This is a good argument about how the unbaptized, but sinless infants are judged by God even though they have original sin. One of the hymns cited in the article is not in Metropolitan Ware’s translation so I do not know the legitimacy of the hymn or why it was removed. In any event, it offers a compelling argument about the Church’s stance. This stance is that the unbaptized do not suffer actual pains, but are eternally separated from God and are therefore not in heaven.

Ancient Insights

As Daniel Castellano documents, if we want to understand the doctrine of original sin, especially as taught by St. Augustine, it’s important to note the distinction between culpability (Latin: culpa) and liability (Latin: reatus). If someone is culpable for committing a crime, they are then liable for that crime and receive a corresponding punishment, proportionate to their liability. For example, if you commit a sin, you are held liable for that sin on account of your consent to committing the wicked act, and as such, receive a just punishment. However, per the teaching of the Lord in Luke 12, your liability to punishment corresponds to your knowledge (or lack thereof) of whether or not that act was actually sinful, “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the…

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