re: #279 Decatur Deb

Goes beyond that, into the notion of the individual’s realization and acceptance of the true nature of the universe at death. The author’s ‘emtpty Hell” extends the hope to those who never heard of Catholic Christianity. (Hey he is a cardinal, after all.)

The Church teaches, in general, that baptism is necessary for salvation. Not necessarily the rite of baptism, but possibly also baptism through martyrdom for Christ, and baptism through a desire of baptism. Plus there is a loophole with a hope for the fate of unbaptized infants. (At what moment of time is an infant no longer an infant? Heh. But I digress.)

Now, obviously, nobody can say with certainty that any given individual did not harbor Catholic thoughts/desire for baptism before death and is therefore not in hell. But we can say with certainty, in aggregate, that most of them didn’t. Because that’s just not factual. So while we can’t pinpoint who is in hell and who isn’t, most of them are in hell, as follows from the standard teachings.