In regards to baptism and its relationship with salvation, the Westminster Confession states:
Catholics have a similar belief, those who are baptized and die go to heaven. However, as we see above, while the WC is uncertain over the fate of someone who is baptized, the Church positively states that children are ushered into the Church. You stated that "Catholics do not claim to know the reprobate/election [to glory] status of anyone [including infants] while they are on this earth." Yet baptism is declared the door the Church. Here is what the Catholic encyclopedia states:
The tradition of Christian antiquity as to the necessity of infant baptism is clear from the very beginning. We have given many striking quotations on this subject already, in dealing with the necessity of baptism. A few, therefore, will suffice here. ...
Theologians also call attention to the fact that as God sincerely wishes all men to be saved, [sic: No, God does not wish all men to be saved] He does not exclude infants, for whom baptism of either water or blood is the only means possible. The doctrines also of the universality of original sin and of the all-comprehending atonement of Christ are stated so plainly and absolutely in Scripture as to leave no solid reason for denying that infants are included as well as adults.
To the objection that baptism requires faith, theologians reply that adults must have faith, but infants receive habitual faith, which is infused into them in the sacrament of regeneration. As to actual faith, they believe on the faith of another; as St. Augustine (De Verb. Apost., xiv, xviii) beautifully says: "He believes by another, who has sinned by another." - Catholic Encyclopedia
You can hardly bash Dr. E over the head when your Church holds a more radical view. The Westminster Confession states the baptized infants future is uncertain (although we trust God). Conversely, the state of baptized infants for the Church is that they are saved as long as they have been baptized into the Church.
Then, as I pointed out to Dr. E., by their own doctrine Calvinists can have no assurance that their baptized infant is saved. Their "trust" is actually only "hope".
You can hardly bash Dr. E over the head when your Church holds a more radical view.
I have not "bashed Dr. E. over the head". I have pointed out a contradiction in her theology. I have not criticized her position for being "radical", whatever exactly that is supposed to mean. Of course the Catholic position is extraordinary and mind-boggling. The very gospel is foolishness to the 'wise'. But that is no refutation of it. A contradiction on the other hand, is a serious problem.
-A8