And yet Jesus did raise the dead to new life. Would you deny this ability to God today? Also, what St. Thomas speaks of is being returned to life before the soul is judged.
Now, the apparition that some Roman Catholics trust in claimed to "save those who wear the scapular from the fires of hell; She will also shorten their stay in purgatory if they should pass from this world still owing some debt of punishment."
It's two different things. One is the person in Hell due to their "mortal sins"...the other is marking time in purgatory.
First, it should be pointed out that while there is nothing about the promises of the brown scapular that are contrary to the faith, this is not Church doctrine. Second, you misunderstand the idea of saving someone from the fires of hell. This is not to be understood as snatching a soul away that is in hell. For these souls there is no relief. Rather it is preventing them for going there in the first place by opening their souls to the grace of God that will lead them to repentance. I would recommend that you should try to understand Catholic teachings and practices as Catholics understand them before you critique them, rather than forcing them into the purely legalistic understanding of Protestantism, seeking only a way to discredit Catholicism.
And yet Jesus did raise the dead to new life. Would you deny this ability to God today? Also, what St. Thomas speaks of is being returned to life before the soul is judged.
Once you're dead your eternal destination is determined....Heaven or Hell.
For those who believe in Christ He raises them to new life in Him.
For those who reject Him their life is consigned to Hell....forever.
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First, it should be pointed out that while there is nothing about the promises of the brown scapular that are contrary to the faith, this is not Church doctrine.
It is a very strongly held belief among many Roman Catholics and endorsed by various popes. This seems to be more of Rome's attempt to say this isn't official but we allow it.
In either case, it's against the New Testament.
Will you be willing to condemn the message of the apparition and those who wear the Brown scapular as being wrong?
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Second, you misunderstand the idea of saving someone from the fires of hell. This is not to be understood as snatching a soul away that is in hell. For these souls there is no relief. Rather it is preventing them for going there in the first place by opening their souls to the grace of God that will lead them to repentance.
"...that for many who have died in mortal sin the Divine Mother has obtained from God a suspension of their sentence"?"
These are people who have already died.
Once you're dead there is no second chance of being pulled out of Hell.
To use your scenario of trying to keep someone from Hell....the Brown Scapular condemns that person to Hell as they are trusting in it vs having trust in Christ. As I noted to another poster on this thread....it's trust in either the Brown Scapular or trust in Christ. The two are mutually exclusive.
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I would recommend that you should try to understand Catholic teachings and practices as Catholics understand them before you critique them, rather than forcing them into the purely legalistic understanding of Protestantism, seeking only a way to discredit Catholicism.
Legalistic protestantism??? Now that's comical coming from a Roman Catholic.
Roman Catholicism is a purely legalistic denomination....from mandating certain days of obligation or it's a mortal sin....having, well as least ya'll used to, eat fish on Fridays....to having to attend Mass, etc.
I understand Roman Catholic theology. It does not lead to Heaven.
I'd suggest Roman Catholics study the NT in order to understand how to have eternal life in Christ.