You don't see a contradiction in this? Someone help me here please. Growth in knowledge of what? Faith? Sicence? How did our secular knowledge of science improve our knowldge of faith?
Since the 16th century the Catholic Church officially teaches that the departed stand in need of purification ... what is being described is a state of the soul, not a place
I never implied that the Purgatory is a "place" any more than to imply that Heaven or Hell is a "place." The important thing is that the Church didn't teach it as dogma for fifteen centuries. So, that means that the early Church teachings were either deficient and incomplete or that somehow the state of lesser knowldge of the world did not necessitate such teaching.
Have to agree with you on all of this response, Kosta.
I am not a theologian, nor do I have the qualifications to address your statement. However, I see no contradiction in the catechetical preface that .... "the explanation of this revelation (no new truths have been given by anyone but Jesus) grows and develops, according to our historical time and growth in knowledge.
Scientific inquiry has necessitated a 'clarification' of religious beliefs. To cite one of the more obvious examples - abortion. The Catholic Church teaches that life must be respected from conception until natural death. We live in a society where medical science advocates contraception and has legalized abortion. The Catholic Church condemns both as interfering with the will of God.
Other christian denominations have approved the ordination of women to the priesthood. The Holy Father issued the following statement as part of an Apostolic Letter (emphasis mine):
"Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church's divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful."
ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS
The church is organic, not stagnant. The truths have always been there; occasionally, they need to be redefined for the benefit of society.
"So, that means that the early Church teachings were either deficient and incomplete or that somehow the state of lesser knowldge of the world did not necessitate such teaching."
Or did the teaching come about as an explanation for the long-established practice of praying for and offering the Eucharist for the faithful departed?
Sorry to show my ignorance on this, but for all the time I've spent discussing theology with Melkites, I've never asked them if its part of the Eastern Tradition to pray for the dead. Is this a normal practice for the Orthodox?