As if it matters, where do unbaptized babies go if they die?

Question

Talk of drafting doctrine that says unbaptized babies go to heaven
VATICAN CITY - Vatican theologians are leaning toward revising centuries-old teaching that babies who die without baptism go to limbo instead of heaven, officials said Friday.
“All of us have hope for the babies” that they will go to heaven, under the revised thinking on limbo, said the Rev. Luis Ladaria, a Jesuit who is secretary-general of the Vatican’s International Theological Commission.
The commission, which advises the pope and other top doctrinal officials of the church, has spent the week debating the question of limbo in view of preparing a document.
Although Catholics have long believed that children who die without being baptized still have original sin and are thus excluded from heaven, the church has no formal doctrine on the matter, Vatican officials have noted.
Theologians have taught that such children enjoy an eternal state of perfect natural happiness, commonly called limbo.
The theologians, including clergy and laity, were holding a final session Friday evening. But Ladaria said the theologians have not reached the point of drafting a document.
Italian state TV reported Thursday evening that the document would be ready next year.
“That could be very possible,” Ladaria said. But “when it will be ready to be published, should they (the Vatican) decide to do so, doesn’t depend on” the commission.
Ladaria made his comments during a break in the debate, speaking by telephone from the Vatican City guest house hosting the meeting.
Since both Pope Benedict XVI and his predecessor, John Paul II, have urged the theologians to study the limbo question, a document is widely expected to be made public.
Benedict celebrated Mass with members of the commission Friday, but his homily, a reflection on theologians’ work, did not touch on the limbo debate.
Ladaria’s hopes for the non-baptized babies’ fate after death echoed the optimistic opinion by an Italian bishop who is on the commission.
Asked if the document will “tip the balance in the favor of heaven” for babies now believed to go to limbo, Archbishop Bruno Forte told state TV, “I hope so.”
Archbishop William Levada, the San Francisco prelate who last year became the Vatican’s guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy after Benedict assumed the papacy, has described the need to resolve the limbo question as a pressing one.
Levada has cited an increase in the number of non-baptized babies in societies he said were marked by “cultural relativism and religious pluralism.”
Ladaria in an interview last year with Vatican Radio described the long-held view on limbo, as a state where the babies enjoyed “natural happiness” but had no vision of God, as “being in crisis.”
Any document on limbo would likely reflect Benedict’s nature, as a career theologian, to spell out the Church’s stand on limbo in a well-developed theological argument.

Answer 1

The Vatican can draft all the documents they want. God has always taken unbaptized babies to heaven when they die. God makes the rules. Not the Vatican. I was raised believing in limbo and purgatory. It was scary, as a kid, to think that innocent, little babies didn't automatically go to heaven when they died if they had not been baptized. When I grew up and realized what a load of crap that was, I was so relieved.

Answer 2

That was the most reading I have ever did not to mean much of anything.

First off I don't think a child knows right from wrong before they are 3 years. There only starting to learn they should not do something around the age of 6 or they will get whack on the rear end. At the age of 12 they have a pretty good idea of what is wrong and what is right but only because they know what they will get in trouble for. So they still have no good judgement and are just now starting to find out what good and bad are all about.

By 18 years old children have a good ideal of what the real meaning good is about and what is evil. Any time before the point of awareness, which is about 18 years old. A child's parents or trainer is the one who will risk not making it to heaven. It is adults that should not brain wash a child and because that would be forced religion. So force anyone under this age to be baptized would be false because this young person is not old enough to make up their own minds if they believe in this or not.

Don't baptize your child because that is wrong. This is something they have to want. Do not force feed religion on a child because that is brainwashing. Would send you to the bad place.. Think it over.. What gives you the right to play god and pick who you want to do what and force it on them?

Answer 3

Wow! This is quite a question. Well, first of all, remember where this whole christianity thing came from - the Bible. Therefore, instead of over-complicating matters, how about returning to the source. Limbo (or Purgatory) is a concept that was made up long after the Bible was written. In fact lots of stuff in Christianity was altered to fit the societies from which they came. All of this extra stuff is contary to God's word and therefore only what is in the Bible should be consulted. In fact, I believe there is verse that specifically forbids the alteration of his word, which is eactly what is happening when things like Purgatory are invented, or changing the rules for unbaptized babies. So sadly, I believe that the Bible states that an unbaptized baby would go to hell. Gee, I though the Christian god was a compassionate god. Well, actually, the Bible also says that it is okay to beat your wife. Wait-a-minute, that's not right. I thought Christianity was all about being good and moral. Sending babies to eternal torment in a pit of fire just for the lack of water drizzled on its forehead and beating your wife doesn't sound so nice and moral. Good thing it is all just made up anyway.
But, if you interested on a discussion of the concept of limbo, you should check out Dante's Purgatorio from the Divine Comedy. Dante has invented all sorts of different levels for the poor souls who find themselves in purgatory.

Answer 4

I'm a christain, so I'm going to explain it from their point of view.

Babies don't get baptised, because they need to be old enough to understand Jesus before they can accept them into there heart.

There is alot of controversy as to where babies go when they die, but from different views, and from reading the bible, a child will go to heaven because they haven't been able to comprehend Jesus yet, and Jesus undestands that ;)

Answer 5

According to religion, to take a shitt and forget about frets and countries, then abide their business as usual and get horny, yep.
Now really, baptism is only lore and see-believe, so if the darn thing does not see it your way, and no one does, he or she will go to the loka he must pursue, unless the darn thing was but a fling of virtue, so it just vanishes into perception of elan, very just and fair, if you ask me. Are you not familiar to these issues? you are almost there, pal. Don´t freak on me, after death both of you go to the 114th, so farewell, baby. By the way, I go to the top one, key and all. Peace be with you.
Yes, I am peruvian, and yes I am Allah.

Answer 6

that's pretty simple-heaven is where they go...the vatican doesn't male the rules...they can appoint all the commissions and councils they want, and the pope can say 'boogly-boogly' for all that it matters-God decides...not a bunch of geezers in rome

Answer 7

..depends on what you believe. Some people say heaven, some people say they go back into where they had come from, and their energy just keeps moving. I personally don't know, but I hope it's somewhere better than this here on earth.

Answer 8

Holy Cow! Longest question in Q&A history.
Let's get our mind on where the babies who live go.

Answer 9

long question; short answer--heaven

Answer 10

To the graveyard?