I have seen people argue over whether children/infants who die who aren't Catholic go to heaven. I believe that at least the vast majority of them do.
First of all, Jesus Christ seemed to outright say this in Mark 10:13-16:
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he
was indignant. He said to them, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'
He also says in Matthew 18:2-5:
He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little
children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
This seems to heavily imply that children are in spiritual communion with the church. This makes even more sense when you research the topic of
'invincible ignorance' in regards to salvation. As seen in The Bible and various church documents:
Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do
- Luke 23:24
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned
him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you
see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
“Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
- Acts 3:13-17
Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God
and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience.
- Lumen Gentium, no. 16
The church also recognizes that children under the age of seven are presumed completely ignorant and not responsible for their actions:
A minor before the completion of the seventh year is called an infant and is considered not responsible for oneself (non sui compos).
With the completion of the seventh year, however, a minor is presumed to have the use of reason."
- Code of Canon Law (1983), 97 §2
Therefore one can only logically conclude that children under the age of seven have invincible ignorance and are in spiritual communion with the
church. The church doesn't have any particular stance on this matter, but it is reasonably optimistic about their salvation.
