Expert: Sal - 9/16/2007

Question
Dear Sal,

            I want to know did I sin last night? I was at a irish pub/resturant with my family.I am a Catholic, I am 21 years old female hispanic just to meantion I was fine I dont drink at all, nor smoke yuk I hate that though, and I have been having a lot of trouble lately making sure I don’t sin trying to be perfect. I had an issue last night where a drunk lady taller then my mom and heavier then me like 300lbs came in and I was stuck in the third stall trying to go to the bathroom as fast as I can scared to death of this lady and I have stomach problems where I am lactose intolarent so she starts cursing me out and my mom was protecting me and she goes what is that girl doing in there is she sick or what she was in there for like 95 somethin years I was scared because I never seen a violent drunk in my life , and it made me feel uncomfortable that it dealt a lot with the devil and his reasons for rebelling against God.

I have a bad habit of over thinking things or saying things to people who start drama then try to resovle it and clear it out.(I over think ANYTHING that worries me. it’s a very bad habit I have the mommyism with anybody yeah not good), and the subject of the story became more and more of a worry for me. Why would anyone rebel against God by drinking and becoming drunk with beer or wine even Liquor? Who gains anything from going against God by doing that she was tumbling everywhere and she was a wreck?

As time went on, I researched and learned about how many believe that the devil apparently attacks the minds of Catholics with doubts and fears even non catholics with beer and wine even liquor. I assumed that mine was under attack due to my curiosity about the devil's reasons even in this sitiutation, and this assumption made things worse. I began to wonder why there are some in this world that supported the devil, and that bothered me. The more I tried to understand, the more lost I became in this situation and I was crying hysterically because she scared me. Now, I've never felt more distanced from God before in that pub it was so sad and discusting, but I am staying by God because I truly want to be with Him I want to become a nun fully now. I've followed God my entire life but because of looking into psychics and paganism I learned you cant find God there but I am okay now, am saved and did I sin big time I was like ready to punch her in the face if I was only trying to protect my mom and family am I doing the Godly thing my mom is the one that used the curse word namely F word to protect me it was becoming a dark issue, and God's rules and Commandments have saved me from A LOT. I never ever want that to change.

I know that God says to reject the devil, which I did easily in the past as a child but growing up as a teen was like a fire ball thrown at me, but it became difficult to do because of all the stuff I read, all starting from Psychics to Tarot before as a teen, which I will probably never read again trying not to get sucked in that hole.

Does the devil hate people or does he possess drunk people? If so, why do some people think it wise to follow him? Won't they suffer in hell for going against God? And how can I return to God after being so caught up in all of this?

I am sorry for presenting such questions, but it bothers me a lot and I needed to ask somebody about it. But I'm going to try to trust in Jesus to help me out of this, because He and God have helped me before. But if I could get answers to those questions, my mind would be a lot more at ease. " So Sal can you help?


Answer
Dear Jacqueline:

I don't think that you sinned. However, it would be best to ask a priest. The devil hates anyone who loves God. There are many different reasons why people do things which are sinful. I cannot judge whether they will go to hell or not that is the judgment of God alone. You can return to God by asking his forgiveness (I'm not sure that you did anything wrong) and moving on.

Good Luck,
Sal