that she can debate with this minister of God. Theologian or not, the senator is a heretic! May God bless this priest, and may God bring the senator back into the fold!

 

[lizaanne]

Well, I suspect she will have a very rude awakening on her final day if she continues to speak against the Truth and Christ’s Church.

~Liza

 

[saveusfromhell]

i Heard an Irish theolgian, on the main radio station, saying that no serious theologian believes in hell. hard to understand what bible they take this from, it must have most of the pages taken out

 

[Jerusha]

What if the souls of those who die and go to a place other than hell have eternal life, but those destined for hell do not have eternal life-- that is “hell” is nothingness? Quite suitable for true atheists.

Not saying I believe this, since my faith is rather pragmatic, and it makes no difference to how I practice.

 

[ringil]

A priest once told me that, as Catholics, we must believe there is a Hell. We are not, however, required to believe that anyone has gone there.

 

[lizaanne]

A priest once told me that, as Catholics, we must believe there is a Hell. We are not, however, required to believe that anyone has gone there.

Sooo – when we say the Credo, and that Christ descended to hell, that is all a lie?

~Liza

 

[Tigg]

Sooo – when we say the Credo, and that Christ descended to hell, that is all a lie?

~Liza

That word “hell” is not the place of eternal damnation, but the temporary abode of the just who were prevented from entering heaven until the act of Redemption was completed.

 

[ringil]

Sooo – when we say the Credo, and that Christ descended to hell, that is all a lie?

~Liza

Christ decended to minister to the Holy Men and Women awaiting Salvation. They were not in Hell- the state of eternal damnation- Hell is absolute and permanent- this is Doctrine. It is Doctine that Demons are in Hell. Notice the Nicene Creed does not use the word “Hell”. Some theologians call this place the “bosom” of Abraham mentioned in Scripture.

Nevertheless, my previous statement is factually correct. I am not saying whether I, personally believe that anyone is in Hell. I am saying that we are not required to believe that anyone has been damned, though we are certainly free to believe this.

 

[ringil]

That word “hell” is not the place of eternal damnation, but the temporary abode of the just who were prevented from entering heaven until the act of Redemption was completed.

Yes, this is pretty basic theology.

 

[Brendan]

A priest once told me that, as Catholics, we must believe there is a Hell. We are not, however, required to believe that anyone has gone there.

And, conversely, we know that there is a Heaven, but we are not required to believe that anyone other than the Canonized Saints and newly Baptized infants go there

 

[ringil]

And, conversely, we know that there is a Heaven, but we are not required to believe that anyone other than the Canonized Saints and newly Baptized infants go there

Correct-O. At least we DO say that some have gone there, though.