Some Comments on the Limbo Fiasco (2007)

- A review of the article by the false traditionalist “Fr.” Brian Harrison, as well as his astounding omission on the baptism of desire issue -

By Bro. Peter Dimond, O.S.B.

IN THIS ARTICLE: -SOME COMMENTS ON “FR.” HARRISON’S ARTICLE ON THE RECENT LIMBO FIASCO -FALSE TRADITIONALISTS HIDE THE TRUTH -“FR.” HARRISON’S ASTOUNDING OMISSION REGARDING BAPTISM OF DESIRE Reports have recently surfaced that the Vatican may be issuing a document which states that all those who die unbaptized before attaining the use of reason go to heaven.  This really wouldn’t be a surprise, since the Vatican II “Bishops” (including Benedict XVI) basically believe in universal salvation.  The Vatican II sect holds that basically everyone goes to heaven, with the possible exception of mass murderers, anti-semites and radical traditionalists.  Nevertheless, if such a document is issued by the Vatican, it will constitute quite a heresy and an embarrassment for those false traditionalists who are loudly asserting that the Vatican II sect is not formally heretical. Related Article: The staggering implications of Benedict XVI’s new blatant heresy on Limbo In a recent article carried on a number of false traditionalist websites, “Fr.” Brian Harrison (a pathetic defender of Vatican II and the Vatican II Antipopes) expressed his embarrassment.  I want to make a few comments on his article.  I also want to comment on a letter-version of his article.  This letter (which was forwarded to us) contains a number of revealing statements which were not in the article that was carried on the false traditionalist websites:

“Fr.” Brian Harrison, Letter: “Dear Catholic friends: It seems virtually certain that a new Instruction from the  Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will very shortly be released, "eliminating" Limbo as a possibility for infants, and teaching that all those who die unbaptized before attaining the use of reason will in any case reach Heaven - the beatific vision.  I will be so bold as to offer a few theological and pastoral comments:  1) This is going to be an Instruction of the CDF… By definition, even if receiving Pope Benedict's most formal approval, this will still be a non-infallible (non-ex-cathedra) statement of the magisterium. So it will still leave us with our existing lack of complete certainty as to the destiny of such infants. 2) Not only that, but this document of a Vatican Congregation will have LESS authority than the 1588 Constitution on abortion personally signed by Pope Sixtus V, which flatly contradicts what Abp. Levada is apparently going to tell us… The magisterium undermines its own credibility when it contradicts itself, even in non-infallible teachings. 3) Perhaps the most perilous feature of an Instruction "assuring" us that all infants who die unbaptized reach Heaven in any case is that it will inevitably lead many to become more indifferent about the need to baptise infants. Already many Catholic parents are tardy in having their chidren [sic] baptized, and a papal assurance that baptism is not in case necessary for their salvation, should they die prematurely and unexpectedly, will obviously accentuate this tendency…. 4) What of the timing? One remembers how the 1986 papally convoked interreligious gathering at Assisi was a significant factor in provoking Archbishop Lebevre [sic] into carrying out his illicit 1988 episcopal consecrations. Now, at a time when that rupture has still not been healed, and when in fact radical traditionalism and sedevacantism appear to be growing, will this Instruction not just add more fuel to the flames? Will it not provoke further alienation and lack of confidence among those Catholic brethren who think the Vatican has been taken over by modernist heretics? With all due respect for the See of Peter, it honestly seems to me that it would have been far more prudent for the magisterium to say nothing more on this topic, and thus "let sleeping dogs lie"….”

MHFM: Harrison’s embarrassment in light of this new development exudes from his words, for he is in communion with the Vatican II heretics, and has repeatedly attempted to defend them from the charge of heresy against all comers.  But this limbo fiasco is so blatantly heretical that even he cannot come up with any cleverly dishonest explanations or devilish subterfuges to justify it.  He simply expresses his profound embarrassment, and his regret that the Vatican decided to reveal what it really believes on this topic. “Fr.” Harrison admits that sedevacantism is growing, and he fears that this new Vatican document will add more fuel to the flames.  He asks if the new document will not further provoke the reaction that the Vatican “has been taken over by modernist heretics.”  I would think so!  Give me a break, the dogma that infants cannot be saved without the Sacrament of Baptism was one of the most prominent in the early Church.  Pope St. Innocent and St. Augustine expressed it thus:

