VATICAN CITY (Oct. 6) - Vatican theologians are leaning toward revising centuries-old teaching that babies who die without baptism go to limbo instead of heaven, officials said Friday. "All of us have hope for the babies" that they will go to heaven, under the revised thinking on limbo, said the Rev. Luis Ladaria, a Jesuit who is secretary-general of the Vatican's International Theological Commission. The commission, which advises the pope and other top doctrinal officials of the church, has spent the week debating the question of limbo in view of preparing a document. Although Catholics have long believed that children who die without being baptized still have original sin and are thus excluded from heaven, the church has no formal doctrine on the matter, Vatican officials have noted. Theologians have taught that such children enjoy an eternal state of perfect natural happiness, commonly called limbo. The theologians, including clergy and laity, were holding a final session Friday evening. But Ladaria said the theologians have not reached the point of drafting a document. Italian state TV reported Thursday evening that the document would be ready next year. "That could be very possible," Ladaria said. But "when it will be ready to be published, should they (the Vatican) decide to do so, doesn't depend on" the commission. Ladaria made his comments during a break in the debate, speaking by telephone from the Vatican City guest house hosting the meeting. Since both Pope Benedict XVI and his predecessor, John Paul II, have urged the theologians to study the limbo question, a document is widely expected to be made public.
I guess I always thought that if children died, they automatically went to Heaven. Doesn't the Bible say something about the age of accountability?
I don't remember anything about an age of accountability. However, I grew up in the Catholic church and know this doctrine well. I did have two issues with it, which caused several debates with my priest. First, there is no mention in the Bible about a "Limbo". In fact there are several places in the Bible where it suggests that people who die don't immediately go to Heaven, but remain in the grave until such time as Jesus returns. Second, Jesus dies for our sins, so there is no longer an "Original Sin". Of course the Catholic Chush is not well known to follow the Bible's teachings. The most blatent is Matthew 23:9 where Jesus states, "And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."
IMO, the problem is there is no way to know in either case. The changing of doctrine generally is just a refelection of the view of society or the church leadership. It is an interesting discussion if you are tired of trying to figure out how many angels can dance on the head of a pin or the like. Seriously, for those in the Catholic faith this would be a difficult thought ... the separation from these children for eternity even if you go to heaven.
