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Are most Catholics in America going to hell? [OPEN THREAD]
National Catholic Register ^ | 6/21/2013 | Jimmy Akin

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 ...


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To: Ransomed
Oh...I see. Thanks for the note of correction. Richard McCormick, not ~Robert~. I'll plead too many tabs and windows open all at once as cover for my own error. (that a dollar or so of quarters might buy myself a phone call, too. If I had the need for a pay-phone, and could FIND one, hehheh)

Thanks for the link too.

Please forgive my not replying sooner, I didn't see your comment, but was distracted by another.

61 posted on 06/21/2013 8:37:51 PM PDT by BlueDragon (gotta stop wishin, gotta go fishin, down to rock bottom again. just a few friends,just a few friends)
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To: metmom
Most of any people are going to hell.

Tragically so, and do not seek to serve God.

However, it when such liberals become conservative evangelicals that the most concern is shown by RCs, who war against evangelicals, while relative little concern is shown about liberal Prots, as they are not a threat to th primacy of Rome, which is the most driving issue.

62 posted on 06/21/2013 8:46:09 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
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To: Revolting cat!; Elsie

Perhaps a third option could be considered. A fourth or fifth could get complicated. A guy could get really bummed out, too.

Choose door number three. It's the one that has a brand nEW CAR!!!

[ding-ding-ding-ding-ding, lights are flashing, the contestant is jumping up and down]

63 posted on 06/21/2013 8:46:19 PM PDT by BlueDragon (gotta stop wishin, gotta go fishin, down to rock bottom again. just a few friends,just a few friends)
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To: Carpe Cerevisi; metmom; boatbums
In my fifteen years of being a Catholic I have yet to hear a homily that mentioned the evils of contraception, pornography, cohabitation outside of marriage, etc. It makes it quite difficult for the average Catholic to be aware of these things when they are never discussed by the local deacon, priest or bishop.

That is a rather astounding statement. Is this from weekly attendance?

Be back tomorrow.

64 posted on 06/21/2013 8:58:39 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
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To: markomalley; Tax-chick

65 posted on 06/21/2013 9:00:34 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
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To: Salvation
This title might read: Are most Catholics Christians in America going to hell? [OPEN THREAD] 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.

Sin is sin. There is no difference between "mortal" and "venial" sins. That is a construct made up by Roman Catholicism. ALL have sinned and fall short of the perfection of God and the "wages" of sin is death. Christ paid for all sin by his shed blood. That is why if someone is a genuine Christian - in God's eyes, who knows His own - they will NOT be going to hell. That was the whole purpose of the sacrifice of Christ - to be our redeemer who sanctifies us by His blood and makes us as righteous as God because we are found IN Christ when we place our faith in Him.

I realize that Catholics have all kinds of different opinions about what is a "grave matter", but preventing fertilization of an egg is NOT equal in seriousness to abortion or contraceptives that act as abortifacients. Perhaps some Catholics understand that difference and may be why they ignore such strictures as not the Church's business what a husband and wife do within their family planning. Maybe they even see that there is little difference between using a condom and NFP (natural family planning) and view a little hypocrisy going on in that area.

66 posted on 06/21/2013 11:04:27 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: boatbums
Maybe they even see that there is little difference between using a condom and NFP (natural family planning) and view a little hypocrisy going on in that area.

Don't expect any progress in any FR Catholic seeing the hypocrisy of that position. Last time I asked them about the difference, the conversation screeched to a dead halt. they dropped the topic like a hot potato.

67 posted on 06/21/2013 11:54:47 PM PDT by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: boatbums
Christ paid for all sin by his shed blood. That is why if someone is a genuine Christian - in God's eyes, who knows His own - they will NOT be going to hell. That was the whole purpose of the sacrifice of Christ - to be our redeemer who sanctifies us by His blood and makes us as righteous as God because we are found IN Christ when we place our faith in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

68 posted on 06/22/2013 12:02:50 AM PDT by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: Salvation
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?

