Souls of Babies from Abortion QUESTION from Shala on January 23, 2003 Hi there,
1) I wonder where does the souls of the babies goes when they had been aborted by their mothers? Are they in Heaven? I assume that they are with God. I hope they're safe.
But a friend of mine told me a few years ago that the soul of those babies had no where to go. And every baby should have original sins, how will God judge upon them?
2) A friend of mine was pregant at the time, and she decided to go for abortion, but before she had actually do so, she had a miscarriage. So, in that case has she commited a sin? Because she had the thought of abortion?
thanks, shala
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius, OLSM on January 29, 2003 Dear Shala:
Babies who die from abortion, miscarriage, or after birth but before baptism are all giving to God and His care according to his Divine Justice, Mercy, and Love.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

1261 As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: Let the children come to me, do not hinder them, allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism. All the more urgent is the Church's call not to prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism. 1283 With respect to children who have died without Baptism, the liturgy of the Church invites us to trust in God's mercy and to pray for their salvation.

As for your friend who had the miscarriage it sounds like the only thing that prevented her from committing the grave sin of abortion was that she miscarriaged first. Thus the intent of her heart apparantly was to commit the sin.
I would advise, therefore, that she go to confession, regardless of whether this consistutes a mortal or venial sin, to clear her conscience and to fully repent of that which brought her to consider killing her baby.
Back to Index Page