Ronald Rolheiser in his column, “Hell is the absence of life, of love, of forgiveness” (Oct. 2), states, “God doesn’t send anyone to hell.”
Our Apostle’s Creed contains the words, “from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.” Jesus is the means to life eternal; denial of him is a judgement. There is more substance to the judgement than the author of this column implies. Our communities are not perfect. Our consciences are not perfect. Perfection lies in the imitation and desire of Jesus. Hell is a place. A place where our own actions and denial of Christ will take us if we do not cry out for mercy to Jesus our God. The presence and light and judging countenance of God before us at the time of our death solidifies this judgement and we are cast into the mold we chose in life.
Maybe the author’s ending, “He doesn’t need to” will apply, but in case of hardened hearts, I feel sure God’s judgement will ensure the evil are in the right place for them.
My concern with this column is the pervasive thought of today that nothing is really a sin; we can miss Mass on Sunday if we’re tired, a little sick, etc. and still go to Communion. We can entertain some bad thoughts and desires without them really being sinful. And saying God will not judge us is just another smokescreen today’s culture puts on us to cloud how difficult and necessary it is to take the narrow, moral road through life, trusting in Jesus’s mercy and Mary’s motherly guiding hand.
Joan Badie
West Deptford
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