Pope St. Innocent, 414: “But that which Your Fraternity asserts the Pelagians preach, that even without the grace of Baptism infants are able to be endowed with the rewards of eternal life, is quite idiotic.” (Jurgens, The Faith of the Early Fathers, Vol. 3: 2016.) St. Augustine, Letter to Jerome, 415: “Anyone who would say that even infants who pass from this life without participation in the Sacrament [of Baptism] shall be made alive in Christ truly goes counter to the preaching of the Apostle and condemns the whole Church,where there is great haste in baptizing infants because it is believed without doubt that there is no other way at all in which they can be made alive in Christ.” (Faith of the Early Fathers, Vol. 3:1439)

Infants who die without baptism (and thus in the state of original sin only) descend to hell, but to a place where there is no fire.  This is the infallible teaching of the Catholic Church.

Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence, “Letentur coeli,” Sess. 6, July 6, 1439, ex cathedra: “We define also that… the souls of those who depart this life in actual mortal sin, or in original sin alone, go straightaway to hell, but to undergo punishments of different kinds.” (Denz. 693) Pope Pius VI, Auctorem fidei, Aug. 28, 1794: “26.  The doctrine which rejects as a Pelagian fable, that place of the lower regions (which the faithful generally designate by the name of the limbo of the children) in which the souls of those departing with the sole guilt of original sin are punished with the punishment of the condemned, exclusive of the punishment of fire, just as if, by this very fact, that these who remove the punishment of fire introduced that middle place and state free of guilt and of punishment between the kingdom of God and eternal damnation, such as that about which the Pelagians idly talk” – Condemned as false, rash, injurious to Catholic schools. (Denz. 1596)

Here Pope Pius VI condemns the idea of some theologians that infants who die in original sin suffer the fires of Hell.  At the same time, he confirms that these infants do go to a part of the lower regions (i.e., Hell) called the limbo of the children.  They do not go to Heaven, but to a place in Hell where there is no fire.  This is perfectly in accord with all of the other solemn definitions of the Church, which teach that infants who die without water baptism descend into Hell, but suffer a punishment different from those who die in mortal sin.  Their punishment is eternal separation from God. The idea that infants can be saved without the Sacrament of Baptism – since they are in a state of original sin – has been specifically anathematized.

Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence, Session 11, Feb. 4, 1442, ex cathedra: “Regarding children, indeed, because of danger of death, which can often take place, when no help can be brought to them by another remedy than through the sacrament of baptism, through which they are snatched from the domination of the Devil [original sin] and adopted among the sons of God, it advises that holy baptism ought not be deferred for forty or eighty days, or any time according to the observance of certain people…” (Denz. 712)

Pope Eugene IV here defines infallibly that there is no other remedy for infants to be snatched away from the dominion of the devil (i.e., original sin) other than the Sacrament of Baptism.  This means that anyone who obstinately teaches that infants can be saved without receiving the Sacrament of Baptism is a heretic, for he is teaching that there is another remedy for original sin in children other than the Sacrament of Baptism.

Pope Martin V, Council of Constance, Session 15, July 6, 1415 - Condemning the articles of John Wyclif  - Proposition 6: “Those who claim that the children of the faithful dying without sacramental baptism will not be saved, are stupid and presumptuous in saying this.”- Condemned (Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils, Vol. 1, p. 422.)

This is a fascinating proposition from The Council of Constance.  Unfortunately, this proposition is not found in Denzinger, which only contains some of the Council’s decrees, but it is found in a full collection of the Council of Constance.  The arch-heretic John Wyclif was proposing that those (such as ourselves) are stupid for teaching that infants who die without sacramental (i.e. water) baptism cannot possibly be saved.   He was anathematized for this assertion.

Pope St. Zosimus, The Council of Carthage, Canon on Sin and Grace, 417 A.D.- “It has been decided likewise that if anyone says that for this reason the Lord said: ‘In my Father’s house there are many mansions’ [John 14:2]: that it might be understood that in the kingdom of heaven there will be some middle place or some place anywhere where the blessed infants live who departed from this life without baptism, without which they cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven, which is life eternal, let him be anathema.” (Denzinger 102, authentic addition to Can. 2.) Pope Paul III, The Council of Trent, On Original Sin, Session V, ex cathedra:  “If anyone says that recently born babies should not be baptized even if they have been born to baptized parents; or says that they are indeed baptized for the remission of sins, but incur no trace of the original sin of Adam needing to be cleansed by the laver of rebirth for them to obtain eternal life, with the necessary consequence that in their case there is being understood a form of baptism for the remission of sins which is not true, but false: let him be anathema.” (Denz. 791)

This means that anyone who asserts that infants don’t need the “laver of rebirth” (water baptism) to attain eternal life is teaching heresy.  Thus, the document alleged to be coming soon from the Vatican, asserting that all who die as unbaptized infants go to heaven, is blatantly heretical.  As St. Augustine said, it “condemns the whole Church” and the entire history of the Church.

