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The Busted Halo Question Box
Ask our spiritual experts virtually anything!
This is the place where you can ask all of those burning questions that you wouldn't dare ask in person. We will post questions here (using your byline only with permission); we guarantee an answer to everyone.

Have your own question? Then pitch it to us!

Fr. Tom Ryan
Ecumenical and interfaith
Neela Kale
Culture, ethics and Catholic basics
Mike Hayes
General
Ann Naffziger, M.A., M.Div.
Scripture
Charles C. Camosy, PhD
Medical ethics
Caitlin Kennell Kim
Mary
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Our readers asked:

Does someone who commits suicide go to hell?

Mike Hayes Answers:

Simply put, no. In fact, it seems impossible. What we know from psychology about suicidal behavior is that the person is not in control of their own actions.

For a matter to be sinfully grave, one would need to willfully do that action. Therefore in the case of suicide, one isn’t sinning willfully.

It’s important to note that at one time the church did deem suicidal behavior as an action that would merit hell. After careful discussion with the modern psychological community, the church proclaimed their teaching in a new light. This is a great example of how the Catholic Church remains in dialogue with the world, especially with the scientific community, always learning and evolving with modernity.

  • (1)
The Author : Mike Hayes
Mike Hayes is the senior editor for the Googling God section at BustedHalo.com.
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  • John

    But what about a case of a very ill person who elects suicide rather than the pain and other consequences of his illness?

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