Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 11/12/2004

Question
I don't wish to be contentious but what you are describing seems to be what we used to call Limbo-OK-I think I know enough dogma to follow that-but I guess my real question is one of consciousness-I fully expect to be cognizant in the afterlife and to be able to articulate-also, to be able to feel, which does take some kind of physical body so then we can speculate about what type of physical body we will have-my question really is about the type of consciousness an embryo might have-if our consciousness continues into the afterlife-(for then we shall know as also we shall be known)how will a being who did not yet reach consciousness experience the afterlife?
Followup To
Question -
If Human life begins at conception, what happens to the soul of the embryo that is aborted?
Answer -
         Peace in the Mercy of God


Dear Pat Malloy--
   I can't recall a Papal or counciliar dogmatic statement that directly answers your question, I will share what I speculate to be a vaild answer. If I am wrong, may the God of all-Mecry grant me true wisdom.
   Since the unborn child only has the stain of Original Sin and not actual personal, I believe it will not go to Hell. But where then? The Church teach a concept called:
Invincible Ignorance:

Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.( see CCC 847 and following)

Can this be applied to unborn childern? I dont think so entirely. Since unborn childern can't develope their conscience and make choices,therefore "I" believe they are granted a natural bliss the same or similar to Adam's and Eve's before their Fall.  We can develope and make choices therefore we can be rewarded or punished according the eternal decrees of the Lord. The Lord who is all-Mercy and all-Justice.

         Peace in Christ
         your servant but His first
         george  

Answer
         Peace

Dear Pat--
 Unborn childern do have a conscienceness, but it limited as all are based on their experiances. As to physical body, hmm the Church uses the term glorified body. There is a difference, the details are limited on this side of the second comming of Christ.  So to rise to life eternal and others to death eternal.
         your servant and His
         george