A Roman Catholic tradition that has been around since the Middle Ages may soon be no more. Limbo, the place somewhere between heaven and hell reserved for unbaptized babies, was discussed among 30 top theologians last month at the Vatican and, because it has never been an official church doctrine, could eventually be tossed aside.
St. Augustine believed baptism was essential for salvation and that unbaptized babies would go to a mild level of hell. Later, in the Middle Ages, theologians devised a place called limbo, where infants would be in neither heaven nor hell but would enjoy eternal happiness.
But limbo has long been considered by many within the Catholic Church to be unnecessarily harsh, and Benedict XVI said he would be in favor of discarding it as a church tradition.
The leaders currently considering the issue have not said what doctrine would replace limbo, and their final opinion on the subject is not expected for at least another year.
Baptist Press