Are the divorced and remarried going to hell?

[HomeschoolDad]

I would have to disagree. The problem about fraternal correction is that most of the time the two people involved don’t share the same worldview. Nobody wants to hear another person’s nonsense, especially when it involves judgement and statements about going to hell. No good usually comes from it, and a lot of bad, can.

Yes, but we still have to speak the truth, and correct fraternally if we can, if we should, if it can reasonably be foreseen to bring the listener from error to truth. And even if that can’t be foreseen, well, sometimes you just have to trust in the Holy Spirit to “stand in the gap” between doubt and faith.

The Great Commission doesn’t give us a pass to say “oh, don’t bother, if it’s someone who’s already got their mind made up”. Remember Who is ultimately in charge.

 

[BornInMarch]

Not necessarily.

In Catholic theology intention matters as much as action, and the difference between a grave venial sin and a mortal sin often comes down to how much knowledge a person has relating to their action and the nature of it.

Someone under the mistaken belief that something is not a sin will not be treated the same as someone who knows but doesn’t care.

 

[AlNg]

I’m familiar with the book you cite — I have it. All in all, it strikes me as kind of whiny

The Vatican, i.e. the Roman Rota, thought that her arguments were substantial as they overturned the declaration of nullity.

 

[CaptainPrudeman]

But obviously not those from what I quoted, as those things don’t make a marriage valid or not.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

HomeschoolDad:

I’m familiar with the book you cite — I have it. All in all, it strikes me as kind of whiny

The Vatican, i.e. the Roman Rota, thought that her arguments were substantial as they overturned the declaration of nullity.

Fair enough, if the Church is willing to hear such cases on appeal to the Rota, that’s fine, that’s what it’s there for, that’s their job. Part of the Church’s power of binding and loosing. I wasn’t there, and I wasn’t the one who was presented with the evidence, and asked to make a judgment one way or the other.

It’s entirely the Church’s prerogative to declare that an annulment case was decided incorrectly the first time around.

 

[Rau]

The question posed in the Thread Title is not our concern and not knowable.

 

[AlNg]

The question posed in the Thread Title is not our concern

It depends. Shouldn’t you be concerned if you are going to be in a situation where you could go to hell?

 

[Rau]

Shouldn’t you be concerned

Not when the question implies 3rd persons. The matter at issue is well above our capacity to judge.

 

[Greenfields]

I think it’s great the OP has asked,and great some of the advice given …especially to pray very much and suggest they speak with a priest .You yourself could talk with a priest also OP.
But of course only God knows the state of their souls.
I have some friends in this situation ,quite a bit older than myself some are Catholic pairs and others one a Catholic the other something else.In these cases it seems you can only say so much ,then just pray.One couple has gone to another Christian church .

 

[HomeschoolDad]

The question posed in the Thread Title is not our concern and not knowable.

It may not be knowable, but it most certainly is my concern.

Can anyone come up with anything else in the world, aside from one’s own salvation, that should be of more concern?

 

[Rau]

Can anyone come up with anything else in the world, aside from one’s own salvation, that should be of more concern?

The Thread title seems to address the state of another’s soul - not one’s own.

 

[MynameisD]

How they react is their problem. Jesus said that he will take in account every single soul (I don’t know how the verse goes in English), and that we should tell them no matter what, and give them a last chance to repent after various steps, if they didn’t we should leave them alone. Mercy and Sacrifice.

 

[MynameisD]

Thank you for this advice. I will do so, pray even more like you suggested. I will be eternally grateful for your answer.

On another note though, could you tell me what OP stands for, please?

 

[po18guy]

Temptation…it sounds like a near occasion of sin.

 

[MynameisD]

I am sorry, but I don’t seem to know what you are referring to. I did never talk about temptation nor falling into it. I talked about letting people know they were in the wrong and that the could mend their path; first oneself, then two people, then three, a whole community and if they keep on what they have been doing, we should leave them to their own because they will be able to live what the prodigal son lived. Half of the last sentence is a Bible verse, I believe it’s in Mathew, but since I don’t have a Bible in english I will not cite it. Thank you.

 

[po18guy]

Kindly disregard - was responding to someone else’s question.

 

[bluerose]

On another note though, could you tell me what OP stands for, please?

It stands for “Original Poster”

 

[Gorgias]

Anesti33:

It is grave matter for everyone, not merely Catholics.

No it isn’t.

OK: “it’s grave matter for everyone who marries validly, divorces, and then remarries, not just for Catholics.”

How’s that?

Not when the question implies 3rd persons.

So… we’re not called to admonish sinners? To instruct the ignorant? To counsel the doubtful?

Man… I didn’t realize that the spiritual acts of mercy had expired!

(Now, we’re not called to judge persons… but actions ? And to help lead people back to states of grace? Oh, yeah…)

 

[MarkRome]

Hey, I happen to know a few people that are in this situation. If they are, what can I do to help them?

It depends. Anyone who dies in a state of mortal sin will go to hell. Catholic or non-Catholic. The three conditions are: 1) it has to be grave matter (adultery is grave matter), 2) the person must have full knowledge that it is evil, and 3) they have to do it with full consent.

Some here talk like there are two sets of rules- one for Catholics, one for everyone else. There aren’t. See the three conditions above. They apply to everyone.

 

[goout]

MynameisD:

Hey, I happen to know a few people that are in this situation. If they are, what can I do to help them?

It depends. Anyone who dies in a state of mortal sin will go to hell. Catholic or non-Catholic. The three conditions are: 1) it has to be grave matter (adultery is grave matter), 2) the person must have full knowledge that it is evil, and 3) they have to do it with full consent.

Some here talk like there are two sets of rules- one for Catholics, one for everyone else. There aren’t. See the three conditions above. They apply to everyone.

It’s a reasonable proposition that most people living in these situations don’t truly have full knowledge and consent. They don’t accept the moral evaluation proposed by the Church. Consenting to a proposition which has grounds you don’t accept is problematic. The mere fact that these people have heard Church teaching does not mean full knowledge and consent. So is it really productive to look at someone and say to them “you’re living in mortal sin and going to hell”?

Instructing the ignorant can be a frustrating road to walk. We all have relatives that are in irregular situations. Attempting to instruct them will many times bring an end to communication and actually be counterproductive. When communication is gone, your opportunity to help these folks is gone. There is no easy one size fits all answer to helping others accept the Church’s moral teaching.