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Posted on 02/05/2012 2:58:27 PM PST by marshmallow
Fidel Castro will be received back into the communion of the Roman Catholic Church during Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the island in March, the Italian press is reporting. If true, this is a remarkable story — and one that has yet to catch the attention of editors this side of the Atlantic.
On 1 Feb 2012, La Republicca — [Italy’s second largest circulation daily newspaper, La Republicca follows a center-left political line and is strongly anti-clerical; not anti-Catholic per se but a critic of the institutional church] — reported that as death approaches, the octogenarian communist has turned to God for solace.
ABC’s Global Note news blog is the only U.S. general interest publication I have found that has reported this story. It referenced the La Republicca story and said that Castro’s
daughter Alina is quoted as saying “During this last period, Fidel has come closer to religion: he has rediscovered Jesus at the end of his life. It doesn’t surprise me because dad was raised by Jesuits.” The article quotes an unidentified high prelate in the Vatican who is working on the Pope’s Cuba trip: “Fidel is at the end of his strength. Nearly at the end of his life. His exhortations in the party paper Granma, are increasingly less frequent. We know that in this last period he has come closer to religion and God.”
Some Italian websites have even speculated as to when Fidel will make his confession and credo — setting the date as 27 March 2012 at 17:30 when the two ottantacinquenni, Pope Benedict XVI and Castro, will meet at the Palacio de la Revolución when the pope makes his official visit to the head of state, Raul Castro.
During Pope John Paul II’s 1998 visit to Cuba, Castro attended mass, but did...........
(Excerpt) Read more at geoconger.wordpress.com ...
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The Pope should refuse to absolve this sins if he doesn’t agree to dismantle his regime.
this = his
Castro was once a devout Catholic, before he apostatized. I remember hearing how humble he was after saving the life of a drowning priest when he was 18.
The reason this isn’t making news here is because the Commie Leftists in the newsrooms are fit to be tied that their hero is finding religion again. Fidel’s confession will be a week long event if he is being truthful.
This brings up very serious theological issues about absolution: can someone have don so much evil in his life that it is beyond the Church to grant it? Millions of deaths of innocents can be indirectly laid at castro’s feet and thousands directly there.
FWIIW and I am not joking: I always sided with the son who stayed home.
I’d love to hear Ron Kuby’s (whose mommy is a Commie) reaction to this afterwards.
I’d love to hear Ron Kuby’s (whose mommy is a Commie) reaction to this afterwards.
Ahmadinejad must be disappointed. Didn't he try to convert Castro to islam a few years back?
Simple——God knows what’s in your heart—it’s called “TRUE CONTRITION”
When JP II visited Cuba, I suspected that something like this might happen. Castro was surprisingly respectful, and it was somewhat astonishing that he ever agreed to the visit.
But not until he has decided the end is coming for him, evidently.
Pray for the Pope’s safety.
” can someone have don so much evil in his life that it is beyond the Church to grant it?”
It’s really not up to the Earthly Church to make the final decision, is it? My personal opinion is that no matter what the Earthly Churches decision is, Castro ends up in Hell.
God is concerned only with the salvation of the soul. Naturally He would prefer it be early in the day, but even if it takes place one minute to Midnight, the angels rejoice, and so should we.
We have to hate the sin, but love the sinner.
As difficult as it may be personally, I intend to pray sincerely for Fidel Castro’s salvation.
If you read The Cross and the Swastika, Field Marshal Keitel repented; and Albert Speer’s life was changed towards meditation of better things. However, Goering regarded salvation as a cheat and a game.
I'm not going to argue that faith alone saves because faith alone involves at least one item of work, and works are invalid without faith behind them. If Castro will be saved, God will save him. Yet it seems to me that this if there is a Purgatory, this is where Castro would need to be, to purge himself of the besetting sins and be made perfect for the Heavenly Kingdom.
Otherwise The Pope wouldn't "let him back in", right?
Otherwise The Pope wouldn't "let him back in", right?
Otherwise The Pope wouldn't "let him back in", right?
Lord, please forgive me for the triple-post.
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