If you are Catholic

Hmmm.... I'm not Catholic so I don't know hon.  As a normal Christian, just being a Christian (as in having asked Jesus to come into our lives and hearts) is enough.  There aren't any other requirements to get into heaven.  Not sure for a catholic....

I will say a prayer for him though.  Hugs.

I'm with heather on this one too. Sorry I can't be of help.

Hi Grace,

I am not Catholic either but I can include you and your uncle in our family prayers.

I am a practicing Catholic. I've never heard the term "lapsed Catholic" LOL! Made me giggle...

We call people who have not been to church a Non-practicing Catholic. This does NOT mean that he can not get into Heaven. We also don't believe that there is seperate Heaven's for each religion, it's all one God; therefore, one Heaven.

We do believe that there is Purgatory, for everyone, not just Catholics. Purgatory is where you are "purged" of your sins, your soul is made pure so you may enter Heaven and have eternal life with God. Him not attending Catholic Mass for years is a sin and he can pay for it in purgatory. No one knows if he is going to go to Heaven; however, I do know that God is a very forgiving God, so he can still go to Heaven even if he did not recieve the Sacrament of the Sick (Also known as the Last Rights) and didn't attend Mass like he should have.

It is essential that we pray for him while he is in Purgatory. We believe that it can and does help them.

Here is a common prayer:

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.  

Lapsed Catholic.  Interesting.  I call myself a recovering Catholic.  LOL!  Heather is right, but I prefer to think that since God loves everyone regardless, then everyone goes to heaven.  Either way, I will say a prayer for him.

Of course God loves everyone regardless of their sins! All you have to do is be truly sorry for those sins and ask for His forgivness. He can do that in Purgatory...

See, even after years of going to a Catholic church, I just don't get the whole purgatory thing.  I prefer to think that if you believe in God, you are going to heaven.  I like to keep it simple.

Not to spark a debate, and I say this with all due respect, Brenda...

Just because you "prefer" to think that if you believe in God you are going to Heaven and you like to keep things simple doesn't mean that it's the way things are. I would "prefer" to believe that I do not have to pay income taxes, but I do, no matter if I want to believe it or not. I don't want to believe that money that my husband and I have worked for is going to people who have chosen NOT to live by God's rules, but I can refuse to believe it all I want, it doesn't change the fact that it is. I would prefer for our taxes to go towards only those who are trying to help themselves, but I can't dictate that, as much as I would like to.

I would like to keep things simple as well; however, it just doesn't work all of the time. Religion and God are not about convienence, no matter how much we would like them to be. He has given us 10 rules to live by and has given us free will to choose if we live by those rules are not. He has given you free will to believe in or not to believe in Purgatory; just because you don't want to believe in it because it's not "simple enough" or because you don't like the idea of it does not mean that it doesn't exist.

I'm not trying to debate if there is or isn't Purgatory. I'm saying that just because we don't like something because we want to keep things simple doesn't mean it doesn't exist. 

Purgatory is not a bad thing, NOT AT ALL! There is only one way to go from there! Heaven!

Heather, I'm not offended at all.  The only reason I am Catholic is because my mother had me baptized as a baby.  I have many differences of opinion w/ the Catholic church (hence the reasons I refuse to go), but I still believe in God.  I simply don't believe in purgatory.  I believe in a benevolent God and that whoever believes in him is going to Heaven when they die.  Period.  No waiting period needed.  I've had this discussion with my parents many times.  Mom went to Catholic school and my dad was in the seminary for 3.5 years before leaving, so I have heard all the pros and cons.  I think it is great that you have such a strong faith - I simply don't share it.  I think everyone is entitled to believe as they wish regardless of what others believe.  Having respect for others faith and beliefs is important to me, but by no means do I expect others to feel the way I do.  Sometimes I wish I had an unwavering faith like you do.  But I don't and I long ago became comfortable with the things I do believe.