Quote:There's nothing in Catholic doctrine that says Hell is a "punishment" God casts on us. That's exactly what the article I posted was about... it was about Catholic theologians explicitly saying that it isn't that lol. Sure, it has been described as punishment, and it has also been described as a state of being as seen on the OP. But since we can't claim to know for sure, neither description is official Church doctrine. It's all speculation and theories.
Not to put to fine a point on it, but...
The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, ‘eternal fire.’ The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs"
Source: The Catechism of The Catholic Church. Which, according to John Paul II is '...a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion and a sure norm for teaching the faith'. So the claim that 'there's nothing in Catholic doctrine that says Hell is a "punishment" ' is simply not true.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