FALSE TRADITIONALISTS HIDE THE TRUTH

But what is very interesting is that the important statement of  “Fr.” Harrison, expressing his regret about this new manifest heresy emanating from the Vatican II sect, namely, “when in fact radical traditionalism and sedevacantism appear to be growing, will this Instruction not just add more fuel to the flames? Will it not provoke further alienation and lack of confidence among those Catholic brethren who think the Vatican has been taken over by modernist heretics?” – was not included in the article published on the websites of Seattle Catholic and The Remnant.  Hmmm… I believe it’s obvious that the reason they didn’t include these words is that they didn’t want people concluding exactly what “Fr.” Harrison fears they would conclude: the Vatican has been taken over by Modernist heretics – which any reasonable person could see, but which Harrison and the editors of these websites are too spiritually blinded and dishonest to see themselves.  So, chalk this up as another confirmation of the sedevacantist position. The failure to include this portion of Harrison’s comments in the article on these websites reminds me of the very interesting fact that when Antipope Benedict XVI went to the Synagogue, and took active part in Jewish worship, the Seattle Catholic website didn’t even provide a single link mentioning it!  This is a false traditionalist website which specializes in news links about such matters, but it very carefully avoided telling the people that Benedict XVI went to the Synagogue!  It (or rather, its heretical and dishonest editor) hid this truth from the people because he didn’t want people to see that Benedict XVI is an antichrist apostate.  He didn’t want people to see that his false traditionalist position, which maintains hope for the antichrist Vatican II sect, is a complete fraud, and that his “Pope” doesn’t even believe in Jesus Christ.  This is a good example of the profound bad will and dishonesty of this crowd.

“FR.” HARRISON’S ASTOUNDING OMISSION REGARDING BAPTISM OF DESIRE

In the course of contradicting the Vatican’s totally heretical position on unbaptized infants, “Fr.” Harrison makes reference to a number of Papal and Magisterial pronouncements.  He also makes one of the most dishonest omissions that you will ever see from a “traditionalist” “priest.”  I will quote him and then make some comments:

“Fr.” Brian Harrison, “Can Limbo Be Abolished?”: “…it appears that the only papal statement expressly mentioning the destiny of aborted infants is that of Pope Sixtus V, whose Constitution Effrænatam of 29 October 1588 not only abstains from raising any hopes that they may attain the beatific vision, but positively affirms that they do not attain it!... three times in the one paragraph, in different ways, the Pope [Sixtus V] affirms that aborted babies are excluded from the beatific vision… This conclusion is reinforced when we consider other magisterial teachings on unbaptized infants. As early as 385, Pope St. Siricius, writing to Bishop Himerius, showed that he felt gravely bound in conscience, for the sake of his own salvation, to warn the latter to insist on the baptism of infants as well as adults in his diocese, “ . . . lest Our own soul be in danger if, as a result of being denied the saving font, . . . each one of them, on leaving the world, loses both [eternal] life and the kingdom” (“. . . ne ad nostrarum perniciem tendat animarum, si negato . . . fonte salutari exiens unusquisque de saeculo et regnum perdat et vitam” (DS 184, my translation, not found in earlier editions of Denzinger).”

MHFM: First, “Fr.” Harrison notes that Pope Sixtus V expressly stated that aborted infants cannot be saved.  “Fr.” Harrison also admits that the teaching of Sixtus V constitutes the teaching of the Magisterium.  Thus, “Fr.” Harrison admits that his heretical sect contradicts the teaching of the Magisterium. Second, “Fr.” Harrison quotes Pope St. Siricius on the necessity of baptism (385).  Harrison quotes a sentence from Siricius’s letter to Himerius.  I had a section on this letter in my book, Outside the Catholic Church There is Absolutely No Salvation.  Harrison gives the Latin, and his own English translation, but he also uses an ellipsis (…) to remove part of the sentence.  Why?  Well, here is what Pope St. Siricius says:

