Dear Father,

In regards to the commandment to go to Mass on Sundays, what if certain Catholics don't believe that it is a mortal sin not to go? They believe that the interpretation of the commmandment is made by men and not by God. These few who believe this are a few of my siblings. It is hard for me to believe that they would go to hell for this. They lead "good" lives and are kind and loving people. Would invincible ignorance apply to them? They truly do not believe that they are seriously offending God.

There is a difference between invincible ignorance and dissent from the Church's teaching. The latter is what your siblings are engaged in. They know the Church's teaching, and that is why they dissent from it. Dissenting from the Church's teaching that deliberately failing to worship God on Sunday as required by God himself is a serious evil tells me that there is a serious lack of a spiritual life among them. The purpose of life is to finally find our deepest joy in God. If that purpose does not inflame your heart, then worshiping God will make no sense to you. And that is a serious and sad tragedy.

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