Catholics: I have a question and hypothetical question for you?

Question

We have two men (A and B) below, which goes to heaven and which goes to hell:

A. Someone who was raised Catholic, but started committing crimes when he was 20. He rapes, tortures, and kills hundreds of children for 30 years. Once he's caught and awaiting death row he finds god and gives confession to a catholic priest. He apologizes, asks for forgiveness, and he does so sincerely.

B. A man who was never religious. Does not believe in god, but is a good person. He gives to charities and avoids major sins. Dies trying to save a kid from a burning fire.

Answer 1

A goes to Heaven. B made man his God. One should never wordhip the created as the creator.

Answer 2

As Christians we are not to judge the salvation of others.

We are only to pray for all people, however.

In your first example he did not "Find God" he returned to God. We believe in confession for the forgiveness of sin, that does not mean that he will automatically go straight to heaven. You might do some research on purgatory in the Catholic Faith.

Man B, was never Religious, so he never turned away from God, Dies helping others. Again, I can't judge, but I can say that the Catholic Church does not teach that he will not go to heaven, or that the only way to heaven is through the Catholic Church.

Good Question!

You might seek more answers at:

www.Catholic.com

Answer 3

ultimately both are left to the mercy of god.

We can discern that the first has a certain assurance of heavenly salvation because he is a baptized Christian who also happens to be a sinner with mortal sin upon his soul. You state he repents and God knows he means it but this doesn't return God's universe to equilibrium. There must be a penance of which he does not have the time to comply with. If in God's mercy he does attain salvation purgatory is the highway to heaven he will travel.

2 the man who was never religious but is a good person meaning morally right with God perhaps did not have the opportunity to hear the gospel and reject it but does one of the greatest acts of love and kindness that Jesus instructs to give oneself for another, for a friend etc.... although this man is not a baptized Christian he relies on the mercy of God and from the Catholic perpective he can be saved simply because Jesus makes the final decision. Jesus is the physical word and the written word does not master Jesus but he it. This case is similar to the story posed by Jesus of the Good Samartian and what did we learn from that?

note on purgatory: this is a purification "as by fire" the scripture reads this is also a Judaic belief. There is only one place you go when being purified......to heaven. It is written nothing impure enters heaven. Its like puting on your best suit before going to the party.



Now the twist both saved individuals would be understood as members of the body of Christ members of the One Holy Apostolic Catholic Church eventhough in this life they would have not been practicing members. Stating this should clear up the next question of "but I thought the Catholic Church only teaches those who are Catholic can be saved" Those in heaven form what the Catholic Church calls the Church Triumphant, the souls in purgatory or going thru purification the Church Suffering, and those still on earth in the physical Catholic Church the Church Militant all together are one similar to the teaching of Trinity.

It is our duty as followers of Christian to seek out all that Christ gives to us, the fullness of faith made available to us that is why unity of Christianity is one of the most important truths. Jesus is one head as we should be his one body anything else makes Jesus a monster.

Answer 4

When they both go before God, the first having sincerely confessed and repented, will have his heart read by God. If he truly has requested forgiveness for his sins and has a repentant heart then he shall probably enter paradise. The second, having not known God, will be asked if he will choose to love and serve Him, if the person continues to reject God(since he rejected Him all his life) then he will have no place in paradise. In the end the point is mute since God knows all and we will be judged with perfect understanding truth and justice...no lawyers there.

Answer 5

Who goes where is not for us to say,we know that god alone knows the answer to this, you could pose the same question to born again christians,who think once saved always saved. as a catholic we feel being saved is an ongoing process and we must run the race set before us to serve the lord and enter the kingdom. person a and b may both go to heaven it isn't for me to say,you would also need to indicate whether person b was not aware of god etc........sin is seperating yourself from god, so person b is seperating himself from god,therefore god would't necesarily have to forgive person b,person a has to be truly repentant the same as the rest of us, either way it is gods call.

Answer 6

Curious as to why you submitted this. Born and raised Catholic. I am not the type of Catholic you are probably looking for though. I am spiritual, not religious.

B goes to Heaven

A goes straight to Hell

Why? In my opinion just because A gives an apology doesn't mean he's off the hook.... it doesn't mean anything. People still suffered by his hand. I've seen too many horrible people hide behind religion and use it as an excuse to escape punishment. But of course my opinion means crap. The decision belongs to the Divine.

Answer 7

I personally would say the first would go to purgatory and eventually to heaven, but I am not God. Think of the theif on the cross next to Jesus. He was dying on a cross and repented and Jesus told him, "This day you will be with Me in paradise." Only God can judge us.

God bless,
Stanbo

P.S. God is merciful, but you must consider that He is also just.

Answer 8

Is there true goodness in someone who believes he is the top of the food chain? Probably so. And, you have an excellent point here. Living a life of sin to ask forgiveness in the last year is not good enough. But my answer, as always, would be neither go to Hell.

.

Answer 9

'What greater love than to give your life to save another'.God is love and just .The man B goes to heaven but will have God revealed to him in the fire just before dying.Man A goes to purgatory where he is purified (does penance) before entering heaven.Their ranks in heaven will differ though, Man A will be a prince or lord and Man A a peasant,or better still Man A's servant.Pray for God's guidiance to reveal His answers to you Himself, try ,you ain't got nothin' to lose.

Answer 10

They both go to heaven, although the idea of heaven is as different as the numbers of people who believe or don't believe in it. Same for hell.