Can we send others to hell?

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And thus, it’s my fault, that they’ll go to hell? I don’t want to go into it in depth but I’m worried about the possibility that my immediate family members might go to hell because of me, such as knowing about or having a clue about a habitual sin like porn as an example but not actively doing anything to stop or correct me. I’ll admit I’m a non-practicing Catholic at the moment but this issue at hand does concern me. Am I oversimplifying things, I do understand we all influence and affect each other but in the end, while we are in a way, responsible for one another, ultimately salvation and grace is a choice of for us, ourselves to make (I will admit, I am coming here because I would like to assuage my conscience). What do you think?
 
You could, indeed, be a bad influence on others. But you can’t send someone to hell.
 
We are not responsible for other people’s sin, generally. Circumstances make all the difference.

At times we ourselves do not directly do evil, but collaborate in some way, with greater or lesser responsibility and moral guilt, in the sinful action of other persons. “Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them : by participating directly and voluntarily in them; by ordering, advising, praising, or approving them; by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so; by protecting evil-doers" ( Catechism of the Catholic Church , 1868).
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Another good resource:

 
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We can negatively influence and impact them, but no, we do not send them to hell.

Every person on earth is responsible for his own sins - for yielding to the temptations of the flesh, the world, and the fallen ones, and not striving and struggling with God. Thus, the ones whom God judges as unworthy of either his eternal blessedness immediately, or after an experience of purification, these most unfortunate souls are eternally lost, of their own volition and by God’s own decree, and they experience God as a consuming fire and gnash their teeth at him forever and ever.
 
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The Church teaches that another person cannot in him/herself send a person to hell. That decision is solely up to the person when he/she rejects God and lives a life doing evil. Now, it is possible that we could influence someone to turn their back on God by our words or actions, and in so doing, we would be culpable for that. That is called a scandal. Even worse is causing a public scandal. They are both sinful. But, ultimately, if we wind up in hell, it is because we chose that for ourselves by living a life without God and entrenched in evil.
 
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“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe [in me] to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea." Mark 9:42

As said right above me - scandal.
 
To clarify, I basically described the sin of scandal and while scandal can influence others, ultimately, salvation is a personal endeavor though people can and do affect each others, is that correct?

That said, I thank you Sister and all other posters here. If I may request, please pray for the souls of my family and for myself.
 
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We will reap the rewards of everything done in
this life. Prov. 24:11-12 says clearly we SHOULD
rescue the perishing and care for the dying. It
is NOT a command, but a clarion call to evangelize!!
 
A person - who sexually seduces another ( for example ) - is hell bound.
Those people are often liars and manipulators -

Really, that’s what demons and devils do - they seduce you - into something !

Could be robbery - adultery - murder - etc -
You DON’T want that - said about you - that your satan’s seducer !
 
You cannot “send people to Hell”.

You also cannot stop someone who is an adult or a near adult and is determined to commit sin.

You might mention to them that porn is a sin in the eyes of God and they’re risking their souls by watching it. Once you’ve told them a couple of times, your job is done and if they want to continue sinning then you’ve done all you can do.
 
Continue to look for ways to be a good influence. If the other person is not receptive to your counsel at this time, or not ready to repent, that may change. Look for opportunities, openings, and moments of grace when the other person may see the problems and want to change. At all times, set a good example. Pray for the other’s spiritual well-being, conversion, and salvation. With God, all things are possible.
 
No, aside from being a bad influence, each individual is ultimately repsonsible for where they end up.
 
If my wife compelled me to go see a ballet with her, would that count?
 
If you kill someone for example, you may have helped to seal their fate from their freewill, but only God knows. We know suicides don’t necessary go to hell. Partly because they may not be in right reason.
And we can not predict God’s Judgement. So it is another where these thing depend on the person, their spiritual health and God’s will.
A possessed person may kill themselves, or another, but it does not mean they go to hell by default.
Even if they did not confess their sins.
It’s good to be Catholic!

G/B

Br. Kenneth Deel, OFS
 
Ultimately, the most efficacious thing to do is to pray for that person. God alone can change hearts. We can only do so much. When we have done all we can, then we have to leave it in the Good Lord’s Hands. But we must never cease praying.
 
Good question. My initial inclination was to agree with everyone who said “no”. But then, I started thinking about what Catholics say about a spouse’s job is to help get their spouse to heaven.

If we believe one person can help get another to heaven, shouldn’t we also believe that the opposite is true and we can help eachother get to hell as well?

I don’t know the answer to this. Truthfully, I am not a big fan of the concept of the responsibility of helping your spouse get to heaven. I think we should help our spouse be the best person they can be. Maybe that is all that is meant by helping them get to heaven. But if that is true, again, the converse must also be true I am guessing.
 
No you can’t send anyone to hell.

However, our bad examples can be scandalous which can lead other to sinful behavior. But they still have a choice
 
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RCIAGraduate said:
And thus, it’s my fault, that they’ll go to hell? I don’t want to go into it in depth but I’m worried about the possibility that my immediate family members might go to hell because of me, such as knowing about or having a clue about a habitual sin like porn as an example but not actively doing anything to stop or correct me. I’ll admit I’m a non-practicing Catholic at the moment but this issue at hand does concern me. Am I oversimplifying things, I do understand we all influence and affect each other but in the end, while we are in a way, responsible for one another, ultimately salvation and grace is a choice of for us, ourselves to make (I will admit, I am coming here because I would like to assuage my conscience). What do you think?
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Yes, at least the Bible says so.

Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! (Mt 18:7)
 
QwertyGirl said:
If we believe one person can help get another to heaven, shouldn’t we also believe that the opposite is true and we can help eachother get to hell as well?
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There actually are some unapproved private revelations somewhere (I forget where I read them) about some woman who abandoned her spouse, who subsequently became a drunk, left the church and went to hell, and she was somehow on the hook for that. I dunno. I can see her being responsible for her own action (leaving her husband) but if the husband chooses to react in a bad way, that should be his own fault.

I don’t see a difference between helping spouse get to Heaven and helping spouse be the best person they can be.
 
If i gossiped with others and encouraged it in some way, am i responsible for their souls?
 
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