[johnb2004]

The mother — who is a Catholic and surely raised her son to be a believer, but who died an agnostic without faith in Jesus — is right to worry that her son might be in Hell. By telling her not to worry, Mannion is causing the mother to deprive her son of needed prayers. And by broadcasting his weird opinions in the Visitor, Mannion is telling moms everywhere that it doesn’t matter if their children apostatize or commit unrepented mortal sins, that just so long as the mom loves her children and the mom (not Jesus) thinks they were "good," they go to Heaven.

[dangus]

"By telling her not to worry, Mannion is causing the mother to deprive her son of needed prayers."

Now THERE's a good answer! By his rejection of the faith, your son has deprived himself of the assurance of Christ's salvation. But through God's mercy, all things are possible; pray, therefore, greiving mother, that his soul has been saved. Do not cease your works of reparation, to participate in this miracle, that you may have confidence in it.