Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptized
Does anybody know if the International Pontifical Theological Commission's document, "Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptized," is available in English online?
I've never believed in "Limbo." Why on earth wouldn't our good and gracious God welcome home to heaven those poor infants? My sister calls them "halo dusters."
Yes, the document is online for a $5.00 fee at the web site of Origins, the journal in which it was published: Origins Online.
Here's a fascinating quotation from section 41, a quotation not reported (for some reason) by the media: "The theory of Limbo remains a possible theological option." In reality, reports of the pope's "abolishing limbo" are sensationalistic and exaggerated. The document merely expresses a limited view, not dissimilar to Cajetan's, that there might be some way, unknown to us, for some unbaptized infants to be saved.
Unfortunately, Father, the article has been available at Origins since its publication there, but previously the link indicated the purchase of the entire issue, not the document.
There's also an interview at Inside the Vatican with Sister Sara Butler who served on the commission. This interview gives insight to the commission's theological perspective: a mixture of traditionalism (e.g., the characterization of limbo as sententia communis) and novelty (e.g., the awkward claim that the Second Council of Lyons' dogmatic formula on the punishment of sin deals with the immediacy of judgment and not with the punishment of personal versus original sin.) This latter claim of the commission is especially strange considering John XXII's addition of the phrase "nimirum puerorum animas poena damni, non sensus, in limbo afficiendas" to the standard formula of Lyons. (See DS 925-926.)
I've never believed in "Limbo." Why on earth wouldn't our good and gracious God welcome home to heaven those poor infants? My sister calls them "halo dusters."
ReplyDeleteYes, the document is online for a $5.00 fee at the web site of Origins, the journal in which it was published: Origins Online.
ReplyDeleteHere's a fascinating quotation from section 41, a quotation not reported (for some reason) by the media: "The theory of Limbo remains a possible theological option." In reality, reports of the pope's "abolishing limbo" are sensationalistic and exaggerated. The document merely expresses a limited view, not dissimilar to Cajetan's, that there might be some way, unknown to us, for some unbaptized infants to be saved.
Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteFor the sake of my pride, please tell me that obvious yellow link to purchase the document wasn't there last week...
Unfortunately, Father, the article has been available at Origins since its publication there, but previously the link indicated the purchase of the entire issue, not the document.
ReplyDeleteThere's also an interview at Inside the Vatican with Sister Sara Butler who served on the commission. This interview gives insight to the commission's theological perspective: a mixture of traditionalism (e.g., the characterization of limbo as sententia communis) and novelty (e.g., the awkward claim that the Second Council of Lyons' dogmatic formula on the punishment of sin deals with the immediacy of judgment and not with the punishment of personal versus original sin.) This latter claim of the commission is especially strange considering John XXII's addition of the phrase "nimirum puerorum animas poena damni, non sensus, in limbo afficiendas" to the standard formula of Lyons. (See DS 925-926.)
Hmm...thank you.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how I missed it; I suppose since I didn't find it under "hot docs" I wouldn't find it at all.
I posted previously about the interview with Sr. Sara. Thanks, again!