your questions answered by a local pastor Dear Fr. Kerper What ever happened to Limbo?

Dear Father Kerper: Last April, I heard that Many older Catholics probably the church had abolished limbo. Years ago, my learned about limbo in religion grandmother told me that non-baptized babies go class. For years, limbo was to limbo instead of heaven because of original sin. proposed as one possible way of Now I hear that limbo was just an opinion, not a resolving the apparent contradic- church teaching. How can I know what’s really true tion between two genuine church and what’s just opinion? teachings, namely the necessity of baptism for salvation and God’s hank you for your note of interest in desire that everyone be saved. this subject, which refl ects your honest As much as we want to know concern for the salvation of all of God’s precisely what happens to non- children. Yet, I also realize your question baptized persons — children and Trefl ects the reality that some of us get very frustrat- good people — the simple truth ed when ideas and practices suddenly change. is that God’s revelation doesn’t To answer your question, we must distinguish doc- tell us. In the past, limbo became trine from opinion based on what the church calls the the favored opinion because “hierarchy of truths.” This means that there are some many in the church stressed the and music. Similarly, we can live teachings that are more important than others. necessity of baptism. Today, how- the Christian life fully and joyfully Think of it this way: The owner’s manual of ever, many theologians, includ- without clear answers to every pos- your car will show you clearly how to turn on the ing Pope Benedict XVI, see that sible theological question. engine, shift gears and use the brake. Later, perhaps opinion as explaining too much, One way of approaching this in a bad snowstorm, you’ll learn how to use your thereby foreclosing possibilities subject with those who have lost defroster and rear window de-icer. Some day, when known to God alone. children through miscarriage, you have nothing to do, you may even read about If you study Scripture and key sickness or even abortion is to oil changes, tire pressure and maintenance. church documents, you will fi nd refl ect on God’s mercy. The one All these instructions are true and helpful; but that nothing proposes limbo as a consistent mystery of God that is not every one is equally important. You need to settled and indisputable teaching. found in all four markers of the know where to put the key, before you worry about Indeed, it has none of the markers truth is that God is not merely tire pressure. Think of church teaching as a spiritual needed for permanent teachings. the God of justice, but also the owner’s manual. Let’s go back to the “hierarchy of God of mercy and love. The church has at least four markers for permanent truths.” God’s revelation enlightens The point is to drive the car teachings: Sacred Scripture, ancient creeds, council us only about matters essential for rather than to become too en- statements and ex cathedra papal statements. our salvation. Hence, God tells us grossed or even distracted by the First, Sacred Scripture expresses key beliefs, such how to live a good and moral life, owner’s manual. And on our road as the oneness of God, the Trinity, the Incarnation, confi dent that we come from him, to God, there must, and always and the resurrection of Christ. have been redeemed by Christ, and will, be mysteries. Our challenge Second, ancient creeds, like the Nicene and have the hope of eternal life. This is to let those mysteries serve not Apostles’ Creeds, contain settled doctrines. information is like knowing how as obstacles, but as opportuni- Third, core doctrines of faith proposed by ecu- to switch on the engine and use ties for increasing our faith and menical councils are also permanent, though open the brake. But God doesn’t explain desire to arrive at our destination, to refi nement, new formulations and development. every detail of how his saving love where, we are assured, all things Fourth, teachings declared ex cathedra — from works in the world. Such details will be revealed. the chair — by the pope are unchangeable. So far, are akin to a car’s clock and DVD only two popes — Pius IX and Pius XII — have player. We can drive the car per- — Father Michael Kerper is the pastor of used this form of teaching. fectly well without the correct time Corpus Christi Parish in Portsmouth.

Parable Magazine Parable6 September/October Magazine 6 September/October 2007 | www.parablemag.com 2007 | www.Parablemag.com St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop, Doctor of the Church Sept. 17 | St. Januarius, Bishop, Martyr Sept. 19 | Sts. Andrew Kim Taegon, Priest and

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