Wednesday, January 25, 2006

"Let the Children Come to Me"

Not too long ago, I found myself writing a letter to a reporter from our local newspaper. He had written an article that included the following statement (paraphrased):
The boy's parents knew as Catholics that if they didn't have their dying baby baptized that he would end up in limbo.

Limbo has never been dogma. We don't know that our unbaptized babies are denied heaven.

My friend Linda, sends this article from Zenit on the subject:
Father Cantalamessa on Limbo and the Unbaptized

2 comments:

Karen Edmisten said...

Also, I often refer people to this passage from Pope John Paul the Great, who refers to children who died in abortion as "living in the Lord."

"I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You will come to understand that nothing is definitively lost and you will also be able to ask forgiveness from your child, who is now living in the Lord. With the friendly and expert help and advice of other people, and as a result of your own painful experience, you can be among the most eloquent defenders of everyone's right to life. Through your commitment to life, whether by accepting the birth of other children or by welcoming and caring for those most in need of someone to be close to them, you will become promoters of a new way of looking at human life."

Maureen said...

You just gotta love JP2!!!!!