I guess that throws natural family planning out the window as well.

Is the next step is to condemn sex outside of the few days a woman is fertile?

69 posted on 06/22/2013 12:11:42 AM PDT by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: BlueDragon
Since Catholics believe that the magisterium ordinarily operates under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the presumption should be in favor of the Pope’s declaration. Any such presumption, however, must also allow of the possibility that a Catholic can arrive at a carefully formed and critically tested conviction that in a given case the fallible magisterium has in fact erred. Nobody today denies that there are cases in which official, reformable teaching of the Holy See has in fact been erroneous. As examples, Rahner cites the views of Gregory XVI and Pius IX on liberal democracy, and various statements about the Bible issued in the aftermath of the Modernist crisis. It cannot therefore be assumed that a Catholic who conscientiously opposes the non-infallible doctrine of the magisterium, as it stands at a given moment, is necessarily disloyal.

The magisterium is fallible sometimes? Just how is the average lay Catholic to know when? Do they need someone to interpret their interpretation?

70 posted on 06/22/2013 12:17:41 AM PDT by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: markomalley

As to the query- “Are most Catholics in America going to hell?”- No.


71 posted on 06/22/2013 12:28:23 AM PDT by RedHeeler
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To: Salvation; boatbums
This title might read: Are most Catholics Christians in America going to hell? [OPEN THREAD]

No Christians are going to hell.

There are going to be those who THINK they're Christians or who call themselves Christians who are going to hell, but if one is really saved, really a Christian, they are not going to hell.

That's the whole point: being saved from hell. If you're going to hell, you're not saved and not a Christian.

72 posted on 06/22/2013 12:28:33 AM PDT by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: RedHeeler
As to the query- “Are most Catholics in America going to hell?”- No.

Considering that the majority of the Catholic vote votes liberal, I'd say that your assessment is wrong. By Catholic theology they answer would be *yes*

Unless you allow for Catholics who vote pro-abortion and pro-homosexual to go to heaven.

73 posted on 06/22/2013 12:31:12 AM PDT by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: metmom

Those folks ain’t catholic, then. Are they?


74 posted on 06/22/2013 12:36:51 AM PDT by RedHeeler
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To: RedHeeler
I don't believe that any denomination by default equates to being Christian.

Many people use the terms interchangeably as is Catholic = Christian or Baptist = Christian or Presbyterian = Christian or (fill in the blank) but Christian as used in the Bible refers to those who follow Jesus irrespective of where they attended church.

Acts 11:26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

Being a Christian is being a disciple of Christ. Being a Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian or (fill in the blank) is simply being a Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian or (fill in the blank). You can be one of those without being a Christian.

75 posted on 06/22/2013 4:30:53 AM PDT by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: markomalley
Are most Catholics in America going to hell? [OPEN THREAD]


 

John 6:28-29

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”


1 John 3:21-24

Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.


76 posted on 06/22/2013 4:59:15 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: markomalley
Are most Catholics in America going to hell? [OPEN THREAD]


John 3:18

77 posted on 06/22/2013 4:59:52 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: markomalley; District13; teppe
Are most Catholics in America going to hell? [OPEN THREAD]


Can't rightly say; but it REALLY looks bad for MORMONs!!!


"Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives, and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned;

and I will go still further and say, take this revelation, or any other revelation that the Lord has given,

and deny it in your feelings, and I promise that you will be damned.

Brigham Young - JoD 3:266 (July 14, 1855)

78 posted on 06/22/2013 5:01:10 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: markomalley
I figure it isn't my job to tell somebody the state of their own soul.

Then whose job IS it?



79 posted on 06/22/2013 5:04:51 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: markomalley; Invincibly Ignorant
OTOH, it is my job to minimize the opportunities for them to rely upon "invincible ignorance" (to borrow a Pio Nono expression).

You might have an interest here...

80 posted on 06/22/2013 5:05:53 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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