Letters

Infallible teaching

Don Ford

Contents - Nov 2006 - Buy a copy now Editorial: EWTN and the secular media: fighting fire with fire Education: The Spirit of Generation Y: the challenge for Catholic schools - Cardinal George Pell Living the Faith: What distinguishes a practising Catholic? - Bishop Luc Matthys News: The Church Around the World England: British Catholicism's dark night of the soul Books: Is the Catholic Church in Australia 'lost'? - Michael Gilchrist Brisbane Archdiocese: inclusive language in the liturgy continues - Michael Apthorp Liturgy: US bishop sets out clear guidelines on celebrations of the Mass - AD2000 REPORT Television: EWTN: now affordable and accessible in Australia - Moira Kirkwood Letters: Missal translation - Pat Hurley Letters: Translation hang-up - Fran Swindale Letters: Accuracy needed - Carol V. Phillips Letters: Faith and reason - Peter D. Howard Letters: Narrow - Norm Yodgee Letters: Infallible teaching - Don Ford Letters: Education needed - Judy O'Reilly Letters: Early baptism - John Schmid Letters: Declining practice - Gerard J. Keane Letters: Chavagnes College scholarship applications - Ferdi McDermott Letters: Conversion by violence - Gregory F.J. O'Regan Letters: Generation 'Y' - Kevin Cains Letters: Common sense and married clergy - Errol Duke Letters: Poem's author - Valerie J.Staunton Letters: Anonymity - Michael Apthorp Letters: EWTN by broadband - Bren Scheiner Poetry: Sometimes Gladness: Collected Poems 1954 to 2005, by Bruce Dawe - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: St John Bosco, St Dominic and the Rosary, St Thérèe of Lisieux - Siobhan B. Reeves (reviewer) DVD: A Family Retreat, by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen - Daniel Tobin (reviewer) Events: The teachings of the Catholic Church: an exploration Events: Second Annual Victorian Catholic Students Association Conference 25-26 Nov 2006 Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Reflection: Catholic schools must proclaim the total love of Christ - Fr Sebastian Camilleri OFM

Mark Moriarty (September AD2000) protests against John Young's criticism of Catholic parents who delay having their children baptised because they do not consider it important.

Mr Moriarty is quite unjust in accusing John Young of being callous. On the contrary, he has simply stated the Church's infallible teaching and quoted the relevant instructions issued by the Church.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church does no more than allow the possibility of salvation without baptism. Nor does it say that this possibility (if it ever does happen) would apply to all unbaptised infants.

Mr Moriarty simply jumps to the conclusion that unbaptised children go to heaven, at least if the parents are Catholics who would have wanted the children baptised.

If he is right, he knows more than the Church does. For the Catechism says, ‘The Church does not know of any means other than baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude’ (n. 1257).

Mr Moriarty completely ignores the infallible statements of two Ecumenical Councils, quoted in the article he criticises. He would do well to study those statements and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

DON FORD
Ashfield, NSW

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 19 No 10 (November 2006), p. 13