Inter-Faith Series, Baptism: What does the Catholic Church teach about children who die before baptism?

Answer 1

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.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Baptism is commanded, with no presumption that the child will die prematurely - and thus would normally be expected to fulfill a lifelong role, in which one lives on earth in the Kingdom from infancy. In the case of a dying or critically sick or endangered infant, he/she is baptised because a parent shouldn't delay to open up the child to the Kingdom of GOD while still in this world.

The infant that dies unbaptised will enter the Kingdom, having done no evil, and having put off the body that inherited Adam's sin - for, dying in personal innocense, the little one has suffered the death that Adam's sin brought, and no longer bears sin, though the soul must recieve some Knowledge of GOD from a Care-giving Angel, then be brought with that Instruction into GOD's Glory for ever. That child, because unbaptised, was outside of GOD's Kingdom in this world, but enters the Kingdom only after death.

The early Church Fathers and the first century Apocalypse of Peter taught these things clearly. In the Passion of Perpetua, we see that in the case of an unbaptised older child, that died of a health problem, the Prayer of one who went to Martyrdom before she could fulfill her own desire to be baptised, being martyred as a Catecumen, was used in the Povidence of GOD to bring the deceased child into the Kingdom. Sometimes GOD waits for an act of Intercession to accompany HIS Act, before HE fulfills the Act. The Martyr had a Baptism in blood, and such was accepted in place of the desired Baptism in Water.

No little one is lost. The Sacrifice of the LAMB of GOD automatically saves innocents prematurely deceased. The Church shares in the SAVIOR's concern for them by remembering them in the Prayers in the Mass - many have prayed to this end in every generation since JESUS rose from the dead.

Answer 3

First you have to know what Baptism is.......Bapitism is an unconditional dedication to God to do his will, Children can't do that. there are no children baptised in the Bible here's what the Bible says..........
....(1 Peter 3:21-22) 21 That which corresponds to this is also now saving YOU, namely, baptism, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the request made to God for a good conscience,) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 22 He is at God’s right hand, for he went his way to heaven; and angels and authorities and powers were made subject to him.

all the dead go to one place
(Ecclesiastes 9:5) 5 For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten.


no exceptions. there they await the ressuection

Answer 4

Baptism is for the remission of sins and removes the stain of original sin. Christians Baptize their children so that they may enter heaven and be in the presence of God for eternity. Jesus commanded that the children not be hindered from coming to him and they do through Baptism. The Bible teaches that no one will be in the presence of God who has sin. Even though children do not have actual sin the are born with the stain of original sin inherited from our first parents and are in need of Baptism.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 5

Basically, we hope they go to Heaven, but we just don't know. The theory of Limbo "remains a possible theological opinion" (The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptized, 41).
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/cti_documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070419_un-baptised-infants_en.html

"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." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1261)
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P3M.HTM

Answer 6

i'm no longer Catholic yet i've got self assurance that to baptize and toddler that doesn't comprehend Jesus yet and has no thank you to choose Him then it somewhat is superb left till he/she is sufficiently old to get carry of Him. My church does not baptize babies they commit them to the Lord. No water is used. Catholics use the theory that Jesus exchange into baptized so as hence others are to boot. using the coolest judgment how come Jesus exchange into no longer baptized as an toddler? truly they might have executed it had they hassle-free he exchange into going to choose it with a view to get to heaven so the Catholics think of. i exchange into baptized as an toddler as a results of fact of my denomination and because we did no longer comprehend any further helpful. I even have additionally been water dunked baptized and that i've got executed it 4 cases. no longer as a results of fact I had to yet as a results of fact as quickly as I attended a sparkling church I did it with them. So i'm over baptized. I say do what ever you choose on Baptism yet do no longer tension others to ought to do it your way. It does not complication me that Catholics and actually some different denominations baptize their babies. i comprehend that I ought to do exactly as i've got self assurance God is maximum advantageous me to do.

Answer 7

As a former Member of the roman catholic church , and a inmate of 9 years in a Catholic school/ prison . I can tell you the church teaches that if you die before baptism you go to hell

Answer 8

The Roman Catholic Church, the church which never changes, has been changing its mind about that a lot lately.

So I don't know what they teach about that this week.

I really only care about what the Bible says.

Pastor Art

Answer 9

They are saved by the sacrifice of Jesus.

Answer 10

They do not go to Hell.