Sunday, April 22, 2007
The 800-year-old concept of limbo, in which unbaptised babies who die are said to be stuck between Heaven and Hell, has been abolished by the Pope.
Benedict XVI said there were 'serious grounds' to believe that children who died without being baptised could go to heaven after all.
His decision followed a three-year study by a theological commission.
The problem has been the Catholic belief that baptism is the only way to remove the stain of original sin that they think all children are born with.
In the fifth century, St Augustine said babies who died without being baptised went to Hell.
In the 13th century, theologians came up with the concept of limbo as a place where dead babies were denied the vision of God but did not suffer.
The latest report said: 'There is greater theological awareness today that God is merciful and wants all human beings to be saved.
'Grace has priority over sin and the exclusion of innocent babies from Heaven does not seem to reflect Christ's special love for the little ones.'
The report added that baptism was the only way to remove original sin and urged all parents to baptise their babies.
British priest Father Paul McPartlan, who helped compile the report, added: 'We cannot say we know with certainty what will happen to unbaptised children. But we have good grounds to hope that God in his mercy and love looks after these children, and brings them to salvation.'
What a load of old shite!!!
