[Veto!]

I didn’t ask to be baptized Catholic. My mother made that decision. A devout Catholic all she ever told me about God was, “God will punish you for that” And “You’re going to hell for that.”

How could a seven-year-old who heard that several times a day every day love or even believe in God?

[fidelis]

I didn’t ask to be baptized Catholic. My mother made that decision. A devout Catholic all she ever told me about God was, “God will punish you for that” And “You’re going to hell for that.”

How could a seven-year-old who heard that several times a day every day love or even believe in God?

I'm sorry you raised that way, but that does not reflect the entirety of Catholic teaching--not by a long shot. Now that you are not 7 years old anymore, maybe you should take a look at what the Church really teaches:

God’s Love for You