Expert: Tom Schott - 4/29/2008

Question
My converted cousin tells me that I am 'caricaturing' Catholicism because I believed that Catholics believe that a 'deliberate' suicide will be condemned to hell.  I have looked into the doctrine online but it says nothing about the afterlife of a deliberate suicide.  Has the idea of eternal 'unrest' or punishment been set aside?

Answer
Lynne,

No. Catholics are required to believe in the existence of hell, eternal punishment. But whereas before you might be able to locate a list of sins that would condemn one to hell, the Church is now much more cognizant of the welter of human circumstances that could mitigate a person's reasons for choosing a particular action. And also that the mercy of God is boundless. So instead of particulars about condemnation, the Church remains silent.