We Did'nae Ken!

I have read on other blogs that clergy who preach heresy, or fail properly to teach the laity the truth about mortal sin and Hell, are endangering the souls of their flocks. I have thought and said the same myself.

I cannot, I am glad to say, maintain this position, because I cannot believe that God is less merciful than we are.

Would I condemn to eternal torment someone who had sinned in ignorance of the nature of what he had done? Of course not. Or condemn someone whose heretical beliefs had been taught him by a heretical Bishop, or Priest, or teacher? A thousand times, no!

Long ago I heard an old Scottish joke about a Calvinist minister's sermon:

It'll be no use crying out to the Lord on the terrible Day of Judgment, "Lord, we did'nae ken! We did'nae ken!" 

For the Lord, in His infinite Mercy and Compassion will look down on ye and say, "Ye ken the noo!"

If we are indeed made in God's image, then our better yearnings, such as love and compassion must be a pale reflection of His.

False Bishops and Priests, and other correctly formed Catholics may well be destined for Hell if they lie to the ignorant about the Faith, but not lost little people who have never had access to the Truth.

"Better a millstone...."