Reena

As one of its claims to divine origins, the Catholic Church asserts that it has never taught falsely on any of its teaching about faiths and morals.

(Although they do allow for doctrine to develop.)

I have been trying to find historical data about what the Church taught throughout the last 2000 years, and whether it has changed, and if so how.

I was wondering if any of you have researched this issue and can give me some hints about where to start,

Thanks!

NZSkep

well recently the catholic church threw out the idea of purgatory because it 'is just a theologicical construction'

David B

One word which springs to mind is Simony.

David B

Reena

That is true, but they say that they always said limbo was a hypothesis not a dogma like say the resurrection.

Reena

I suppose you're referring to indulgences? They did do it, but they say it was individuals within church becoming corrupt, not official teaching

Toto

The church's position on abortion has changed from its earliest days. Abortion used to be okay up until a certain point when the soul was assumed to get into the fetus. In the 19th century (IIRC) the pope declared that abortion any time after conception was a sin.

But I bet they have some way of wiggling out of that - not really a dogma until the pope realized the truth.

Jehanne

• There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved." (Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.)
• "We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff." (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302.)
• "The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church." (Pope Eugene IV, the Bull Cantate Domino, 1441.)

Apikorus

Careful. I think a recent conference of Catholic theologians called into question the theological soundness of limbo, but from what I understand purgatory is something quite distinct and is still part of Catholic doctrine. Limbo is where unbaptised babies go -- something like that. Purgatory is some kind of temporary state where souls undergo final purification before going to be with God. By abandoning limbo, Catholic priests will be able to reassure parents who have suffered the grievous loss of an infant that their child has gone to heaven. I think now they can't quite say so, which must be very painful for all involved.

Jehanne

• "If anyone says that, because the Lord said 'In My Father's house are many mansions,' 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. For when the Lord says 'Unless one be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he shall not enter into the Kingdom of God,' what Catholic will doubt that one who has not deserved to be a co-heir with Christ will be a partner of the Devil?" (Pope Zosimus at the Council of Carthage XVI, Canon 3, Denzinger, 30th edition, p.45, note 2).
• "If anyone says Baptism is optional, that is, not necessary for salvation, let him be anathema" (Council of Trent, De Baptismo, Canon V).
• "All the faithful must confess only one Baptism which regenerates all the baptized, just as there is one God and one faith. We believe that this Sacrament, celebrated in water and in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, is necessary for children and grown-up people alike for salvation" (Ecumenical Council of Vienne, Denzinger 482).
• "The souls of those who die in actual mortal sin, or only in Original Sin, immediately descend into Hell" (Ecumenical Council of Florence Denzinger 693).

Reena

Actually they say that abortion is always wrong, but in the past they did not know biology as well and it was common understanding of the day that fetus became human at "quickening."

So they say their past stance was the result of a lack of knowledge of development and the fact that they didn't think it was human until quickening.

They sure wiggle well