Is murder worse than rape?

[mcteague]

I don’t think this person is asking thistle or anyone else here because they think they have, in and of themselves, all the right answers. I think the idea is that, because this is Catholic Answers, and because this person may, in some small way, recognize the authority that the Catholic Church has in all matters Christian, that asking specific Catholics on here who tend to be articulate and knowledgeable about Catholic teaching is a prudent method of grasping some of the more difficult theological concepts.

Just a thought.

I had a strong emotional response to that poster. Because I ask myself; what are they really asking? I separate what I may personally believe and respond in accordance to their beliefs. This person clearly believes in God and that life begins at conception. She mourns her miscarried children. It would hurt her to think that they were in hell.
Hers was not some academic question. It was one that carried great meaning and pain for her.
My experience here tells me not to trust most of the responders not to hurt her. It is all very fine to know your Catholic teaching, but to needlessly cause someone to suffer shows knowledge without wisdom.
I can not stand by while these letter of the law types cause someone pain. If I have to say that the law is wrong, or the great catholic philosophers were wrong, or our understanding of God is wrong, I will. I know what is really important. I put easing the suffering of others above a slavish devotion to doctrine. I really don’t understand how anyone could make another choice.

 

[SteveGC]

I had a strong emotional response to that poster. Because I ask myself; what are they really asking? I separate what I may personally believe and respond in accordance to their beliefs. This person clearly believes in God and that life begins at conception. She mourns her miscarried children. It would hurt her to think that they were in hell.
Hers was not some academic question. It was one that carried great meaning and pain for her.
My experience here tells me not to trust most of the responders not to hurt her. It is all very fine to know your Catholic teaching, but to needlessly cause someone to suffer shows knowledge without wisdom.
I can not stand by while these letter of the law types cause someone pain. If I have to say that the law is wrong, or the great catholic philosophers were wrong, or our understanding of God is wrong, I will. I know what is really important. I put easing the suffering of others above a slavish devotion to doctrine. I really don’t understand how anyone could make another choice.

In one sense, your concern is admirable, as we are indeed to care for one another and ease one another’s needless pain.

But we must be careful how we discern what is needless. Truth trumps comfort. Truth trumps tactfulness. Truth trumps nice.

This is not to say that we have to be brazen or gloom-and-doom when we respond to another’s questions or concerns. We try to speak the truth in love, of course. But love without truth is just platitudes. Truth without love is still the truth.

Also realize that suffering is part of God’s plan of redemption for all. No pain, no gain, so-to-speak. Watering down the truth because it stings, or worse yet, misleading one away from the truth because we think they’ll be better off that way…is a critical error, as it does a disservice to the seeker.

But I do agree with you insofar as we should attempt to express all things with gentleness.

Peace.

 

[thistle]

I had a strong emotional response to that poster. Because I ask myself; what are they really asking? I separate what I may personally believe and respond in accordance to their beliefs. This person clearly believes in God and that life begins at conception. **She mourns her miscarried children. It would hurt her to think that they were in hell. **Hers was not some academic question. It was one that carried great meaning and pain for her.
My experience here tells me not to trust most of the responders not to hurt her. It is all very fine to know your Catholic teaching, but to needlessly cause someone to suffer shows knowledge without wisdom.
I can not stand by while these letter of the law types cause someone pain. If I have to say that the law is wrong, or the great catholic philosophers were wrong, or our understanding of God is wrong, I will. I know what is really important. I put easing the suffering of others above a slavish devotion to doctrine. I really don’t understand how anyone could make another choice.

Nobody here said such children are in Hell.

The Church does NOT say that unbaptized children can never go to heaven. The Church DOES say that there is no way except baptism for US to communicate supernatural life to the child. But GOD can communicate that life to the child in other ways. The Catechism presents possibilities for this, namely the great mercy of God and Jesus’ tenderness toward children.

 

[formerlysure]

For clarity, I do believe my children are in the care of God as total innocents, but I am seeking a better understanding of the Catholic theology on the questions I’ve asked, on these and a great many other questions, which is why I am asking my questions on this particular site.

Any and all sympathy for the loss of my unborn children is greatly appreciated. I left the church largely due to misunderstandings about Church teaching about several hurtful experiences in my life, and coming back to the Church, I am seeking to be better educated on these issues from a Catholic perspective. More often than not, I find I was wrong - the church is more than reasonable and caring about the hardships I have faced and knowing that has been very comforting to me.

 

[vera_dicere]

Sorry, but I don’t think you understood Fake name’s post. He/she is saying that murder is worse because the victim might die without confessing their sins. Which FN believes might send them to hell.
Personally I think that is a rather sad vision of God. I mean you would really have to be a complete butthead to send murder victims to hell because they missed getting to confession. But this is what FN seems to believe and what they have written.

Yeah, I have a hard time with that scenario, but we know the rules, all of us do. What if the rape victim had just come out of an abortion clinic clapping her hands with joy and spitting in the face of teh Christian pro-lifers, what if she had been raised Catholic, having known full well that abortion is murder and a mortal sin?

Half the time our suffering is caused by the actions of others. Would it be less harsh to consider the post abortive happy woman being hit by a bus and going to hell instead of being murdered and going there? We are mortal. Our lives could end at any moment, an earthquake, a heart attack, allergic reaction, home invasion gone bad, 20 megaton nuclear device air burst.

Murder isn’t a “get out of Hell free card”.

As for rape vs. murder, I think as some have said it depends on the rape depends on the murder. A rape of a 2 year old vs. the shooting in the head of a bank teller ?

They are both grevious crimes against the dignity of the person and the sancitity of life. I really wouldn’t want to say which is worse, but its always a case by case basis. I know a few people who were raped, one rape was of a woman who had a random one night stand with a guy who decided he wanted round two in the morning, she didn’t, so he raped her, but I also know of a rape where the girl, 18 at the time, was pulled into a side street while walking home from school at 4 in teh afternoon, and raped by two men, who then proceeded to beat the living snot out of her. What rape is worse in that situation?

Variables can change the situation. Both crimes have victims, both crimes have far reaching consquences, both crimes are hideous. Any crime or action that results in eternal damnation is far worse, but that’s talking spiritual, not physical.