How can the church change what sends people to Hell

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Happy2bcatholic1

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Specifically with the change in the fasting rule for Lent, how can the Church say at one time (many years ago) if you didn’t fast on these x number of days then you will have mortal sin and if you die in mortal sin then you go to Hell, but now the rule has changed to only Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and for only age 14 up to I forget the age. How can the Church do that and still be credible? Thanks!
 
Because it is disobedience against the Church that constitutes the sin.
 
Happy2bcatholic1 said:
Specifically with the change in the fasting rule for Lent, how can the Church say at one time (many years ago) if you didn’t fast on these x number of days then you will have mortal sin and if you die in mortal sin then you go to Hell, but now the rule has changed to only Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and for only age 14 up to I forget the age. How can the Church do that and still be credible? Thanks!
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Catechism
1861 Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back. However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God.

1857 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."131
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There was a time when the national speed limit was 55mph. You could get ticketed for going 60 or 65 even on highways designed for those speeds. Speed limits have since been changed but you can’t retroactively get a refund for those tickets you paid. The law was the law at the time.
 
Thanks! Great answer and I finally found another one about church discipline (which can be changed) and how it differs from church doctrine (which cannot be changed). I love the note about obedience to the church. Beautiful! Thanks!
 
The question needs several layers of explanation.
On the one hand the Church will never change a doctrine. A dogma if you will. Those are never changing. One example “Love the Lord your GOD above every thing else”

The Church was given the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and the power to “bind and loose”

If the Church establishes that one must observe a fast for a specific day only, She can attach to that act a specific levy.
As it is a venial sin or a mortal sin or a plenary indulgence, etc.
In this case Doctrine is not involved.

Jesus gave this authority to the Church for the benefit of its members.
And these rules She sets up can be changed because a) no Doctrinal changes are involved and b) Customs and living habits may make the rules moot.
200 years ago the meat consumption per capita was much larger than now days. What was a “sacrifice” imposed “No meat consumption on Friday” today makes no sense. Maybe one should give up going to “MacDonald” on Friday. If one habitually goes to eat there.
Hope this helps.
 
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