Question on Baptism

[anrmenchaca74]

Ok,

So we were talking about baptism at CCD and the importance of having a child baptized. A student then asked me, “If he is not baptized will he go to hell?” Of course, I answered that I cannot make that judgement, only God can and that I you should always do what is best for the child spiritually. Did I answer him correctly? How do I address this? Please help.

 

[Joe_5859]

Ok,

So we were talking about baptism at CCD and the importance of having a child baptized. A student then asked me, “If he is not baptized will he go to hell?” Of course, I answered that I cannot make that judgement, only God can and that I you should always do what is best for the child spiritually. Did I answer him correctly? How do I address this? Please help.

God has bound salvation to the Sacrament of Baptism, but He Himself is not bound.

Baptism is the ordinary way that God has revealed to us by which we know we can be freed from Original Sin and receive sanctifying grace and be saved. But that doesn’t mean that God cannot work outside of the sacrament if he so chooses. But we cannot know that with certainty.

In other words, we do not neglect the importance of Baptism in our evangelizing and teaching efforts. But we never presume to know the fate of the soul of one who has died without Baptism. We entrust them to the mercy of God.

Speaking specifically of infants who die without Baptism, the Vatican’s International Theological Commission published a document about that a few years ago: The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die without Being Baptised.

 

[Chuck1]

Well it sounds like it was age aroppiate for the child and I think you did what best because sure we can speculate but God does only know and no body alse so I think you explained it correctly and spiritually

 

[Suslar]

Because you are teaching children, it is important to remember that they ask questions trying to make meaning and sense of their own lives. Could it be that he or she has not been Baptized? (Yes, it is possible and the CCD registration form might not have been filled out correctly). If that is the case and someone incorrectly says “yes, damned to hell” then that kid could be scarred for life! Or what if he or she lost a baby brother or sister to miscarriage or infant death? I find when I teach kids that follow up questions really help. Like asking, “Do you know someone who was not Baptized yet?” or “Did someone tell you that about hell?” Then you can get more info to help frame your answer.

The poster above is absolutely right - we always rely on God’s great mercy and you are right that none of us can judge anything other than the reality of God’s infinite love.

 

[Leegal]

Ok,

So we were talking about baptism at CCD and the importance of having a child baptized. A student then asked me, “If he is not baptized will he go to hell?” Of course, I answered that I cannot make that judgement, only God can and that I you should always do what is best for the child spiritually. Did I answer him correctly? How do I address this? Please help.

Hell was never taught to me as the place for unbaptized children. So, the answer is that the baby does not go to hell. As for the teaching, someone else posted it – hell was never an option.

 

[Gorgias]

As for the teaching, someone else posted it – hell was never an option.

Well…

Actually, that’s not strictly true. Augustine taught it. (Let’s be fair to him, though: he was attempting to correct the false teaching of Pelagius, who taught that babies didn’t inherit original sin (thus meaning that they went straight to heaven)).

If I recall correctly, Augustine thought that they were punished, but more mildly than adults who sinned and went to hell. A council addressed it (Carthage (?)), and they said only that infants do inherit original sin (and therefore, they really do need to be baptized), and that there was no intermediate place for them after death. (They didn’t say, specifically, though, where they go.)

Of course, what everyone has said on the current teaching of the Church is spot on; it’s just that the historical perspective was a little off…