If a Catholic man is involved in some non-legal freedom fighting, say IRA or some other illegal acticivty that he believes is for the greater good. And if he sincerely regrets the people who are hurt or killed by his actions, but doesn't change his ways, because he believes he's doing long-range good work. And he goes to Mass and confession 2 or 3 times a year as he is able...
What's the Church's position on that? Heaven, hell or purgatory?
And if he's executed for his crimes, and not given a priest for last rites, does that affect anything? Can anyone besides a priest give last rites? Would anyone else know what to do?
Please. no snarky answers. I'm trying to understand the Catholic faith.
Gemma Galgani2013-09-02T02:13:20Z
There are several issues that I would like to bring up. 1. It is against church teaching to commit a sin in order to bring about a greater good. 2. If he were to attend confession with no intention of stopping his sin. Then his confession would be invalid. 3. The Catholic church does not declare people to be in hell or purgatory, and it is only through intense church scrutiny that takes (in many cases) hundreds of years to determine someone a saint. The reasons being is it is only up to God to decide the destination of someones soul. So the church does not declare "this person, is going to hell, or this person is going to purgatory" this information is impossible for us to know. The church has never declared anyone to be in hell, not even Judas Iscariot. Even if we were to get information about the inhabitants of hell, we would never be able to trust it...Hell is full of lies and deceit. 4. The last rights comprises 3 sacraments. Confession, anointing of the sick, and the Eucharist. It is only possible for a priest to hear confession or administer the anointing of the sick. The laity are not able to administer these sacraments. The only thing a lay person is able to do is bring the Eucharist to the bedside of a sick person as an extraordinary minister of holy communion
If the man continues to do the acts that he regrets, even though he feels it's for long-term good, he cannot be truly repentant in the eyes of the Church. Also, in an extreme situation, a lay person may administer the Last Rites, but only if there is no other alternative; i.e., no priest or other Church official available. (This is what I was taught in Sunday school.)
He can confess until he's blue in the face; it's 100% up to his priest to decide if he's sincere or not. The priest can with hold forgiveness. If the penitent decides to omit relevant details from Confession, that's a mortal sin that will send him to hell.
The Church does not teach that the end justifies the means.
Catholics believe everybody goes to Purgatpry until the day of Judgment. At the same time, part of the Act of Contrition is "I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin." So by continuing to participate in those illegal activities, he's basically lying to God, as far as the Chruch is concerned.