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Ralph Martin says Church long held babies can’t reach heaven without baptism

By Egleze Editorial Desk · Published August 14, 2026 · Pints with Aquinas · 5 Common Objections to Hell Debunked by a Catholic Theologian | Dr. Ralph Martin | Last Call Ep. 27
Ralph Martin says Church long held babies can’t reach heaven without baptism
Pints with Aquinas
Pints with Aquinas
5 Common Objections to Hell Debunked by a Catholic Theologian | Dr. Ralph Martin | Last Call Ep. 27

What was said

"Well, actually, that for a long time the church did teach that. But let me explain it before people get shocked about how could the teach church How could the church teach error? For a long time, the prevailing theological opinion in the church was that what scripture says about you need to be born again of water and the spirit, that without the sacrament of baptism, you can't be saved."

Catholic theologian Dr Ralph Martin tells host Matt Fradd that a long-running theological view in the Church held that infants who die unbaptised cannot enter heaven, even if they have committed no personal sin. He says this generated the idea of “limbo” as a state of “natural happiness”, while adding that the Catechism now says Catholics may “reasonably hope” God provides a means of salvation for such infants, without claiming certainty.

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Attributed speaker claim

Egleze verified who said this and where. The underlying claim has not been independently established by Egleze.

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Egleze verified who said this and where. The underlying claim has not been independently established by Egleze.

Programme
Pints with Aquinas
Episode
5 Common Objections to Hell Debunked by a Catholic Theologian | Dr. Ralph Martin | Last Call Ep. 27
Clip time
19:52
Original source
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From this episode
Pints with Aquinas
Pints with Aquinas

5 Common Objections to Hell Debunked by a Catholic Theologian | Dr. Ralph Martin | Last Call Ep. 27

August 13, 2026 · 31m · 2 Egleze moments
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