Get the feed!
Pope Benedict XVI and Hell
Read the article / show / issue that provoked me to write a letter and my response below that or go straight to my response
Date Posted on this Site
March 30, 2007
Publication
CBC's The Hour
Publication Date
March 28, 2007
Published Content
In his opening monologue on current news items, George Stroumboulopoulos spoke disdainfully of a recent speech of Pope Benedict XVI, in which the Holy Father expounded on hell.
My Response Letter
Hello George:
I am a sometimes viewer of The Hour. I found myself watching part of the show tonight (Mar. 28, 2007) and saw your bit about Pope Benedict XVI and hell. Usually, I find your commentary incisive and insightful, but I thought this piece of editorializing exhibited ignorance and animus.
First, it is beyond understanding how Pope Benedict's affirmation of the existence of hell is newsworthy, for The Hour or for any other media outlet. His holiness, in his capacity as teacher and leader of one billion Catholics, was simply reiterating a fundamental tenet of Christianity - that hell is a real place and some people, even many people, will, through their own actions, place themselves there. Was the pope speculating? Hardly. Jesus Christ spoke often about damnation (Matthew 5:29, 8:12, 10:28, etc.). Perhaps some are scandalized at hearing that their perverse actions on earth might have consequences in the afterlife, but is this news?
Second, you compare the pope's pronouncements on hell with his comments on limbo (at the same time equating limbo with purgatory). You should know that limbo is not purgatory. Purgatory is the process whereby those who die in God's grace, that is, without mortal sin on their souls, make satisfaction for their sins and are purified. Why purification? Because God is pure goodness and no one who is limited by sin can enter into His presence. Purgatory is also attested to in the Bible (2 Maccabees 12:43-46, Matthew 12:32, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, etc.) Limbo, on the other hand, was the place where the just who died before Christ's ascension into Heaven (Abraham, Noah, etc.) went while waiting for the opening of the gates of Heaven. This is also testified to in Scripture (Luke 23:43, 1 Peter 3:18-20, etc.). Some of the early Church fathers, most explicitly St. Gregory of Nazianzus, speculated that children who died without baptism were neither admitted to the glory of Heaven nor condemned to suffer punishment - what could be construed as limbo. St. Thomas Aquinas later speculated that these children "in limbo" have perfect happiness but cannot experience the beatific vision of God. This theological construct is not found in the Bible, is not dogma, and has not been taught definitively by any pope. So, when pope spoke about limbo, he was discussing a non-defined item of faith.
Third, you imply that the pope might one day find himself in hell for his participation in the nazi youth movement. You should know that every German boy in his teens was drafted into this movement; it was required by law. It is quite obvious that the pope was there against his will (see the rest of his life for evidence).
Taken all together, your commentary portrayed the pope as a vacillating, deceitful individual with an ulterior and hidden agenda. I find that offensive and discriminatory (discriminatory because almost everyone in the media is comfortable launching personal attacks against Catholics but would eviscerate themselves and anyone else before they allowed criticism of any other religious figure).
I pray that next time you discuss the Catholic Church or the pope that you make a greater effort to project the truth.
Yours in Christ,
Jason Gennaro
Was my response published?
No
Did I get a response?
No