Unbaptized children(Not infants)

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ChristisRisen32

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It is not a doctrine of Faith that children dying with original sin only on their soul go to a special place or state called the children’s Limbo. However, it is the common opinion of the theologians. This is based upon the teaching of Pope Innocent III (and the Fathers of the Church) on the effects of baptism, in which he has this to say:

The punishment of original sin is deprivation of the vision of God, but the punishment of actual sin is the torments of everlasting hell. (Maiores Ecclesiae causas, Dz 780).

What about the unbaptized children though? Like say a 5 year old. We all know that by that time they have had to sin at least once, but they are not baptized. They wouldn’t go to Limbo because they have personal sin, but could they go to Heaven? The whole point of Limbo is that they still have Original Sin but not personal sin. I’m just curious what happens to the young child who’s sin, but unbaptized because we know the punishment for sin is death and out of the presence of God.

I have no opinion on this except we have a loving and merciful God. 🙂

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Tony
 
ChristisRisen32 said:
It is
What about the unbaptized children though? Like say a 5 year old. We all know that by that time they have had to sin at least once, but they are not baptized. Tony
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no we do not know that
we don’t know that about someone of age 90 who dies unbaptized

we know what the catechism says, that babies and the innocent who die unbaptized are entrusted to the mercy of God. I defy you to come up with a better explanation than that.

Limbo is not doctrine although it was a permissible alternative explanation offered by some–not all–early theologians.
 
puzzleannie said:
no we do not know that
we don’t know that about someone of age 90 who dies unbaptized

we know what the catechism says, that babies and the innocent who die unbaptized are entrusted to the mercy of God. I defy you to come up with a better explanation than that.

Limbo is not doctrine although it was a permissible alternative explanation offered by some–not all–early theologians.
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Okay, I correct myself. Though I’m sure by the age of reason we’ve all sinned. None of us go our whole lives without sinning, except Jesus and Mary.

God Bless,
Tony
 
ChristisRisen32 said:
Okay, I correct myself. Though I’m sure by the age of reason we’ve all sinned. None of us go our whole lives without sinning, except Jesus and Mary.

God Bless,
Tony
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we don’t know what God does with people who die without baptism
the only assurance Jesus gave us for salvation is baptism by water and the Holy Spirit and confession of post-baptismal sins to a priest with sacramental absolution.

We are bound by the sacraments, God is not. The Church allows for the possibility a baptism of desire by which someone who would have asked for baptism had he known if its importance and desires to do good and know God, even if he has nothing more than the inborn knowledge of God given to all humans. Beyond that we simply cannot say for certain what happens to the soul of any unbaptized person.
 
We really can’t say for sure. All we can do is speculate.

Limbo is only a hypothetical theory. We have no obligation to believe in its existence.

My personal belief is that there is no Limbo and that most unbaptized children go to Heaven by baptism of desire. However, in some cultures children do reach the age of reason at a younger age, therefore I do not rule out the possibility that there could be some children in Hell, but they would be their by their actions, not just because they were not baptized.
 
smichhertz said:
We really can’t say for sure. All we can do is speculate.

Limbo is only a hypothetical theory. We have no obligation to believe in its existence.

My personal belief is that there is no Limbo and that most unbaptized children go to Heaven by baptism of desire. However, in some cultures children do reach the age of reason at a younger age, therefore I do not rule out the possibility that there could be some children in Hell, but they would be their by their actions, not just because they were not baptized.
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Yeah, I don’t think Limbo exists but again, that’s just my opinion, the Church doesn’t specify. All I know God is infinitely just and infinitely merciful.
 
ChristisRisen32 said:
Thanks for the link.

God bless you,
Tony
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:tiphat: No problem. Sorry if my response seemed abrupt. Sometimes I go off on lengthy tangents and other times I post links with little to no explanation. I’m still searching for that happy medium. :o

That document from the International Theological Commission will probably give you more depth than we are able to do. Hopefully it answers your question. If more questions arise, you know where to find us. 🙂
 
Joe_5859 said:
:tiphat: No problem. Sorry if my response seemed abrupt. Sometimes I go off on lengthy tangents and other times I post links with little to no explanation. I’m still searching for that happy medium. :o

That document from the International Theological Commission will probably give you more depth than we are able to do. Hopefully it answers your question. If more questions arise, you know where to find us. 🙂
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Nope you’re fine! Thank you!

Yours in Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Tony
 
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