Question for Catholics?

Question

I know that there are different varieties of Catholics. Some do not even follow the official doctrine but anyway I was once told that if you do not confess a mortal sin before you die then you go to Hell. According to this belief how is going to Hell not a game of chance? Let's say I commit a mortal sin like skipping church and I don't confess the day after because I die in a car accident. Essentially I am going to Hell for procrastination or what?

Answer 1

Exactly the reason why I don't understand the catholic religion at all - and I'm a catholic. Its just so hypocritical.

Answer 2

Here's the deal:

Let's say, God forbid, you scenario plays out:

It all depends on what's in your heart at the time of death. If you know skipping Church is a mortal sin, and you do it anyway, chances are you are in a state of mortal sin. If you die soon after in a car accident, and you have not repented that sin (or any other mortal sins you know about) there's a good chance you are not going to go to heaven.

Regardless of what has been written on the subject, no one can say for sure where you would end up in the afterlife. Only God knows what's in your heart. Sometimes, God knows a heart better than that person know's him/herself.

If you did go to hell it would be because you did something you KNEW AHEAD OF TIME was a sinful. Despite this knowledge, you still committed the sin with FULL CONSENT OF THE WILL. Finally, you passed on BEFORE your heart REPENTED one said sin.

The Sacrament of Confession exists for the forgiveness of mortal sins. If you confess a mortal sin, and you are truly repentent in your heart, that sin is forgiven and a state of Grace is restored.

Frankly, rather than worry about procrastination, it would have been easier for you to attend mass to begin with. Then, you wouldn't have anything to worry about should something bad happen soon after.

Answer 3

>>if you do not confess a mortal sin before you die then you go to Hell. According to this belief how is going to Hell not a game of chance?<<

You must understand just what constitutes mortal sin. "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.' (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1857)

You can't accidentally commit a mortal sin. Mortal sin is freely choosing to do something you know full well is a serious offense against God. Secondly, you can repent with perfect contrition, which will obtain forgiveness of mortal sins if you intend to go to confession (CCC #1452), so you are still covered in case you die in a car accident while on the way there. So the only people who go to Hell are those who CHOOSE to offend God and then REFUSE to repent.

Answer 4

The Sacrament of Confession lessens your "Confessions" on Judgment day.

Confession is logical. It often is a step for you to learn how to look for your weaknesses and ask for forgivness. Part of asking for forgivness is asking for penance; or asking for a way to make right what went wrong.

When you die, chances are over. You don't have time to "Make Acts of Contrition". So, if your only mortal sin is "Didn't go to Church"; well, you're better off than the dude who commited 10-20 years of mortal sins without trying to do better.

Answer 5

No, going to hell is a personal choice.

Not just any sin will send you straight to hell. Only mortal sins can do that.

Sin is a deliberate thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the eternal law of God.

A mortal sin is a grave infraction of the law of God that destroys the divine life in the soul of the sinner (sanctifying grace), constituting a turn away from God. For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be present: grave matter, full knowledge of the evil of the act, and full consent of the will.

Most of the sins we commit are venial sins. Venial sin is a sin which does not destroy the divine life in the soul, as does mortal sin, though it diminishes and wounds it. Venial sin is the failure to observe necessary moderation, in lesser matters of the moral law, or in grave matters acting without full knowledge or complete consent.

However consistent unrepentant venial sins can slowly destroy your relationship with God and become mortal sin.

People die all the time with venial sins on their conscience and they will go to heaven.

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

Well, this is just one of many reasons why the catholics are wrong. I am a Lutheran, and things are much better. We don't have confession, at least not with a religious figure head. We confess our sins directly to god, not to some bald guy in a robe. And for that matter, why do catholics pray to saints.

Answer 7

I was "sprinkled" as an infant at birth in the Catholic Church, my grandmother was a devout Catholic until the day she died, and my mother was a Catholic for 33 years. I was not raised one, but do remember my grandmother teaching me how to pray with the rosary beads at age 4. She also taught me how to wipe my *** correctly by folding the toilet paper. Due to my father being in the military, I only knew her from age 4 to 5. I have the simple belief that you can ask forgiveness to God yourself if you believe John3:16 and that if you die before you get that chance that He is merciful and understanding. I feel that Catholicism is idolistic, but my grandmother is still in Heaven. The priest is a holy man, but too many Catholics believe that only the priest can issue the sacraments that are necessary to enter into God's Kingdom. I forgot to mention that I was also baptized as a Protestant.

Answer 8

Seek knowledge on Catholicism

Then learn what a mortal sin is

Answer 9

That is where the sacrament of the last rites comes in, and the priest may also do this even right after you have died. The last rite is a special blessing by the priest, it includes your last communion, and also the priest performs an absolution of your sins. My sister was not able to make her last confession because she was in a coma, but she received last rites, last communion, and absolution as she was dying. The last rites ceremony assumes that you would confess your sins and do pennance for them if you could, and so your are absolved, if you are able to confess or not.

Answer 10

The bible actually never states that we humans go to hell. it refers to Hades, but where the devil and his demons reside.By the way, when you die, you are immediately forgiven of all your sins. although i personally believe that there has to be a special place for ppl like hitler.

Answer 11

Yes