Expert: Fr. Michael - 11/10/2008

Question
Hello Fr Jerome,
First, I have a parochial education.  Before vatican II....
Of course at school we were taught catholicism the mass etc.
sometimes my friends and I get into religious discussions.
And there are non catholics in the group.  The non catholics (one is episcopalian the other methodist).  They say they cannot accept or why do we believe in Mortal sin.
They find it completely unreasonable.  I never have a satisfactory answer for them. This question always comes up, if one attends mass every week, abides by the church, and then one sunday does not attend mass, and is killed the next day, will they go to hell for having this mortal sin on their soul. Even though they've been regular church goers.  I tell them I believe in a merciful God not a vengeful one.
they also tell me they go to church to worship not because their obligated to.  They feel we are at mass because it's under pain of mortal sin.  They just can't understand the teachings.  Then of course they get into confession etc.
I won't bore you with everything. We are all christians, and do worship God, we just don't agree on all the teachings.  I believe we are the only religion that has mortal sin, of course I stand corrected.  I  myself, have always felt that mortal sin is a bit much, but I abide by the church's teachings.  I would like to hear your thoughts about this.
thank you

Answer
Indeed, mortal sin is much -- very much.  It is a rejection of God and its just consequences.  Modern Protestants seem to have lost their sense of the gravity of such sin, a grave offense against God that cuts us off from Sanctifying grace.  Certainly if one deliberately chooses not to worship God, even one Sunday, and there is no reason other than self-will, that will cut one off from God.  That's not God's decision; it is that person's decision.  Martin Luther understood the horror of mortal sin, even if these latter-day "Lite" Protestants don't.

If these Protestants read their Bible, they would remember the parable of the people who were too busy to attend upon their Creator.  The Scripture says that God killed those people and burned their village.  Yes, God is merciful, but He is just as well.  Unrepented sin is a matter for justice, not mercy.

It would be wonderful if we did things not because we "had" to, but because we wanted to.  Some would, but most would not, and suffer the eternal consequences.  How many would volunteer to pay their rightful share of taxes if it were made optional?  How many would abstain from fleshmeat on Fridays as a small penance if it were made optional (just look around you at Newchurch!).  How many children would come home on time voluntarily if the parent did not set a  curfew.  We're human; we're lazy; we need direction.  Our Creator understands that, as does his Church.