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Frank_Roman
Guest
Can anyone explain what we believe in regards to limbo, neccesity of baptism, and salvation of non-catholics. I’ve heard apparently contradicting things from various priests. 
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Lazerlike42
Guest
Limbo was a theological speculation which was never official teaching of the Church. Recently, the Church has declared that Limbo is not a true idea (though I am not sure if it was said that it is likely not true or that it is definitely not true).
Baptism is absolutley necessary for salvation. However, baptism comes in three varieties. First there is baptism of water. This is the normative means by which an individual receives salvation. Secondly there exists what is called baptism of blood. This refers to a case in which an individual sacrifices his or her life for Christ. In such a case, the individual arrives immediately in Heaven. Thirdly there exists what is called a baptism of desire. This refers to a case in which an individual is truly eeking God with all of his or her heart, but is either unable to be baptized prior to his death (for instance, a person whom comes to faith alone in a desert), or is truly and deeply unaware of the necessity of baptism. However, consider the case of a person whom has a baptism of desire and at a later time becomes aware of the necessity of water baptism. Such a person would need to accept water baptism. Were he to reject it, his baptism of desire would essentially be null and void because he rejected Christ’s commandments, and thus Christ Himself.
It is therefore possible that a non-Catholic be saved. It is uncertain how frequently this occurs, but it is a teaching of the Church that it is possible. A person may truly be unaware of Christ’s desire for him to be in the Catholic Church. God will not condemn the individual for his lack of knowledge. However, such a case would require that the individual truly has sought out God and His truth, and truly has made an effort to determine what God desires of him.
Baptism is absolutley necessary for salvation. However, baptism comes in three varieties. First there is baptism of water. This is the normative means by which an individual receives salvation. Secondly there exists what is called baptism of blood. This refers to a case in which an individual sacrifices his or her life for Christ. In such a case, the individual arrives immediately in Heaven. Thirdly there exists what is called a baptism of desire. This refers to a case in which an individual is truly eeking God with all of his or her heart, but is either unable to be baptized prior to his death (for instance, a person whom comes to faith alone in a desert), or is truly and deeply unaware of the necessity of baptism. However, consider the case of a person whom has a baptism of desire and at a later time becomes aware of the necessity of water baptism. Such a person would need to accept water baptism. Were he to reject it, his baptism of desire would essentially be null and void because he rejected Christ’s commandments, and thus Christ Himself.
It is therefore possible that a non-Catholic be saved. It is uncertain how frequently this occurs, but it is a teaching of the Church that it is possible. A person may truly be unaware of Christ’s desire for him to be in the Catholic Church. God will not condemn the individual for his lack of knowledge. However, such a case would require that the individual truly has sought out God and His truth, and truly has made an effort to determine what God desires of him.
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anawim
Guest
A papal committee was recently convened to evaluate and propose a fuller understanding and explanation as to the state of unbaptized babies. We are still awaiting the results. May take a while.
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mspencer
Guest
I agree with Lazerlike, though the question can be raised, where did good people go before Christ redeemed mankind? They could not go into heaven. They could only have gone to another place for the just which has been called limbo. These are the people Christ met when he descended to the dead, as the creed states. Whether there is a limbo now, I would not know. I didn’t know that the Church has said limbo is “not a true idea,” whatever that may mean, but it would be interesting to know if the Church has said anything recently about it.
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