Pope and limbo?

Question

The idea that unbaptized babies was accepted and taught by the Catholic church for centuries. Yes there was some debate but it was accepted by most Catholics and taught as the truth. Then one day the pope says we don't think babies actually go to limbo. He just basically did a 180 on church teachings. Because the pope said it, it was accepted. So I have to wonder how far this goes. What if the pope came out tomorrow and said purgatory no longer exists. Would Catholics then start to condemn the idea of purgatory? What if he declared the koran to be inspired of God. Would Catholics then defend it? How far does the acceptance of what the pope says go? Don't tell me things like this would never happen. Many people would have said the same about limbo.

Tina T - I have a job but thank you anyway. I just happen to do most of my work online which gives me time to come here and ask questions.

The Catholics are not answering my question. It is not about limbo so much as it is about accepting whatever the pope says.

yachadhoo - Really great answer. I hope the second option happens. I truly believe there exists a potential for great good in Catholicism. They just need to scrap the tradition and let God move.

Answer 1

Great question!

Catholics MUST accept the interpretation of Bible by their leaders, for they are NOT allowed to interpret it for themselves.

I foresee two possibilities...and am unable to discern, yet, which will happen:

1) One is a great fear that a Pope, one day, will claim to be God...just as Jesus was and is God. (Could you IMAGINE?!)

2) My "hope for the pope", though, is that God will raise up such a man of God who would "infiltrate" to the top of the Catholic Church...and call for ALL Catholics and people to cry out for forgiveness...in sackcloth and ashes...and then "correct" all the evil teaching that has occurred throughout the years by men "who have crept in unaware". And yes, the laity will follow in suit...like the nation of Nineveh in Jonah. And we, as Protestants will have to guard ourselves from getting displeased and angry at the Lord for this...even bitter...

For in that day, the Lord will say unto such...just as He said unto Jonah:
"Do you do well to be angry for the plant?" And he said, "Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die." And the LORD said, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?"


For Roman Catholicism is a "great city"...wherein there are MUCH more than 120,000 persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand!

= = = = = = =

Though, if either of these really happens, I will be excitedly looking up to the clouds...if you know what I mean...watching for the glorious return of our Savior and King!

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Answer 2

Once again, a fundamental misunderstanding of what the Church teaches is in play here.

Limbo was NEVER defined and formally declared "real" by the Church. It was a proposal in response to the pondering about "what happens to the unbaptized," and was considered not just about infants, but ALL people, in all time, who were not able to receive the gift of baptism.

It was always undergirded by the truth that God is merciful. And the recent guidance by the Pope was meant to reinforce that truth in the minds of the faithful. The Church NEVER declared that there is such a place, only that there MIGHT be such a place in the economy of salvation. In the end, the final disposition has ALWAYS been declared to be in the hands of God. Limbo was ONE way of thinking about what MIGHT be.

Please stop holding onto the idea that "the Pope changes doctrine at will." That is false. Doctrine does not change. Discipline might adapt to the times and needs of the faithful, but THAT is a different thing altogether.

Answer 3

The catholic church is a creation of Sinful man! They can say whatever they want about Peter, yada yada, but Nowhere in Scripture are there even Plans for creating Any church much less the catholic (universal church) with O'l Pete at the Helm!!! Man IS Sinful and so everything he touches becomes Tainted including Any Organized Religion / church!!! The "Church" of Scripture is the "Body of Believers", Not an "Organization" or "Buildings!!! Man has No Integrity, only Power Lust and will do whatever Profits them! This "Lust" has permeated the catholic Organization which is why when U travel the World U can see "Variances in Worship" in Different countries, Inside the church!!! These were "Allowed" to satiate the "Natives" so the church gets out of them what it wants!!! I'm 57 , born catholic & seen the church change it's Dogma Many, Many Times over the years under the "Guise" of the "Infallibility" of the Papa & it just isn't True!!! U are Correct, it has happened in the past & will happen again! I'm sure my Grandmother is "rolling in her grave" right now seeing this happening in her church. John

Answer 4

First, Jesus pronounced to Peter and the Apostles what you carry certain in the international would be certain in heaven and what you carry loosed in the international would be loosed in heaven. This assertion by potential of Jesus is the muse for the Authority of the Apostles. Limbo substitute right into a theological build that defined what befell to little ones or sturdy people who weren't baptized in an attempt to describe what befell to their souls and reconcile it to Jesus' very own teachings approximately baptism and salvation. understand that even the Apostle Peter, preeminent between each and all of the apostles, the Apostle who's consistently stated first whilst 2 or greater Apostles are stated interior the comparable sentence, even he stated that a number of Paul's teachings are perplexing to understand. All understanding did not come tot he Apostles or the Church without notice. As new circumstances happen the Church could study adn respond. Our Church isn't in line with a static e book which some think of has the answer to each question the Universe can pose, our church is in line with those teachings yet is alive and starting to be, getting to understand and coaching. The Pope has each and every real to alter a coaching on a topic count including Limbo. It has each and every real to regulate its be responsive to-how and coaching if no Pope has spoken on the priority ex-cathedra, and that they in no way did.

Answer 5

No he did not do a 180---he simply said that we were free to believe that they could go to Heaven he did not absolutely rule out limbo. He said we are not sure of what happens to babies but, because we know that the Lord is merciful we were free to believe they were in Heaven with him.

Why don't you actually get a job instead of harassing Catholics and other religions all day and night and then maybe you wouldn't feel like such a looser that you had to put others down to make your own sorry butt look better.

Answer 6

As old as the pope is, doesn;t he have a little trouble bending himsef (specially with that cool hat on) to get under that bar. I didn't know the pope limboed.

Answer 7

Who is the pope to begin with ? A Sinner just like you and me , no one special . If you follow a religion that isn't based on the bible , you have situations like this .

Answer 8

I am so bummed. Here I thought you had pictures of the pope doing the limbo.....

:)

God bless

Answer 9

This is what scares me the most about the pope-is that he has so much power, & can change anything that he wants, & Catholics will just accept it!

There is an old saying-"POWER CORRUPTS, & ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTLY"

Anyone want to tell me that the pope DOESN'T have absolute power?

Answer 10

Everytime a Pope changes his mind about something, the whole flock does, too. That's one of the problems of trusting in man, not God. Sola Scriptura!