I don't know where you got that idea from, but it sounds like a fable to me. When you read the writings of the Early Church Fathers you will see that they had a very good understanding of what baptism is and why it is absolutely necessary for salvation. There was no mention of 'community building', 'blessings', etc.. Here's a few examples:
The Early Church Fathers on the Necessity of baptism
Many people have converted to the Catholic Church after they started reading the Early Church Fathers!
The idea you're speaking of is that of baptizing babies at the time before 325AD,,,the age of the ECFs.
I haven't read you link because I know what the Early Fathers believed and I just don't have the time. If you pick out a specific idea, I'll be happy to discuss.
The ECFs believed baptism was necessary to wash away sins. Did you now that at one time many waited to be on their death bed so that all their sins could be washed away?
Did you know that the fact that persons kept sinning AFTER baptism confused the Fathers because they believed that sinning should stop? Did you know that this is how confession as we know it today came about? (as a remedy to sinning AFTER baptism).
If you check with your friendly neighborhood priest and discuss this with him, you'll find that the CC DID baptize babies in the early years. The reason given is the story in Acts about Lydia and the jailer and their whole household being baptized.
Acts 16:15
Acts 16:33
This is the justification for the CC to baptize babies.
And I know that some convert to Catholicism after reading the ECFs.
Again, I think you have been listening to false teachers. Here's another page which also mentions what St. Augustine taught about baptism, and which is 100% in line with what the Catholic Church has always taught:
Baptismal Grace
Infant Baptism
PLEASE don't send me to links T....just state your position.
WHY do you believe Augustine stated babies are to be baptized ASAP?
Did anything change AFTER Augustine as regards to baptising infants?
Why did it become imperative that babies be baptized after his teachings?
Did you know that unbaptized babies were not permitted to be buried in
some cemetaries?
The CC has now gone back to its ORIGINAL position on babies and baptism.
This is a recent occurrence.
I refer you to the following paragraphs in the CCC:
402-406 (406 speaks of Augustine, but this is not enough history)
1229-1231
1250-1252
1254
1282
The above will clarify matters.
You must also keep in mind that it is possible, and has happened throughout history, that individual theologians are wrong on certain doctrines. Sometimes they change their opinion over time, sometimes they don't. But this is quite a different thing from the Catholic Church teaching, solemnly and authoritatively.
In my most humble opinion, Augustine was wrong on his doctrine of Original Sin being IMPUTED to us individually, thus making infant baptism a must.
The New Testament does not teach that infants are to be baptized.
This is NOT a commandment of the Lord and should never have been instituted.
And the CC DID accept Augustine's teaching at the time and has continued to do so until recent times.
This is from the Council of Trent,,,1554 (approx):
- If any one asserts, that this sin of Adam,--which in its origin is one, and being transfused into all by propogation, not by imitation, is in each one as his own, --is taken away either by the powers of human nature, or by any other remedy than the merit of the one mediator, our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath reconciled us to God in his own blood, made unto us justice, santification, and redemption; or if he denies that the said merit of Jesus Christ is applied, both to adults and to infants, by the sacrament of baptism rightly administered in the form of the church; let him be anathema: For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved. Whence that voice; Behold the lamb of God behold him who taketh away the sins of the world; and that other; As many as have been baptized, have put on Christ.
- If any one denies, that infants, newly born from their mothers' wombs, even though they be sprung from baptized parents, are to be baptized; or says that they are baptized indeed for the remission of sins, but that they derive nothing of original sin from Adam, which has need of being expiated by the laver of regeneration for the obtaining life everlasting,--whence it follows as a consequence, that in them the form of baptism, for the remission of sins, is understood to be not true, but false, --let him be anathema. For that which the apostle has said, By one man sin entered into the world, and by sin death, and so death passed upon all men in whom all have sinned, is not to be understood otherwise than as the Catholic Church spread everywhere hath always understood it. For, by reason of this rule of faith, from a tradition of the apostles, even infants, who could not as yet commit any sin of themselves, are for this cause truly baptized for the remission of sins, that in them that may be cleansed away by regeneration, which they have contracted by generation. For, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
- If any one denies, that, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is conferred in baptism, the guilt of original sin is remitted; or even asserts that the whole of that which has the true and proper nature of sin is not taken away; but says that it is only rased, or not imputed; let him be anathema.
source: http://www.thecounciloftrent.com/ch5.htm
I'm not sure what you are referring to here, but as I mentioned in my previous post, the Catholic Church has never taught that unbaptised babies go to hell. Not in 50 AD, not in 400 AD, not in 1500 AD, not now, never. You're welcome to try and prove me wrong.
Answered above.
Also, see paragraph 1261 of the CCC.
