S
Steve_O_Brien
Guest
There is talk in the Catholic media and on these forums about the alleged ability of the Catholic Church to “drop” or “scrap” the concept of limbo. As a Catholic, I’m upset by this talk for this reason: even though limbo is not a Catholic dogma, it’s a deduction that’s necessary for the defense of truths that are Catholic dogmas, especially the dogma of original sin–the sin that makes it impossible for unbaptized infants to go to heaven (CCC 403 and 1250).
If the Church were to “drop” limbo and original sin, then she could drop *any *concept, dogma, or teaching. Logic demands this conclusion. This is why the Church will not, and cannot, “abolish” limbo. The one true Church cannot contradict herself in her official teachings, and the gates of hell will not prevail against her (Mt. 16:18).
Still, I’m interested in seeing how confused some of my Catholic brothers and sisters are. By my poll, which should be answered only by Catholics who believe that the Church should “drop” limbo, I’m trying to determine the percentages of Catholics who are willling to see the Church self-destruct by “dropping” other teachings.
I suspect that some of those Catholics advocating that limbo be “scrapped” would like to see Catholicism turned into what Pope St. Pius X, condemning the heresy of Modernism in 1907, called a “broad and liberal Protestantism” (DS 3465=D2065).
We must respect and love our brothers and sisters in broad and liberal Protestantism, and we must pray and work in the ecumenical movement for their return to full communion with the Catholic Church. We must not, however, allow ourselves to become broad and liberal Protestants.
Keep and spread the Faith.
If the Church were to “drop” limbo and original sin, then she could drop *any *concept, dogma, or teaching. Logic demands this conclusion. This is why the Church will not, and cannot, “abolish” limbo. The one true Church cannot contradict herself in her official teachings, and the gates of hell will not prevail against her (Mt. 16:18).
Still, I’m interested in seeing how confused some of my Catholic brothers and sisters are. By my poll, which should be answered only by Catholics who believe that the Church should “drop” limbo, I’m trying to determine the percentages of Catholics who are willling to see the Church self-destruct by “dropping” other teachings.
I suspect that some of those Catholics advocating that limbo be “scrapped” would like to see Catholicism turned into what Pope St. Pius X, condemning the heresy of Modernism in 1907, called a “broad and liberal Protestantism” (DS 3465=D2065).
We must respect and love our brothers and sisters in broad and liberal Protestantism, and we must pray and work in the ecumenical movement for their return to full communion with the Catholic Church. We must not, however, allow ourselves to become broad and liberal Protestants.
Keep and spread the Faith.