Why don't priests preach about Hell these days?

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An evangelical friend of mine remarked “at our church, everyone is trying to stay out of hell, the Catholics are all trying to get into heaven.”
 
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Preaching about hell may turn away parishioners. I think foreign priests can get away with preaching more fire and brimstone.
 
In all homilies I’ve heard where hell is mentioned, forvgivness and repentence are also mentioned. Why should hearing the truth turn people away? I don’t understand that.
 
Hell is selfishnesss and sin, far from God. Preaching about Hell often prompts fear, or else a kind of spirtual greed where a person wants the abundance of heaven instead of the deprivations of hell. It is hard to preach about hell in a balanced fashion that will help listeners.

Perfect love casts out fear. Teaching people about love is more heavenly. The holiness visible when someone sacrifices for another is a better encouragement for the indifferent than the threat of hellfire. It does not breed problematic fears and guilt.

Faith, hope, and love lead us out of our selfishness to a world that is closer to God. They turn us toward God.
 
I think your view might be pretty distorted. Just maybe. I wish it were like that though.
 
Thanks all. Some interesting points. However, the truth is the truth and it doesn’t change. Jesus came to redeem us from Hell after all and it is half of the gospel message. I heartily agree with Greenfields’ statement above, complacency drifts in and we need that wake up call.
I’ve been lstening to Pope st. Pius x writing on modernism, what a sombre warning for us all. O for a pope like that today eh?
 
The existence of Hell does not involve development of doctrine in the Church, as it was taught by the Great Teacher.
Also God isn’t “in the world” in such a way.
 
It’s a complex issue. People don’t like hearing about it now. I would say people want to belong more than be told how to live. Self-reflection isn’t as popular. Fortunately the Church has plenty to offer about that. The Church will reach into its vast teachings and apply what is needed for the current time. One day it may be more appropriate to talk about hell again.

FiveLinden’s post kinda has it right, except that we don’t believe these “ideas” were invented for social control. To us they are real, and they will be taught when the people are ready. 🙂
 
I have the Catechism of St. Pius X. Heavenly!
Except I think he might mention Hell once or twice. So that’s a problem…
 
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Oh, my. You are just so not progressive, lol!
 
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I’m thinking back over the homilies I’ve heard live in the past year (as opposed to listening to a Sensus Fidelium video). I think one priest mentioned Hell for about 10 seconds once.

I guess Hell is just too scary for people to contemplate, or maybe it doesn’t fit in well with the Divine Mercy message.
 
“To us they are real, and they will be taught when the people are ready. 🙂”

Or learned, when we are least prepared.
Revelation 16: 15.
 
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Maybe if the priest taught the parish how to avoid hell than it be less of a threat and more of a charitable warning?
 
Well then he’d have to preach about sin. Not a very popular topic, since sin became so relative.
 
I had a previous priest who would actually preach about hell occasionally. My current priest, while quiet good, I do not recall has preached about hell that I can remember. I think we definitely need to hear about it more in my personal opinion.
 
I think there should be a new edition of the Bible wherein all mentions of or even allusions to Hell are deleted. The idea of “Hell” is so triggering!
 
Hereiam has a good point.

I can only recall one time about two years ago when I heard it in a homily, but the key word there is “recall”. Over the 40-some years I’ve been Catholic, I’m sure it’s been more than once.

 
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