that a baby who isn't baptized will not make it to heaven? Personally, I have trouble with this for so many reasons. First, I've suffered a miscarriage and cannot stand to think that my baby isn't with God now. Second, when I think of the horrible "mothers" who toss their babies into the garbage..for example, I can't imagine that after they suffered their entire little lives, God wouldn't scoop them up into his very own arms and welcome them into heaven. He isn't a "vengeful" god. He is forgiving, and a baby has NO say in whether or not they are baptized.
2007-02-07 09:26:26 · 20 answers · asked by mommyismyname 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
no no no no! Oh dear Lord, no.
The Catholic Church *USED TO* teach that unbaptized babies went to limbo cuz while they were completely innocent, they still hadn't been baptized. That is very old and no longer applies.
Without getting into a huge theological discussion on "heaven," I would say that your view of a loving and forgiving God is accurate and applies here. My personal belief is that in cases like you have mentioned (or even babies who die in the first months of life), that God takes those little ones directly into His care. Whether or not that is "heaven," I don't know. But they are with God - I very deeply believe that.
I am so sorry to hear about your miscarriage. I have no doubt that your child is with God, if that is any comfort.
2007-02-07 09:29:37 · answer #1 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The current Catholic belief is that nobody knows where babies go who have not been baptized. The hope and trust in Jesus to provide a place for the little ones is there. He said "do not prevent the little ones from coming unto me" It used to be that the closest we could come to where babies went who weren't baptized was Limbo (not a full fledged Church doctrine). Supposedly in this place babies were happy and everything but, they just weren't with God. Since then thought has changed and most people think the babies are with Jesus and the Blessed Mother.
2007-02-07 09:43:56 · answer #2 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry to hear that. yes he made it to heaven. I'm a catholic my self. so we do believe that if the child is born alive and not baptized within 3 months the child will be rejected, because it was the parents fault. if the baby was a miscarriage then god will take him to heaven. he will not reject any unborn, and any unbaptized child. you can probably look it up in an catholic bible. but if you knew that the child was sick and would not make it out through the pregnancy then you will need to get a priest to baptize the child.
so all in all we do believe that if a catholic couple has a child and does not get it baptized within the three months then god will not accept the child. unless the child is admitted into a different religion.
2007-02-07 09:54:55 · answer #3 · answered by bubba 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Infant baptism is preached and practiced by a number of denominations (Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist, Catholic).
How does a week-old baby's lifestyle change after his baptism? He lives and acts the same as he did before he was baptized by the priest, but this is not true of those who received New Testament baptism. If an infant cannot be obedient and then become disobedient to the word of God?
When one is baptized they must choose whether or not to "continue in sin" an infant can not do this,those buried and raised in baptism were expected to "walk in newness of life" . its pretty clear what is required on one when they take on baptism. Read Romans 6,1Corinthians 12,Galatians 3,Colossians 2. This should help you see what it takes and an infant can not do this.A baby is innocent.
2007-02-07 09:39:12 · answer #4 · answered by K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catholics have struggled with that question ever since they deduced the doctrine of Original Sin. The best they could come with was "limbo", a place for people who, through no fault of their own were never baptized, that is nearly like heaven except for the complete absence of God (which is supposed to be the whole point of heaven). It was a necessary invention to reconcile the doctrine with God's infinite mercy, but it never really worked. It was just humans trying to explain God without actually knowing anything for certain.
Only a few months ago a group of Catholic theologians proposed doing away with limbo, presumably supposing God grants a waiver to innocent heathens. No word on when pope Benedict will get around to looking at that.
2007-02-07 09:35:02 · answer #5 · answered by skepsis 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm sorry for your very real loss of a very real child (not "just a mass of tissue", as some claim).
>>Do Catholics really believe that a baby who isn't baptized will not make it to heaven?<<
This is from the Catechism:
"As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them," allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism. All the more urgent is the Church's call not to prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism." (CCC 1261)
2007-02-07 09:36:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mt 18:3 -
and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
There is obviously an "age of accountability." Children, especially babies, are innocent, not sinless, but innocent of the Law and it's condemnation. Where does one go if they are deemed innocent by the Creator and judge? They go to be with Him in heaven!
I disagree, God is indeed vengeful. Thankfully it is also true that He is merciful and forgiving.
2007-02-07 09:47:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved." (Mark 16:15-16)
For centuries, people have wondered about children who died before they were baptized. The Bible does not explicitly state that they will go to heaven.
Limbo was suggested as the place where unbaptized babies went when they died. This idea was never official Church doctrine and has been rejected.
The Church now says that it is not sure what happens to unbaptized babies when they die but she entrusts them to the mercy of God.
With love in Christ.
2007-02-07 17:23:31 · answer #8 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
All babies, including the aborted ones, go directly to heaven. They are saved by Christ's redeeming sacrifice which cleansed all of us from original sin. The Catholic Church, through its Councils, never adopted the doctrine of limbo; although, some Catholic theologians endorsed it at one time.
Have a blessed and peaceful day!
2007-02-07 09:37:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Official Teachings of the Catholic Church (Catechism of the Catholic Church) states ...
1261 As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them,"64 allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism. All the more urgent is the Church's call not to prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism.
2007-02-07 09:41:29 · answer #10 · answered by azarus_again 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