The good thief was under the old covenant. He did not go directly to heaven, he went to the same place as Adam, Eve, Abraham, and the Holy Innocents all of which were not under the obligation of being baptized to be saved. Heaven was not opened till the Resurrection of Our Lord.
From The Catechism of Trent: Baptism Made Obligatory After Christ's Resurrection
The second period to be distinguished, that is, the time when the law of Baptism was made, also admits of no doubt. Holy writers are unanimous in saying that after the Resurrection of our Lord, when He gave to His Apostles the command to go and teach all nations: baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, the law of Baptism became obligatory on all who were to be saved.
re: Baptism of desire is scriptural. That's your opinion. There is no passage in scripture that is more exact than the requirement that one must be baptized to be saved. Besides, I'm not a Protestant, if you want to discuss dogma that's fine. If you want to discuss scripture, go and join one of the many never ending circle discussions with other YOPIOS on FR.
re:What’s your issue with converts, btw?
None. My issue is liberals and progressivists and the dumb down Catholics they have taught. Where people came from to become Catholics is of no concern to me. My favorite female saint is Mary Magdalene, who was a whore. Among the strict interpreters of EENS there are many Protestant converts.
re: All this sedevacantist nonsense is no different than what Luther, or Calvin did 500 years ago. You simply don’t want to submit to the pope, anymore than Luther or Calvin.
1)I'm not a sedevacantes.
2)Luther and Calvin rejected THE OFFICE of pope. I don't.
3)The author of the article of this thread is in union with his local bishop and the pope.
4)sedevacantes don't reject the office of the pope, which would be heretical. They just don't believe that the post Vatican II popes are valid popes. Big Difference.
5) Let's see how you submit to the pope when he issues a decree that you don't like? Do you contraceptives? 99% of Catholics use them. I doubt if 1% of you who claim to follow the pope have had all the children God has sent you.
1, ok cool.
2, 3, 4. Submission is the issue. Like them, you find submission to Benedict XVI difficult.
“5) Let’s see how you submit to the pope when he issues a decree that you don’t like? Do you contraceptives? 99% of Catholics use them. I doubt if 1% of you who claim to follow the pope have had all the children God has sent you.”
And you lose. I have never used contraception. I am hoping, God willing, to have a family.
“That’s your opinion. There is no passage in scripture that is more exact than the requirement that one must be baptized to be saved. Besides, I’m not a Protestant, if you want to discuss dogma that’s fine. If you want to discuss scripture, go and join one of the many never ending circle discussions with other YOPIOS on FR.”
I’m not arguing against the principle that baptism is a requirement. All I’m arguing is that baptism of blood and baptism of desire are valid ways by which one can achieve baptism.
Fr’instance my home parish baptises catecumenates at Easter, every year. If someone were to die in the process of entering the Church, they still would be considered baptised. In the early days catechumens studied much longer than they do now.