Q: I would like to first off thank you for all the work you do for people everywhere. I have had a problem with pornography for some time. My question is this. Sometimes I commit a sin early in the week and I cannot make my confession until Saturday or Sunday. Even though I am sorry, if died before confession would I go to hell? I have such a fear of Gods justice and I think I have forgot his mercy. I will worry all week before confession so afraid I am condemned until I get to confession. I hope you can help me with this matter.  Greg

A:  Dear Greg,

Regarding your question, your fear falls under what the Church calls "scrupulosity".  It is an undue fear of God that comes from the devil working on you to cause you to lose trust in God's mercy.
As Padre Pio once said, "Should you commit a mortal sin, immediately say an act of contrition and move on.  What else can you do?"
 

Condemnation to hell comes about as the result of an individual's continuing and habitual recalcitrance and resistance to God's offer of mercy.  In other words, God doesn't send anyone to hell, this is what a soul does to itself of conscious, premeditated choice.

Sacred Scripture in several different books states clearly that we are all sinners.

The difference between the sinners that go to Heaven and the sinners that go to hell lies in the way that they deal with their sinfulness.
That is, the penitent sinner acknowledges his sins before God, recognizes his weak and disordered nature, and tries his best to seek and do the will of God to the best of his ability.  This is the essential meaning of perseverance.
The condemned sinner, on the other hand, sees his sin as something good and beneficial, so he clings to it with all of his strength and will.  Likewise, he sees God as an impediment to his personal satisfaction and gratification, so he becomes angry with God and rejects Him along with His love, His graces and His Mercy.
In other words, the damned sinner loves the sin and hates God while the saved sinner loves God and hates the sin, even though he may be inclined to fall into repeat sins as a consequence of his fallen nature.  
Remember what our Lord said, "You cannot serve two masters.  Either you will hate the one and love the other or love the one and hate the other."
 

For yourself, (as is true for each of us), you need to decide which you love more, God or sexual pleasure.
The only two options that we have to choose from in all of human existence are Heaven and Hell.
 

God Bless you!
We will certainly keep you in our daily thoughts and prayers.

Fraternally in Christ,

Paul Rasavage
for the Serenellians
and www.PornNoMore.com