Why is it wrong to kill baptised infants with the intention of sending them to heaven.

[anthonymarie]

Bertrand Russell, in “Why I am not a Christian”, writes:

The Spaniards in Mexico and Peru used to baptize Indian infants and then immediately dash their brains out: by this means they secured these infants went to Heaven. No orthodox Christian can find any logical reason for condemning their action, although all nowadays do so. In countless ways the doctrine of personal immortality in its Christian form has had disastrous effects upon morals.

I’m finding it difficult coming up with answers to this one. What are some “logical reason for condemning their action”?

Obviously it’s wrong to kill (6th commandment) but we kill in war for a greater good?

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Friend,

We are only allowed to kill in self-defense or to PROTECT the innocent. We do not have the right to KILL the innocent for ANY reason. Only the Creator has such a right. We all instinctively know by the impulses of natural law that killing the innocent is wrong. Everyone has the right to life with the opportunity to grow in virtue. The Church is quite logical and consistent here. Bertrand Russell was really out to lunch on this one.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.