Sadly, according to some freepers, that mere fact alone means that Scalia "wasn't a Christian".
According to them, the only people who "count" as "Christians" are those "who can tell you the exact moment they were saved". Someone like Scalia, who was baptized as a baby, would be exempt from their definition of "Christian". It doesn't matter how pious Scalia was in his life, the fact he fervently prayed to Christ before every Supreme Court session, or worshiped daily at church each morning using traditional latin language prayers, or even that he raised his nine children as Christians and inspired his son, Rev. Paul Scalia, to become an ordained minister. Scalia wouldn't be able to name the "exact day" he went to a tent revival meeting and "accepted Christ" and got "saved" (because such an event never happened in his life), so therefore he "never became a Christian", according to them.
Not only would EVERY single Catholic in the world be excluded from being recognized as "Christian" under this definition, but so would every single Orthodox Christian, and a huge amount of protestant Christians who practice infant baptism (Lutherans, Methodists, Anglicans, Presbyterians, etc.) Not only was Scalia "not a Christian", neither was his fellow justice William H. Rehnquist (as a Lutheran, he was baptized as a baby), or Justices Alito and Thomas. Nor was George Washington, Ronald Reagan, etc. Famous figures who devoted their lives to Christ, like Joan of Arc and Mother Teresa, would likewise be labeled "non-Christians" since they had accepted Christ since they were old enough to understand the concept, and thus, wouldn't be able to tell you "the exact moment they got saved"
Ironically, the Catholic sacrament of Confirmation means that every single practicing Catholic would be able to cite their confirmation as an exact time where they made a public, voluntarily profession in front of a community of fellow believers that they accepted Christ and would live their adult lives as a Christian. But this doesn't "count" towards "becoming a Christian" in the eyes of those naysayers, since confirmed Catholics like Scalia don't cite their confirmation as the moment they got "saved". They believe salvation is a lifelong process, not an instant moment in time.
I'd hope the life of people like Justice Scalia might cause people to rethink their narrow definition of "Christian" so they don't exclude 90% of their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and see them as "non-Christians". Unfortunately, I don't think reflecting on Scalia's faith will cause them to rethink their worldview.
I was baptized as an infant (Catholic). Was confirm at about 10 years old. Can’t remember the exact age, but all it amounted to was memorizing answers to questions the bishop might ask us. I didn’t become regenerated by the Holy Spirit in my late 30’s. About 15 years after I escaped from Catholicism.
I'd like to know who these "some" Freeper are who would assert that. It's usually some FRoman Catholics who insist that anyone who isn't a Catholic cannot be a Christian.
I have a deep respect and appreciation for Justice Scalia and his death is a tragedy for ALL Conservatives especially at this time. Would that the other five Catholic justices had his same convictions.
Nice post.
The bigots you mention should be very glad and self-satisfied on their narrow road to Hell.