Limbo: A centuries-old deceit of the Catholic church

Many religions these days are only teaching invented doctrines and fables which were not taught by the apostles.

This was the opening message by Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano during the Worldwide Bible Exposition on April 26 this year. Bro. Soriano is the long-time host of the multi-awarded program, Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) and Presiding Minster to the Members Church of God International (MCGI).

Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano seen here preaching in one of the Bible Expositions of MCGI.
 (Picture embedded from mcgi.org)

According to Bro. Soriano, religious organizations nowadays are full of false teachings geared to extort money from their members. To prove his point, he gave Limbo - the centuries-old teaching of the Catholic Church - as an example.

Modern Catholic Encyclopedia defined limbo as: “...the abode of souls excluded from the full blessedness of the beatific vision but not suffering any other punishment.” It was also mentioned that the limbo of the infants “...is an article of the Catholic faith that those who die without baptism...cannot enter heaven.”

Because of the teaching that there exists a limbo, Catholic parents are obliged to submit their infants to baptism. Even if some of them would have to borrow money just to proceed with the ceremony or even if their child is sick, the baptism has to commence because of the fear that their child might go to limbo if they die.

(“Mahabang panahon na po yan, libong taong pinaniwala ang mga katoliko na ang limbo ay duon pupunta ang mga bata na di mabibinyagan.”)

“It was [for] a very long time, thousands of years that Catholics were made to believe that unbaptized babies will go to limbo,” said Bro. Eli in the vernacular.

If we analyze the numbers, the Philippines have 2.3 Million live births a year with 80% to 85% of that number coming from Catholic parents. Therefore, around 1.84-1.96 Million babies will be baptized under the Catholic Church. Say with a P100 fee for every baptism (even though it is more than that), the Catholic leadership raises an amount not less than P184 Million every year in the Philippines alone, all because of the doctrine of limbo.

However, in 2006, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he is scrapping limbo from the Roman Catholic teachings, saying it does not exist.

The report was published in the paper Metro dated October 5, 2006.

Limbo does not exist, says Pope. All-new view: The Pope opposes the idea of limbo.
Pope Benedict XVI will tomorrow announce he is scrapping the centuries old Roman Catholic concept of limbo. According to church teachings, limbo is home to the souls of children who die without being baptized. It is a state between Heaven and Hell. But the Pope will instead say that unbaptized children go to Heaven.

Mainstream media in the country did not cover the news. The pronouncement was not even heard by Filipinos so they still continue to submit their infants to baptism in fear of the doctrines of limbo.

To conclude his point, the International Evangelist read the verse in Ezekiel 18:20 to clarify that sins are not passed on from parents to children, therefore there is really no need for babies to be baptized.

The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Bro. Eli read the same verse in nine languages - including Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, and some other local languages for audiences attending the symposium-like activity of the MCGI.

Clearly, the doctrine of limbo has deceived many Catholics all over the globe. It is one of those beliefs that has no basis in the Bible but has generated money for the Church that invented it.

After this, the live question and answer portion of the exposition commenced where attendees were given the chance to ask Bro. Eli any questions that they have in mind.

Ten guests coming from different parts of the globe were served; thousands in attendance were also able to monitor the event.

Some of the questions asked were about leadership, knowing the will of God, and salvation, among others.

Apart from hosting Bible Expositions, Bro Eliseo Soriano is also a philanthropist. He has been heading several charitable institutions such as the free college education at La Verdad Christian College in Apalit Pampanga and Caloocan, Metro Manila. He is also the proponent of the Transient Home program in Edsa, Quezon City and Apalit Pampanga, and other medical and feeding programs to serve the marginalized members of society.

The next Worldwide Bible Exposition of MCGI will be on May 24 this year. Thousands of regular as well as first time attendees from different continents are expected to grace the event.

Sources:

Ang Dating Daan Worldwide Bible Exposition, April 26, 2013

http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2010/148891.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_Philippines