Varying Level of punishment

[gavanhe]

A devout catholic misses Sunday mass - a mortal sin - and subsequently dies without confession, presumably according to current theology he/she is destined for hell.
Hitler, Stalin,Mao etc die, presumably they end up in hell.
I realise that it is not for us to judge whether any particular person will go to hell, however is the level of punishment commensurate with the crimes committed, that is are the pains experienced in hell similar or the same for all regardless of the severity of the sin? Is there any current theological position on this.
I have pondered this question at times without being able to resolve the issue. I realise that those in hell will experience the eternal separation from Our Lord.
Gerry.

 

[juno24]

A devout Catholic willfully chooses to miss Mass without serious reason, does not repent of his sin, and dies unconfessed and unrepentant.
A person commits mass murder, also willfully, and also dies unrepentant.
Both have said, in effect, “screw you, God, I choose ‘not you’”. One kinda sorta whispers it (the so-called devout Catholic) while the other pretty much screams it out loud (the mass murderer). Both have still said it, and both meant it. God gives us 2 options: be with Him or be against Him. Whatever the manner of your choosing against Him, the result is the same: eternal separation from Him. It seems to me that the pain of that separation would be the same once one is in Hell. There will be no idea of “he’s got an easier damnation”, or “she’s got a harder punishment”.

 

[gavanhe]

A devout Catholic willfully chooses to miss Mass without serious reason, does not repent of his sin, and dies unconfessed and unrepentant.
A person commits mass murder, also willfully, and also dies unrepentant.
Both have said, in effect, “screw you, God, I choose ‘not you’”. One kinda sorta whispers it (the so-called devout Catholic) while the other pretty much screams it out loud (the mass murderer). Both have still said it, and both meant it. God gives us 2 options: be with Him or be against Him. Whatever the manner of your choosing against Him, the result is the same: eternal separation from Him. It seems to me that the pain of that separation would be the same once one is in Hell. There will be no idea of “he’s got an easier damnation”, or “she’s got a harder punishment”.

I should imagine you’re correct in this and Our Lord’s punishment is just and perfect to all. It still leaves me pondering the imponderable.
Gerry

 

[puzzleannie]

A devout catholic misses Sunday mass - a mortal sin - and subsequently dies without confession, presumably according to current theology he/she is destined for hell.
.
Gerry.

this does not accurately state Catholic teaching

would you like to look it up, inform yourself properly, and then rephrase the question?
search “salvation” on the CA homepage or the 5 dozen threads here asking the same question you just did, in the same erroneous manner.

 

[gavanhe]

this does not accurately state Catholic teaching

would you like to look it up, inform yourself properly, and then rephrase the question?
search “salvation” on the CA homepage or the 5 dozen threads here asking the same question you just did, in the same erroneous manner.

Perhaps I could restate or rephrase it to include any mortal sin committed whilst presumably leading a Christian life.
I guess the point is the gulf between a Hitler - or any number of historical and not so historical tyrants - and someone who commits a mortal sin.
Gerry

 

[juno24]

Perhaps I could restate or rephrase it to include any mortal sin committed whilst presumably leading a Christian life.
I guess the point is the gulf between a Hitler - or any number of historical and not so historical tyrants - and someone who commits a mortal sin.
Gerry

It seems to me the only real gulf between a devout, practicing Catholic who commits a mortal sin and a mass murderer with little or no conscience is that the devout person would likely be convinced that his sin was offensive to God and that it needs to be confessed, while the one who acts without a conscience to begin with will have no such conviction. The real divide, then, becomes the one between the person who is concerned for his immortal soul and the one who isn’t. If, at some point, the previously devout person decides to permanently walk away from God (saying, in effect, that what he did was no sin, and even if it was, too bad), then he jumps that gulf quite handily and joins the mass murdered on his side of the divide.

I should imagine you’re correct in this and Our Lord’s punishment is just and perfect to all. It still leaves me pondering the imponderable.
Gerry

I agree. I know that I cannot begin to comprehend God’s sense of justice, nor his sense of mercy. I simply hope and pray that when it comes time for my judgement He has an abundance of mercy.

 

[thistle]

A devout catholic misses Sunday mass - a mortal sin - and subsequently dies without confession, presumably according to current theology he/she is destined for hell.
Hitler, Stalin,Mao etc die, presumably they end up in hell.
I realise that it is not for us to judge whether any particular person will go to hell, however is the level of punishment commensurate with the crimes committed, that is are the pains experienced in hell similar or the same for all regardless of the severity of the sin? Is there any current theological position on this.
I have pondered this question at times without being able to resolve the issue. I realise that those in hell will experience the eternal separation from Our Lord.
Gerry.

It hardly matters whether there is more than one punishment in Hell because everyone there without exception suffers from the same worst punishment and that is eternal separation from God. There is no worse punishment than that.

CCC 1035 The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of Hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into Hell, where they suffer the punishments of Hell, “eternal fire.” The chief punishment of Hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.