Whatever happened to hell?

Many assume that ruthless criminals like Hitler, serial killers and mass murderers, are surely in hell. Yet

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consider this. While the Church has canonized many saints, it has never definitively declared anyone to be in hell.

Yes, the Church affirms that hell exists. But it refrains from naming who resides there, not even Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. This silence is not an oversight. Rather, the Church chooses to emphasize salvation, not condemnation. Instead of highlighting the exceptions, if there are any, it underscores the boundless grace of redemption that Jesus has obtained through His death and resurrection.

The Catechism for Filipino Catholics is clear on the Church’s teaching on hell: “In contrast to the reality of heaven, the indifference to the suffering of Lazarus condemns him to hell. Disturbingly, the parable even hints that the joy of heaven may include witnessing the suffering of the damned, which is a chilling commentary on the consequences of moral apathy.

Compared to past centuries, today, hell has nearly vanished from serious conversation. It lingers only in horror movies, Halloween decorations, and verbal outbursts like “Go to hell!” hurled at enemies in anger or sarcasm.