Could someone explain why catholics are so uptight about suicide?

Question

I have family that is Catholic and they toatally despise people that have comitted suicide, and say they will go to hell. But If the person really did have a chemical inbalance don't you think God would understand they were sick, ad didn't understand? Just like someone with severe autism may not understand the bible. Could someone kindly explain why Catholics don't believe theese sick people will go to heaven or paridise?

Answer 1

The family you mention is not properly reflecting Catholic teaching.

Catholics believe suicide when committed in full knowledge and deliberate consent is a complete turning away from God (a mortal sin) and will send a person to hell.

There are 3 conditions of a mortal sin: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent.

While suicide (or any kind of murder) is always a grave matter, people who commit suicide may not always have full knowledge of what they're doing. Drugs can definitely impair one's thinking, as can other things, such as diseases, intense pain, or anguish.

Therefore, suicide is not automatically treated as a mortal sin.

We are commanded by Christ not to judge others so we leave final judgment to God who alone knows each person's heart.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
On mortal sin, paragraphs 1857-1859: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect1chpt1art8.htm#1857
On suicide, paragraphs 2282-2283: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2chpt2art5.htm#2282

With love and prayers in Christ.

Answer 2

Well, if you watch the movie "Constantine" they explain it pretty well. I am not a catholic person, but am aware of their condemnation of suicide. They feel it is taking a life without having asked for forgiveness and therefore not forgiven and an automatic ticket to hell. I think your perspective makes more sense than the official catholic stance on suicide. But nobody knows for sure if there is a heaven or hell, let alone what the exact rules are for reaching either of them.

Answer 3

That is a really hard question. I'm not Catholic but I am a Christian. I honestly don't know what their fate is.
I think it's because you are committing a sin you can't ask forgiveness for; is the Catholic logic behind it. Not complete sure. I have had a few run ins with that and I honestly don't know where to stand on it. I would hope that if they truly had a relationship with God then those thoughts and emotions would be calmed but again I don't know.

God only knows the fate of our souls...

Answer 4

What your family says is wrong for two reasons.

1) You should not hate any person, regardless of what they have done.
2) The Catholic Church does NOT teach that suicides are necessarily condemned to hell. Especially if the suicide was the result of a mental illness.

" We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives."

-The Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 2283

Answer 5

They are basing their hate on the fact that God doesn't want you to cause harm to yourself, that's considered a sin and that's why they say that you will go to hell if you commit suicide. i can't tell you what happens to them when they die, since I've never been there. But i don't think your family should hate those people. Like you said, they have a chemical imbalance. That, and those who love God love each other, they can hate sin, but there is no reason to hate the people who commit it, especially when they are sick like that. I don't know for sure, but I pray that God is understanding when it comes to such imbalances and mental diseases. Actually, i'm fairly sure i heard from my pastor that infants and the mentally disabled are a shoe in for eternal life. Hope I remember correctly.

Answer 6

of direction it may't be the Catholic Church as that would make Jesus a liar whilst He suggested the gates of Hell does not be triumphant against the Church and the bible could lose all credibility with the aid of fact it needless to say states that the Church is "the pillar and beginning of the fact". good judgment could dictate that the fake instructors could be people who oppose the only Church that Jesus based on the beginning of the disciples and which keeps as we talk in apostolic succession. St. Ignatius suggested that the Church are people who convey at the same time around the bishop. a great occasion of fake instructors are all those adult males who based sects become self sustaining from the Catholic Church who cater to those that now not can undergo the sound doctrine of the Catholic Church. could we pray that the Lord have mercy on them! In Christ Fr. Joseph

Answer 7

poseiden_is_back If god isnt very understanding, then how come catholics only have to ask for forgivness for a sin? And if he isnt understanding then are they only worshiping him out of fear?

About suicide thing, catholics are very weird people. They dont believe in birthcontrol and other such things that have become part of everyday life. Its just the way there version of the religion is.

Answer 8

On Resurrection Morning we will be raised and healed physically and mentally. I like 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and there is another about how we will be changed in the twinkling of the eye but I have to leave for now but will get back tonight. Mmm

Answer 9

When I was Catholic it was explained to me that suicide would result in living on low level of limbo after death. The 'mentally ill" were not brought up.

Answer 10

Because if a Catholic commits suicide, the Pope gets less money.