Why did the catholic church lie?

Question

Why during all these years , did the catholic church teach their followers that there was a limbo? Now they say that after thorough investigation, they have come to the conclusion that there is no limbo. If they do that now, don't you think they are gonna do it again in the future with other beliefs that they have worked so hard to teach other catholics?

(This is part of an article.)*New hope exists in the uncertainty over the fate of unbaptized babies - for Catholics, at least.
The International Theological Commission released a report yesterday that eased speculation about limbo, the ethereal waiting room where Catholics believed the souls of infants who died without baptism would go until the second coming of Jesus.

The 41-page document, authorized by Pope Benedict XVI, expresses optimism that unbaptized children will someday reach heaven, according to the Catholic News Service.

I think they make people believe what they wanna believe, not what the bible says.

Oh and it gets even better. The reason they encouraged the idea was because it would make people wanna baptize their kids, so the catholic church would make more money. *Catholic conservatives criticized any effort to relegate limbo to oblivion. Removing the concept from church teaching would lessen the importance of baptism and discourage parents from christening their infants."

Answer 1

They base their faith and believes in tradition. We all know that their beliefs has a lot of false beliefs. I will not be surprise that they will admit that Mary is just human not a god.

Answer 2

Limbo was a popular idea that grew up within the Church as a possible explanation for the apparent conflict between the biblical truth that one cannot enter the kingdom without baptism, and the biblical truth that God is just and merciful, and therefore surely would not send innocent children to hell because of lack of baptism. Limbo however was never an official teaching of the Catholic Church, which is precisely why the Pope has discouraged, though not forbidden, the idea. Doctrinal beliefs cannot be changed. The Church does not have the authority to change a doctrinal belief, since the Catholic Church received its doctrinal beliefs directly from God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, and is the sole appointed steward of Christian truth.
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Answer 3

The Catholic Church has never claimed to have all the answers. There are many mysteries in Christianity.

One of these mysteries lies in the statement of Jesus Christ, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved." (Mark 16:15-16)

For centuries, people have wondered about children who died before they were baptized. It may be true that unbaptized babies go to heaven but we cannot be sure because the Bible does not reveal this answer to us.

Limbo was suggested as the place where unbaptized babies went when they died. This idea was never official Church doctrine.

The Church has pondered the suggestion of Limbo for a few hundred years and has decided that it does not fall into the entire picture of God's loving plan of salvation as depicted in the Bible.

The Church now says that it is not sure what happens to unbaptized babies when they die but she entrusts them to the mercy of God.

I would think people would appreciate that the Church does not declare unbiblical things as doctrine without very serious thought and prayer.

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

I love the answers from Catholic PR merchants and suave apologists who say "the Catholic Church has never claimed to have all the answers", or something like "Limbo was never church doctrine".

Well, children and Catholics were taught to fear Limbo for unborn babies for hundreds of years along with the Catholic Churches other fine arsenal of "weapons of mass fear" including original sin, marrying a non-Catholic and divorce but not re-marrying.

So lets get real and call it how it is. The Vatican has decided to change the game as it has always done. Lets stop the Pr merchants getting away with always spinning the lines of the Vatican to say "oh we never really meant it".

Tell that to the people you sold Limbo to for hundreds of years...
See:
http://one-faith-of-god.org/final_testament/end_of_darkness/evil/evil_0200.htm

Answer 5

Limbo was never a Church doctrine. It wasn't a formal teaching of the Church. It was more like a theory left up to the individual to believe as they saw fit. Most people have disregaurded this belief so the Pope decided to do away with it.

God bless,
Stanbo

Answer 6

There are not many mysteries in Christianity, as imacatholic2 would try to make you believe. Catholics adopted the Egyptian trinity God and called it Jesus and try to merge the 3 in 1 concept into Jesus teachings. Every time a Church doctrine does not match the bible Catholic will pull out the word “mysteries” so they don’t have to explain why it does not fit the bible.

There is only One God the Father who deserves worship:

Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.

Jehovah is the Only True God to be worshipped:

John 17:3 This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.

Answer 7

The Church never officially taught Limbo. It was a theological theory that has enjoyed greater and lesser popularity over the centuries. The Church allowed people to believe it and still remain Catholic, but never required it for orthodoxy; however, it seems as though it is pretty much dead now. Please understand, The Church did not lie, she simply didn't see the need to rule on this subject until now.

Edit: I though nerds were supposed to be intelligent. Hey Nerd, stop believing what your favorite websites spoon feed you and do some research. We are THE Church, founded by Christ 2,000 years ago. When was your Church founded? I bet if you ask the pastor he won't say "Two-thousand years ago by Christ." If he does he is either insane or a liar.

Answer 8

Limbo was never a doctrine of the Church. Please read the Vatican press release. The Vatican pronouncement is simply a waiver. It stops short of saying exactly what happens to unbaptized babies.

Baptism is still required for babies because of the Biblical injunction in Mark 16,16. "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned."

Answer 9

Limbo as far as the unborn and infants, right? Children ARE of the reallm of heaven and Jesus said this when he spoke of children being the wiser above adults. There are but "two" realms and the INNOCENT are not guilty of sin (bad behavior).

Answer 10

People need to realize that you can't muzzle the truth!

It will always show up, not always when we want it to, but it will surface eventually.

They're not saying anything different than a majority of true christians knew anyway.

What's next??? The assumption of Mary into heaven? Maybe mortal and venial sin! Heck, why do they stop with Mary, wouldn't her mother, Anne, I think it is, have to be sin free for their religion to work? There is no end to it!

Answer 11

I don't think they purposely "lied" maybe just "reinvestigated". Many churches have to rethink some of their beliefs, just as history revises itself as new facts come in, so does religion (although I guess fact may be a incorrect phrase......). The Mormons did the same thing when the revised the whole story about the "mark of Cain"..........