Why do babies go to hell if unbabtized in the catholic religion?

Question

This does not sound very right to me. How can babies make a commitment to god that they can comprehend? Mormons cant be baptized till 8 years of age. That seems more right. Can anyone answer this?

In addition why can't catholic clergy marry isnt that contrary to procreation?

Answer 1

There is much confusion about baptism in the various Christian denominations. However, this is not a result of the Bible presenting a confusing message on baptism. The Bible is abundantly clear of what baptism is, who it is for, and what it accomplishes. In the Bible, only believers who had placed their faith in Christ were baptized - as a public testimony of their faith and identification with Him (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4). Water baptism by immersion is a step of obedience after faith in Christ. It is a proclamation of faith in Christ, a statement of submission to Him, and an identification with His death, burial, and resurrection.

With this in view, infant baptism is not a Biblical practice. An infant cannot place his or her faith in Christ. An infant cannot make a conscious decision to obey Christ. An infant cannot understand what water baptism symbolizes. The Bible does not record any infants being baptized. Infant baptism is the origin of the sprinkling and pouring methods of baptism - as it is unwise and unsafe to immerse an infant under water. Even the method of infant baptism fails to agree with the Bible. How does pouring or sprinkling illustrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

Many Christians who practice infant baptism do so because they understand infant baptism as the new covenant equivalent of circumcision. In this view, just as circumcision joined a Hebrew to the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants, so baptism joined a person to the New Covenant of salvation through Jesus Christ. This view is unbiblical. The New Testament nowhere describes baptism as the New Covenant replacement for Old Covenant circumcision. The New Testament nowhere describes baptism as a sign of the New Covenant. It is faith in Jesus Christ that enables a person to enjoy to blessings of the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 9:15).

Baptism does not save a person. It does not matter if you were baptized by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling - if you have not first trusted in Christ for salvation, baptism (no matter the method) is meaningless and useless. Water baptism by immersion is a step of obedience to be done after salvation as a public profession of faith in Christ and identification with Him. Infant baptism does not fit the Biblical definition of baptism or the Biblical method of baptism. If Christian parents wish to dedicate their child to Christ, then a baby dedication service is entirely appropriate. However, even if infants are dedicated to the Lord, when they grow up they will still have to make a personal decision to believe in Jesus Christ in order to be saved.

The reason that Catholic priests are not allowed to marry is because the church does not want them to die and will their money and possesions to their family. They want to keep the priest's money in the church.

Answer 2

The reason it doesn't sound right is becuase it's not right.

Babies do not go to hell if unbaptized - in any of the Christian denominations. Since babies are below the age of reason, they are not morally responsible for their actions.

We trust the Lord and His Infinite Mercy. Should a baby die before he/she is baptized, the baby's soul is accepted into heaven.

A quick word on limbo: There has never been a time in which the Church officially taught the existance of limbo. A few decades ago, some very high-profile Catholic theologians proposed the possibility of limbo. Because they were well known, their idea spread in spite of it not being part of official Church Doctrine. Their reasoning was that even though baptism was beyond the baby's control, they still couldn't enter heaven on account they still bear original sin. Purgatory is a place of purification in preparation for heaven. They believed there has to be another abode where the sould of unbaptized babies go. They came up with limbo.

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In a nutshell, Catholic Clergymen are called to celibacy. Married couples are not. Since married couples are not prohibited from having sex, they can rear children. There is nothing contradictory here.

Answer 3

The Catholic Church teaches that unbaptized babies do go to heaven. The CHURCH HAS NEVER TAUGHT THAT THEY GO TO HELL. At one time there was a belief that they went to Limbo, which was like heaven. THE CHURCH NO LONGER BELIEVES IN LIMBO. Jesus loved Children and so does the Catholic Church. Babies may be baptized. When they get older and can choose for themselves, they will have the option to be Confirmed.
The rule against unmarried clergy is only since the 17th or 18th century. The men who study for the priesthood are given many years before they are ordained to decide if the celibate life is for them or not. No one forces them to be a priest.
Nuns, Sisters, Monks, and Religious Brothers also take the vow of celibacy. This is a gift they freely give to God.

Answer 4

The Catholic Church never ever ever said unbaptized babies went to hell.

There was a time when there was a theory going around that they went to a paradise which was not heaven -- they called this limbo -- but this was never official church doctrine, just a theory that became popular but nowadays is not so popular.

Read the catechism of the Catholic Church for official church teachings. Last I heard from a priest during Mass, official teaching was that unbaptized babies went to heaven.

As for priestly celibacy, this is a little rule that the Church made up later and can change any time it decides to. After all, Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law -- that tells us that our first Pope was married. Priestly celibacy is not doctrine. It's just one of those little rules (okay, not so little for quite a few lonely priests) that the Church can change, like not eating meat on Friday.

To the answerer above:

As for the priest's money thing -- what money? Read your history to learn about how families dealt with inheritance issues -- in most cases sons forfeited their inheritance when they entered the priesthood. For example, in renaissance Italy, only one son married so the estate could be kept intact. The others were on their own. Of course, this will vary from culture to culture in the universal church. But your money theory is full of holes. Franciscans took a vow of poverty.

As for the Catholic view of baptism, infant baptism is only part one, followed by Confirmation where you accept Jesus for yourself.

Answer 5

In the catholic church a baptism is when the parents say that they will raise there child in the catholic faith. Conformation is when the child says that they accept the catholic faith and that happens when that person is in the 10th grade, so 15 or 16 years old.

Clergy men don't marry because they must completely dedicate themselves to God and the church without any distractions. Family is a distraction.

Answer 6

Where did you get you're Catholic information from? That's totally incorrect. In fact Catholics believe people who are not even Christian can go to heaven, so that would be contradictory to your statement about babies going to hell if they're not baptized. Catholic are one of the only Christian churches (if not the only) that believe you still can go to Heaven without being baptized- of course if certain circumstances apply. Look it up.

Answer 7

The unbaptized baby idea was overturned at one of the more recent council of cardinals (Vatican 2 I think but I am not sure) and they now say that they do not go to hell (or purgatory which is were they were said to go, a limbo of neither heaven nor hell)

The theory behind the chastity of the catholic clergy is that they are devoted to God. A wife, in their opinion, would distract the priest from his devotion to God.

Answer 8

Anyone that dies before the age of 8 will automatically go to heaven no matter what. It doesn't matter what their religion is or what their beliefs are. Age 8 is the Age of Acountability, the age when people can start making their own decisions. That is why Mormons (I am one) babtize when they are 8, not when they are born.

Answer 9

Pastor Billy says: which Catholic religion are you referring to?
Your question is faulty if you are referring to Roman Catholicism because Roman Catholicism does not teach unbaptised babies go to hell. Priests are not forced into anything as no man is force to be a priest. I suggest you take a course on logic, philosophy and Christian theology.

Answer 10

You are WAY wrong, they don't go to hell if unbaptized... as for the priests not marrying, it isn't against procreation. The priest makes a commitment to God, leaving women for other men who aren't priests...