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To: annalex
But, Pelagius never rejected the concept of grace. As I remember, the Pelegian assertion is that we retain some moral autonomy and therefore, individual and social growth can occur, especially within cooperative social structures (eg. Alcoholics Anonymous). So, those who have experienced grace may then begin to operate under a moral imperative that assumes a responsibility to carry the message to those who still struggle.
7,814 posted on 06/05/2006 4:59:00 PM PDT by spatso
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To: spatso
Pelagius never rejected the concept of grace

If you say so... But the issue is whether it is grace alone that enables our good works. The Church teaches that it is; Pelagianism teaches that free will can accomplish good without divine grace. This is what the Council of Carthage (418) stated vis-a-vis pelagianism:

  1. Death did not come to Adam from a physical necessity, but through sin.
  2. New-born children must be baptized on account of original sin.
  3. Justifying grace not only avails for the forgiveness of past sins, but also gives assistance for the avoidance of future sins.
  4. The grace of Christ not only discloses the knowledge of God's commandments, but also imparts strength to will and execute them.
  5. Without God's grace it is not merely more difficult, but absolutely impossible to perform good works.
  6. Not out of humility, but in truth must we confess ourselves to be sinners.
  7. The saints refer the petition of the Our Father, "Forgive us our trespasses", not only to others, but also to themselves.
  8. The saints pronounce the same supplication not from mere humility, but from truthfulness.
  9. Some codices containing a ninth canon (Denzinger, loc. cit., note 3): Children dying without baptism do not go to a "middle place" (medius locus), since the non reception of baptism excludes both from the "kingdom of heaven" and from "eternal life".

(Pelagius and Pelagianism)

Note 5.

7,835 posted on 06/05/2006 8:33:36 PM PDT by annalex
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