Dr. Couch, what is the Roman Catholic doctrine of limbo about and is there any biblical support? Secondly, what is the Catholic doctrine of praying for the dead?
Answer: Before answering it must be remembered that Catholic doctrine coming out of Rome has not changed. What they teach on this and other offensive subjects remain in their doctrinal books. However, the average little American Catholic may have other views. He has become more "protestant-ized" and rejects some of the outlandish teachings of the Church. I have over twenty volumes by Catholic theologians on doctrine. So I know for certain what they are teaching! Interestingly however, some of their theologians in the U.S. are trying to distance themselves from the belief in limbo.
Catholic Church theologian Ott writes: "Souls who depart this life in the state of original sin are excluded from the Beatific Vision of God," i.e. from His very presence in heaven. Children (infants) then who are not given a Catholic baptism are consigned in a "holding" place away from the Lord's presence. Ott further writes: "Theologians usually assume that there is a special place or state for children dying without baptisms which they call limbus puerorum (children's Limbo)."
One Catholic theological writer is trying to clean up this obnoxious doctrine. Dietzen writes: "Limbo was an older doctrine which the church is trying to correct today." He adds that some teachers have reversed their view about Limbo. "A Limbo of natural happiness for infants is, therefore, something Catholics may believe. It is not a necessary part of our faith." Can you believe it! Catholics have an option as to whether they want to believe it or not!
In another cop out statement, the Catholic Handbook says:
And no, there is no biblical evidence for the doctrine!
And no, there is no biblical evidence for prayer for the dead! The Catholic view is that by offering prayers one can pray the soul of a loved one out of purgatory. Catholics believe that faith in Christ STARTS their justification. And if they are not completely justified by the time of death (which none are) they must offer prayers accompanied by financial remunerations that will slowly work a loved one out of the pit of suffering for their sins. To arrive at this they misapply Paul's statement about works in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, concerning works being burned up.
The older Catholic view was that purgatory was painful. In the book The Catholic Essential it is said, "Since the purgation by fire is painful, just as it is often painful when God breaks us from patterns of sin in this life, Christians must and can pray for the dead." Ott adds, "The saints in heaven also can come to the help of the souls in purgatory by their intercession." Too, "The souls in purgatory can intercede for other members of the mystical body" by their prayers.
It almost sounds as if the Catholic theologians MAKE IT UP AS THEY GO ALONG!
To the rescue comes the Catholic Scapular! The scapular is a piece of cloth hung around the shoulder that automatically helps a Catholic bypass purgatory and go straight into heaven! Mary was said to give a large scapular to Saint Simon Stock, an English Carmelite monk. It was said,
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
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Answer: Before answering it must be remembered that Catholic doctrine coming out of Rome has not changed. What they teach on this and other offensive subjects remain in their doctrinal books. However, the average little American Catholic may have other views. He has become more "protestant-ized" and rejects some of the outlandish teachings of the Church. I have over twenty volumes by Catholic theologians on doctrine. So I know for certain what they are teaching! Interestingly however, some of their theologians in the U.S. are trying to distance themselves from the belief in limbo.
Catholic Church theologian Ott writes: "Souls who depart this life in the state of original sin are excluded from the Beatific Vision of God," i.e. from His very presence in heaven. Children (infants) then who are not given a Catholic baptism are consigned in a "holding" place away from the Lord's presence. Ott further writes: "Theologians usually assume that there is a special place or state for children dying without baptisms which they call limbus puerorum (children's Limbo)."
One Catholic theological writer is trying to clean up this obnoxious doctrine. Dietzen writes: "Limbo was an older doctrine which the church is trying to correct today." He adds that some teachers have reversed their view about Limbo. "A Limbo of natural happiness for infants is, therefore, something Catholics may believe. It is not a necessary part of our faith." Can you believe it! Catholics have an option as to whether they want to believe it or not!
In another cop out statement, the Catholic Handbook says:
In contemporary [Catholic] theology the doctrine of limbo is controversial. Some theologians regard it as binding because it appears in ecclesial tradition, especially in various catechisms. Most theologians of our time, however, reject the idea of limbo because, on the one hand, it is difficult to reconcile with the universal salvific will of God.
And no, there is no biblical evidence for the doctrine!
And no, there is no biblical evidence for prayer for the dead! The Catholic view is that by offering prayers one can pray the soul of a loved one out of purgatory. Catholics believe that faith in Christ STARTS their justification. And if they are not completely justified by the time of death (which none are) they must offer prayers accompanied by financial remunerations that will slowly work a loved one out of the pit of suffering for their sins. To arrive at this they misapply Paul's statement about works in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, concerning works being burned up.
The older Catholic view was that purgatory was painful. In the book The Catholic Essential it is said, "Since the purgation by fire is painful, just as it is often painful when God breaks us from patterns of sin in this life, Christians must and can pray for the dead." Ott adds, "The saints in heaven also can come to the help of the souls in purgatory by their intercession." Too, "The souls in purgatory can intercede for other members of the mystical body" by their prayers.
It almost sounds as if the Catholic theologians MAKE IT UP AS THEY GO ALONG!
To the rescue comes the Catholic Scapular! The scapular is a piece of cloth hung around the shoulder that automatically helps a Catholic bypass purgatory and go straight into heaven! Mary was said to give a large scapular to Saint Simon Stock, an English Carmelite monk. It was said,
She promised that whoever died in it would not suffer everlasting punishment and would quickly be released from purgatory. This is known as the Sabbatine Privilege. The scapular can be worn by anyone, and it has become one of the most widely practiced Marian devotions.
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
Click here to view all
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