Expert: Tom Schott - 5/19/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I asked this already, but I think it got lost. What is the official Catholic position on the following questions:

Are all babies born as children of Satan?
Are all babies born to Catholic parents children of Satan until they are baptized?
Are all babies born to parents in a non-Christian religion children of Satan?
Are any babies born as children of Satan?
Which of the following terms is it appropriate to describe sinners with: spiritually dead, children of Satan, corrupt hearts, twisted moral compass, hating Jesus, and an enemy of God.

Thank you for your help,

Seth

ANSWER: No babies in any of the conditions you describe does the Church consider "children of Satan." The Church considers no one children of Satan nor is anyone born that way. Probably the best way to describe sinners is as children of God who are estranged from their true selves.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your time.

Would it be appropriate to use any or all of these terms to describe sinners: spiritually dead, children of Satan, corrupt hearts, twisted moral compass, hating Jesus, or an enemy of God?

Seth

Answer
Seth,

I thought I had already answered this question. No, I don't think it would be appropriate to use any of these terms because they are far too harshly judgmental. The call of a Christian is strive not to be judgmental of people. If we all judged ourselves as harshly as we judge others, we would have a much better world.