Posted on 06/21/2013 4:07:10 AM PDT by markomalley
When you look around society today, it doesn’t look good.
Even in the Church, people are committing abortion and contraception.
They are sleeping together outside of marriage, using porn, and doing a host of other things that can endanger their souls.
It can be tempting to conclude that most Catholics in America today are going to go to hell.
Is the situation that bleak?
A Question from a Reader
A reader writes:
I belong to a great parish, full of wonderful people who love God and neighbor.
However, I can't help but be aware that at least from an objective viewpoint, most of them seem to be in a state of mortal sin per the Church's teaching.
The most common one is the use of contraception, but there are plenty of others, including cohabitation prior to marriage, remarriage outside the Church, etc.
The Church views all these things as mortal sins, although it's clear these people don't view them that way.
Our society at this moment makes it really difficult for people, especially young people, to do what the Church expects.
I also know that most of these people genuinely and sincerely do not believe they are sinning. They continue to pray, to attend Mass, and have faith in Christ, which indicates to me that they don't desire to cut themselves off from God.
Is it truly likely that the vast majority of American Catholics will end up in hell?
What can we say here?
(Excerpt) Read more at ncregister.com ...
“...It’s more certain that the American bishops have gone/are going to Hell...”
Amen - our bishop allows Andrew abortion king Cuomo communion in his cathedral!!
PS Love your name! St. THomas Aquinas - ora pro nobis!!
Most of any people are going to hell.
Catholics are not exempt, neither are any other denominations.
It's merely a matter of percentages. In some denominations there will be higher or lower percentages of those going to heaven, or hell, but since denominations don't save but faith is Christ does, there will be a mix in any church.
Fortunately, our Church is not centered around a homily. It goes much deeper than that. But that requires work on our part. The Catechism is full of information that most nominal Catholics don't know ... or refuse to know. And there are so many other resources (see Lighthouse Media) that we can use to deepen our understanding of our faith.
If we rely on homilies only, we may never get to a complete understanding.
“Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, Nor the effeminate, nor liers with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall possess the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Sounds like over half the population and three quarters or more of the Millenials.
I get the impression that a lot of people never read.
But the reality is that most Catholics don’t read the Catechism and Bible on their own. Therefore, our priests must use their time to preach and teach at Mass wisely.
They may be going to Heaven, eventually, but they have a long Purgatory ahead. Also, they are paying a price (along with the rest of us) in this world. Their sin is hurting them and their community in various ways and they are suffering problems that people who avoid those sins never have.
**What I encounter is just mindless relativism**
I encounter this too. Although I usually open my mouth and not just stare. LOL!
What Mortal Sin Is
1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: “Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.”
To repeat!
Grave Matter
Full Knowledge
Deliberate Consent
Thanks.
How many non-Catholics practice contraception?
Do they know it's a grave matter -- not allowing an egg to be fertilized? And if they know about it -- do they fully consent to contracepting?
Definitely something for all of us who are reading this thread and DO KNOW that this is a mortal sin that can put one into hell.
Polytheism is of the Devil.
Is it ever.
I did say I was staring, open-mouthed. It beats saying, “Has anyone ever told you you’re a blithering idiot?
There will be some Catholics in Heaven.
There will be some Presbyterians in Hell.
As far as the number, that’s WAY above my pay grade.
Next question.
How can we get Obama to stay in Africa?
Without regard to denomination, there is no believer in Jesus Christ (the meaning of the word being “as used by Jesus Himself”), who is going to hell, and there is no unbeliever who is going to heaven.
(It can be tempting to conclude that most Catholics in America today are going to go to hell.)
_____
It can be tempting to conclude that most everyone other than one’s perfect self is going to hell. However, we need to remember that the definition of “temptation” is “an incitement to sin.” The proper response to this temptation is not to indulge in some pleasureable Friday-morning mudslinging, but to flee from it.
_______________________
Exactly.
I read “The Enchanted April” this month, although I haven’t gotten around to watching the movie.
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