Pope St. Siricius, 385, [Concerning the necessity of baptism] “Therefore just as we declare that respect for the Easter sacrifice [Paschal time] should not be lessened in the case of any person, in like manner we wish help to be brought with all speed to children who because of their age cannot yet speak, and to those who in any emergency are in need of the water of holy baptism, lest it should lead to the destruction of our souls if, by refusing the water of salvation to those who desire it, each of them, when taking leave of this world, should lose both the kingdom and life.  Indeed whoever suffers the peril of shipwreck, an enemy attack, the danger of siege or desperation resulting from some bodily infirmity, and so asks for what in their faith is their only help, let them receive at the moment of their request the reward of regeneration that they beg for.  This much should suffice for my digression on this subject; now let all priests who do not wish to be wrenched from the firmly-fixed rock of the apostles, on which Christ built his universal church, hold fast to the aforesaid rule.”   (Latin found in Denzinger-Schonmetzer, Latin Edition, 1962, no. 184; an English Translation found in The Christian Faith, Sixth Revised and Enlarged Edition, Staten Island, NY: Alba House, 1996, p. 540.)

Related Video: The Latin Text of the Oldest Surviving Papal Decree Rejects “Baptism of Desire” I hope that the baptism of desire advocates read this one very carefully.  The Pope declares that the man who begs for regeneration and desires water baptism is still denied heaven if he dies without it!  This quotation from Pope St. Siricius is striking in that it again clearly shows how the early Church rejected belief in the concept of baptism of desire.  The Pope begins by affirming that the observance of Paschal time should not be relaxed.  (He is referring to the fact that Baptisms were historically performed during Paschal time.)  After affirming that this tradition should be maintained, the Pope warns that infants and those in any necessity or danger should be baptized immediately, lest those who desire baptism die and are “deprived of the Kingdom and life” for not having received water baptism which they desired.  This is a clear rejection of the idea of baptism of desire. This point is made again by the Pope in the second half of the quotation, where he says that when those unbaptized persons “ask for what in their faith is their only help, let them receive at the very moment of their request the reward of regeneration they beg for.”  This means that receiving water Baptism is the only help to salvation for such persons who earnestly desire to receive Baptism.  There is no help to salvation for such persons in their desire or martyrdom, but only in receiving the Sacrament of Baptism. But here’s the bombshell: Harrison quotes from a sentence in this letter.  In fact, he quotes from the sentence which makes reference to the concept of desire, but he removes just one word.  Here again is Harrison’s treatment of the issue:

“Fr.” Brian Harrison, “Could Limbo Be Abolished?”: “As early as 385, Pope St. Siricius, writing to Bishop Himerius, showed that he felt gravely bound in conscience, for the sake of his own salvation, to warn the latter to insist on the baptism of infants as well as adults in his diocese, " ... lest Our own soul be in danger if, as a result being denied the saving font, ... each one of them, on leaving the world, loses both [eternal] life and the kingdom" ("... ne ad nostrarum perniciem tendat animarum, si negato ... fonte salutari exiens unusquisque de saeculo et regnum perdat et vitam" (DS 184, my translation, not found in earlier editions of Denzinger).”

I want to show you the Latin quoted by Harrison next to the actual Latin text:

Latin quoted by Harrison: (“. . . ne ad nostrarum perniciem tendat animarum, si negato . . . fonte salutari exiens unusquisque de saeculo et regnum perdat et vitam” Actual Latin text: “…ne ad nostrarum perniciem tendat animaram, si negato desiderantibus fonte salutari exiens unusquisque de saeculo et regnum perdat et vitam”

Both are exactly the same, except for one word.  “Fr.” Harrison uses AN ELLIPSIS (…) TO REMOVE JUST ONE WORD!  He uses an ellipsis (…) to remove the word “desiderantibus” from Pope St. Siricius’s statement.  The word desiderantibus means “to those desiring.”  Desiderantibus is the dative masculine plural of the present participle of the verb “desidero,” which means “I desire.”  “Fr.” Brian Harrison removed this single word – and hid this truth from the people – because it clearly shows that Pope St. Siricius declared that even those who died desiring water baptism were deprived of the Kingdom and life!  This is bad, very bad.  In fact, there is only one word that describes how bad and dishonest his removal of this one word is: evil. All of this shows us again the dishonesty and the bad will of the false traditionalists.  Their dishonesty (hatred of the truth) is why God has sent them the operation of error, to believe in the Vatican II deception, reject the salvation dogma and accept modernist heretics.

2 Thess. 2:10-12 “…because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Therefore God shall send them the operation of error, to believe lying. That all may be judged who have not believed the truth, but have consented to iniquity."