The new Catholic statements?

Question

What does everyone think of what the Catholic church has just come out and said about infant baptism? I read an article on it this morning. Just curious about what others thought..

Even though I'm LDS, I care what other religions are doing. I think it's interesting that after so long, the church has decided to change this one doctrine. I never have believed in infant baptism, so to me, it's a good thing.

Oh!! Here's the link to the story I read. I'm sure there are other papers talking about it too..
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/218850/

Answer 1

I find it rather interesting..

I did learn some things from the article--

St. Augustine in the 400's thought that baptism was so important that even babies needed it to be saved/enter heaven... although I wonder about his understanding of God's mercy.

I learned that committees advise the Pope. Does he receive council from God, also?

This committee is still pretty vague about what they've found/decided... Why aren't they more decisive? Are they afraid of offending someone? Are they just not confident about an issue as important as the salvation of little children? Considering all the miscarriages, abortions, and the high infant mortality of past ages, I would think a merciful and loving God would be more clear on this issue, at least for the sake of parents.

It seems that, at least in this case, when a doctrine makes enough people uncomfortable/unhappy... whatever, a committee is created to research it. Committees have never been particularly effective in doing much of anything. They're usually only as fast as the slowest member- making decisions, understanding concepts...

Answer 2

+ Limbo +

The Church has pondered the suggestion of Limbo for a few hundred years and has decided that it is not a good idea. Limbo was never official doctrine.

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.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.htm#1261

+ Infant Baptism +

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called."

Infant baptism is not a new thing. There are non-biblical documented sources starting in the second century telling of infant Baptism.

There are even several passages in the Bible where whole households were baptized. This would include everyone who lived there, men, women, children, and infants.

Acts 16:15, "After she and her household had been baptized"

Acts 16:33, "then he and all his family were baptized at once."

Acts 18:8, "came to believe in the Lord along with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized."

1 Corinthians 1:16, "I baptized the household of Stephanas"

St. Paul wrote that baptism has replaced circumcision (Col 2:11-12), and in Judaism circumcision was performed primarily on infants.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.htm#1250

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 3

This article does not do away with infant baptism; it is a report born from an extensive study of the teaching of limbo. The article says that after much study, we can have more confidence that unbaptized babies will go to heaven, though this is not known for sure 100%.

Infants should be baptized for removal of the original sin.

God bless.

Answer 4

because of the fact Catholics evaluate somebody who grew to become into as quickly as a Catholic constantly a Catholic whether training or not, I chosen to respond to this question even nevertheless i've got not practiced in a sturdy ten years and that i attend a Pentecostal Church now. I very own a duplicate of the Cathechism of the Roman Catholic Church, and that i've got study it thoroughly. I incredibly have additionally study the full bible, that's greater effective than maximum Catholics I incredibly have ever met can say. I basically have not got self belief in sacred custom, and that i carry it as not something greater effective than an easy out for the Catholic Church to make regardless of manmade rules that it needs. in case you cant practice that some thing is in the bible, than it form of feels extremely obvious the ingredient you're doing, inclusive of praying to mary, the stainless theory, or praying to saints, is obviously manmade. there isn't any way that that's the rest different than manmade. there are a number of human beings inclusive of myself who have not have been given any reason to lie approximately having been former Roman Catholic. that is not impossible for somebody to be taught all there is approximately Catholicism, and to nonetheless disagree with the church. I attended a Catholic college, the Franciscan college of Steubenville, and that i took classes in theology. i understand what Im meant to have self belief, I basically chosen to not have self belief it. Im not ignorant, I basically chosen a various direction, and that i stumble on assertions to the different to be offensive. there is yet another challenge i'm hesitant to point because of the fact i understand how mushy that's, yet i will indicate it besides the actual incontrovertible fact that. one ingredient i won't recover from, is the Roman Catholic church homes intercourse scandals. How clergymen may well be in character christi, and nonetheless rape and molest little boys is previous me. i understand Im probably stepping on ft by potential of stating the intercourse scandals, and that i understand that its not each and every priest who has completed such issues, yet there's a extensive adequate form of clergy to make one supply up and incredibly think of, some thing approximately that is evil.

Answer 5

I think it is very interesting...and I wonder what actually made him "change" the limbo thing...if he really was inspired or just made a decision. I hope it was inspiration... we as LDS already know the age of accountability is 8 so it's wonderful to see another leader of another church step in the correct direction...
I don't think that only LDS people can receive inspiration from the Spirit. I think it's great that he has come out with this and hopefully the Catholic members will be able to accept it lovingly.

Answer 6

The news coverage had been really misleading. The Church hasn't changed anything. The document states, "The conclusion of this study is that there are theological and liturgical reasons to HOPE that infants who die without baptism MAY be saved and brought into eternal happiness even if there is not an explicit teaching on this question found in revelation." (emphasis mine)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070420/ts_nm/pope_limbo_dc_2

This is basically the same thing the Church said 15 years ago in the Catechism:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a1.htm#VI

Answer 7

I didn't see it but feel its about time ( a good thing) they took away limbo it was never biblical just a way for the catholic church to control young people and new familys.

Answer 8

Every religion on the face of this earth keeps changing its fables. Obvious sing that its all a lie. Like a all powerful God would keep changing his mind and would need multiple people to spread his message. come on......

Answer 9

Sorry no offence intended but what does it matter to you as a Mormon what the Catholic church says or does, have you another reason for your question?

Answer 10

I find it amusing on a religious level, because where would 'limbo' be exactly? Where did they come up with that doctrine. It gets me thinking. . . .