In Limbo

The notion of limbo has long been problematic for the Church (Photo-AP)

The BBC is doing some bang-up work in keeping an eye on the whole issue of religion.All we need now is for them to do a little more objective-type journalism to thresh out all of the nonsenese. For example, do you, dear reader, find anything especially pointless about articles like the one below?

The Pope may be about to abolish the notion of limbo, the halfway house between heaven and hell, inhabited by unbaptised infants. The Pope, himself, has been quoted in the past as saying that he would let the idea of limbo "drop, since it has always been only a theological hypothesis".

He was quoted as saying that limbo has never been a "definitive truth of the faith". According to church historian Michael Walsh limbo is so unpopular it has all but dropped out of Catholic consciousness.

It has not really been standard teaching for decades and it has not been part of official teaching since the early 1990s, when it was omitted from the catechism - the Church's summary of religious doctrine.

But, there are a number of conservative and traditionally minded Catholics who say they are shocked by the notion of getting rid of limbo. Some argue that the question of limbo has taken on fresh urgency because it could be hindering the Church's conversion of Africa and Asia, where infant mortality rates are high.

An article in the UK's Times newspaper this week suggested that the "Pope - an acknowledged authority on all things Islamic - is only too aware that Muslims believe the souls of stillborn babies go straight to heaven".

An...acknowledged authority on all things Islamic?

Since when?