giving the church the wrong impression

Dear Texan,

I happen to be a little bit of an expert on this. Ironically, I'm writing my dissertation on Thomas Aquinas and the early embryo...so, lots of stuff about how the Church has viewed the nature and fate of embryos and fetuses.

I can assure you that, given the way the Church views grace, original sin, and baptism, the best minds right now in the Catholic faith agree that we should trust that God loves our babies, that our babies are in heaven, and that we will see them again there. They generally fall short of saying absolutely for sure, etc.--but they all urge us to hope that they are, even to expect it, and to trust God's great love for them and for us.

Here are some links to info you may find helpful:

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/cti_documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070419_un-baptised-infants_en.html

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0605701.htm

Also, on a more personal note: I am not Catholic myself, but I am a Christian. Just after I lost my Jenna, as I ran back to my bedroom one day to shriek and cry yet again into "her" little blanket and the little things we'd bought for her in anticipation, I passed by the bookshelf that held her tiny body, wrapped lovingly and placed in a jewelry box, waiting the visit of the bereavement counselor at the hospital. I heard in my ear, as clear as day: "She is not here, for she is risen!"

I am going to see her again.