Limbo (the concept)

Lots of things are an embarrassment to lots of churches. It amazes me that so many (apparent) believers don't take the slightest interest in the books they are supposed to believe in.

I can't see how the pope can get around Jesus explicitly saying "unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
The Pope would have to say that Jesus was wrong or he would have to say that dead babies go to hell.

If he attempts either of those I think he'll end up wishing he'd stuck with annoying the Muslims.

(Also I just noticed that the verse says "man" and not child--voila! There's a wide-open loophole, unless there's something in the Greek that undermines that strict interpretation of "man.")

(Sorry.)

I know, I know... Contradictions in the bible? Who woulda thunk it. :)

"Go to hell, babies!"

meh, He's done worse.

and these kind of comments:
"And I don't think that God would leave the soul of innocent kids hanging in mid-air."
make me wonder if they are even interviewing catholics. as the child of many generations of irish catholics, it was made very clear to me, by my family and in church, that god doesnt have a whole lot of the compassion going on. this aint happy joy joy protestant good news bible week here.

but if they get rid of limbo, whats the motivation for baptism? why not wait until first holy communion?

also:
Most priests don't talk about the notion of limbo anymore. There is a understanding that it just simply doesn't wash with people," says Mr Walsh.
doesn't wash with people?? i have a huge problem with this attitude in christianity. if someone can have absolute belief in an almighty creator and ruler sitting on a throne in the sky watching and judging each and every person on earth, then Id think anything should wash with them.

and for my own curiosity, whatever happened to purgatory? is that still accepted? where is the line drawn between a sinner who confesses to their preist and goes to heaven direct and a sinner who confesses to their priest but is still labelled a repentant sinner and has to do some time in purgatory?

Ahh dont mind me, but on topic heres nothing to get "rid of" strictly speaking as 'limbo' is not a teaching of the church but,re Gerry upthread, the 'grace of sacramental baptism' is required for 'salvation' so its a bit of a bind about what happens to babies--soem argue infants and other persons who die without being baptised may recieve such grace through a 'baptism of desire' before death.

purgatory last I heard is still going strong, dont think theres any direct line ride for catholics tho

which is why this is so brilliant: next, catholic church ditches concept of transubstantiation. then, catholic church ditches silly ideas of "heaven" and "hell". then, catholic church ditches notion of "god". whole world promptly gets a bit more realistic and realises we have to fix stuff HERE not in some notional nextlife, hurrah.

i sort of wish i could believe in this religious stuff sometimes, it would make things a whole lot easier.

Something us nonbelievers like to do at least once a week, so I hear.

and i may have been having a chuckle with my xxpost... :-)

http://www.vinyltap.co.uk/gallery/br/bryanl5313070526050730.jpg

How come only Catholics seem to press upon this issue so heavily? I grew up protestant and we do baptism too, but I dont recall any talk about limbo. Maybe I wasn't paying attention (this is highly likely).