I know the church declares people who are in heaven (e.g., Saints). Is there a list of people, or even one person, who is known to be in Hell?

it has been said before on this board that it is very very likely judas is in hell...beyond that, no one knows... though i'm pretty sure he has lots and lots of company...remember the vision of hell given to the children of fatima?

I agree with F/S.

as much for my remembering as for Fr Horton agreeing

Unrepentant sinners

It's a blessing that we don't know. I't saves us from gloating

Are there any who feel as though Judas might be in Heaven?

I'm hopeful.

If you want to think that Judas is in Heaven, you have to have some other way to explain what Jesus meant in saying, “The Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

Judas, Cain, Pilate and Arius we are sure to be in hell base on Tradition. When I said Tradition I meant the liturgy (for example there's an ancient liturgy where Arius is said to be in the abyss of inequity [if I recall correctly] and another said some bad things about Pilate which I could not find) and even Catechism (the Roman Catechism AKA Catechism of Trent asserts that Cain and Judas is in hell).

I would think Cerinthes, Marcion, Valentinus, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Henry VIII -- all Heresiarchs and at least the first generation who followed them.

The Church has declared absolutely no one in Hell, though Judas is the closest, and I think I've mentioned before the dangers of coming up with lists of people we think should be in Hell (and yes, I realize Dante did it).

This really is not something we need to know, and speculation cannot be good for our souls.

I was just going to say--why do we need to concern ourselves with who may be suffering in Hell. Our prayers cannot do anything for them.

I thought they could, (I am unsure, however.). My understanding was that we may pray for those who we may believe to be in hell, as our prayers may lessen the severity of their punishment if they are there. Anyone know if that is right?

I believe they are prescribed to a particular punishment and that is what they suffer. It cannot be lessened.

Who's in hell is not the Church's business. The Gospel says don't pull up the weeds too soon because the wheat will be lost too. Read Don Bosco and if that doesn't scare you onto the right path nothing will.

Prayers can only apply to those in purgatory, which is part of hell but temporary.

SV

That sounds right, but I wasn't sure. I guess we can't know for certain that the hypothetical person that I was thinking of may be in hell so pray for them anyway.

Right our duty is to pray, it's up to God to do what He will past that.


SV