Traditional Catholicism is often criticized for putting inordinate importance on being Catholic. But of course, for the Church, being Catholic has always been a means to an end. The end (or at least one of the primary ends) is the salvation of one's soul. Or as the Church used to put it for the first 98% of its existence before people like Barron came along, the salvation of as many souls as possible.
I have heard this version of everyone going to heaven for years..I always ask the question...So,it`s okay to rape women,kill blacks and rape children??? God allowed Nazis and KKK into heaven after murdering innocent humans,right? If everyone goes to heaven,we can act any way we want.... No one has to act good,which is a lot harder than being bad.
A good person need not fear hell to be good.
The author appears to have a real hatred for Bp. Barron. Although I too have been frustrated by some of Bp. Barron’s more lofty and fluffy generalizations, this is really over the top. The author’s whole rant is based on some sloppy probabilistic calculations which have no bearing whatsoever on God. As a absolutely powerful and omnipotent being who completely loves every human being who has ever lived, nothing is random and no probabilistic calculation is even applicable. Bp. Barron consistently qualifies his statements on this topic as being his personal opinion and wish. Indeed, we should all hope an pray that none of our brothers and sisters under God go to Hell. Anything less is a failure of hope and charity.
I do not belong to any demomination as Jesus said those who believe in me shall have eternal life.
I do not know what heaven or hell is but i know they both exist because Jesus talks about them.
For instance he said fear not man because he can only kill the
body but rather fear GOD because he can destroy both the body and soul in hell.
So we know there is a hell what ever it is and why would there be one if every one was going to heaven, what ever that is.?
Jesus also said many would be called but few chosen, and that his Gospel would be preached to all of the world and then the end would come.
There was a time when i went to Church because i believe in Jesus Christ and there are still Churches i would go to but my chosen one is about 6oo miles away and on top of that i have too much controversy in Bible study in other Churtches.
I believe there will be many people in hell and a few in heaven and those few in heaven will no doubt suprise even me.
A precher said he dreamed that he went to heaven and while he expected he was going to meet all of his congregation and all of his friends, but that was not the case.
Instead many there were the ones he had considered uncouth, the ones who went to the bars, the hobo type of people, who never went to Church and so on.
So it gave him great concern, something he had to think about.
It finialy made sense and he was most astonised that he was included in the number called.
One of the most beautiful hyms i have ever heard was played in a bar, it brought tears to every ones eyes because they knew they were sinners.
I was only a kid when i heard it so my memory may let me down but i think it was the death march or something like that.
I am not suggesting going to bars but only saying that believers are where you find them as long as they are not in a place which is forbidden by God.
This relates back to this ancient question:
Is God’s power absolute (depends only on His will), or ordained (destined by the eternal order/intellect, as revealed in Scripture)?
Absolute: more modern concept; “all things possible with God”; He could save everyone; God could even ok things like rape; so — also Islamic-like
Ordained: more ancient (like Aquinas) concept; God saves only those who meet an unchanging standard, laid down by Christ in the Gospel (enabled by His dying and resurrection)...
Thoughts?
Actual quotes from Bishop Barron:
https://youtu.be/dmsa0sg4Od4
“Bishop Barron on whether Hell is Crowded or Empty”
http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/homily/the-narrow-gate/5249/
“The Narrow Gate”
Barron is just the result of 50+ years of non-Catholic Vatican II teachings on religious freedom and ecumenism.