While I was reading Erwin Lutzer’s book, Hitler’s Cross, a line stood out to me. It basically said that Hitler is fully aware of the torment he is currently experiencing.
As I was talking to Ben about it, I said something that may surprise people: “you can’t assume Hitler is in Hell.”
I know this is a heavy topic, so please bear with me and read the whole thing before you comment.
To be clear: I am not condoning any of Hitler’s acts.
What he caused is atrocious. We should be horrified that the world let this happen. We should be disgusted that people were willing participants in the mistreatment, dehumanization, torture, and murder of millions of innocent lives. I’m confident that anyone reading this knows that what Hitler did was sinful.
However, for Hitler to be in Hell, he needed to be in a state of mortal sin at the time of his death: his actions must be mortally sinful and he hadn’t repented of them.
Mortal Sin
For something to be mortally sinful, it must be a grave/serious matter, the person must have full knowledge that what they’re doing is sinful, and the person must consent to the act. CCC 1857 explains “For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: “Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.””
Grave Matter
The CCC defines grave matter as what “is specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of Jesus to the rich young man: “Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother”” (CCC 1858).
Full Knowledge
The CCC expands on full knowledge in paragraphs 1859 and 1860: “ It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God’s law…Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin. Unintentional ignorance can diminish or even remove the imputability of a grave offense. But no one is deemed to be ignorant of the principles of the moral law, which are written in the conscience of every man.”
Did Hitler know that what he was doing was gravely sinful? As an outsider, I question how he could NOT realize that. At the same time, I question how a person could have full knowledge of the gravity of what he was doing and continue to do it.
Consent
CCC 1860 explains consent as “The promptings of feelings and passions can also diminish the voluntary and free character of the offense, as can external pressures or pathological disorders. Sin committed through malice, by deliberate choice of evil, is the gravest.””
Consent to sin can be a confusing topic. Jimmy Akin’s explanation provides some clarity. The following situations describe when someone may not be deliberately consenting:
1) When we do something on the spur of the moment, without thinking about it first.
2) When we do it when we are asleep.
3) When we do it when we are really groggy (e.g., just going to sleep or just waking from sleep)
4) When we are intoxicated or under the influence of a substance that makes us groggy (e.g., certain allergy or other medications), though this one raises the question of how we got into a state like this and whether we committed a sin in doing so.
5) Under the influence of reason-depriving emotion (e.g., walking in on someone sleeping with your spouse; thinking that your life is in imminent danger)
6) Under the influence of strong psychological illness.
Just how strong some of these have to be for deliberate consent to cease to exist is not easy to determine. Look at grogginess or intoxication as examples. The impairment those involve exists on a spectrum, and it is not easy to say just where on the spectrum deliberate consent stops. Being just a little tired or just a little tipsy is not going to be enough. Yet at some point one reaches a state where one does not have enough possession of one’s faculties to commit a mortal sin.
I’ve heard speculation that Hitler was severely mentally ill and/or was on drugs. It is possible that such things could lessen his moral culpability.
State of Mortal Sin
Because we can only judge if a matter is grave, we must be cautious about accusing anyone besides ourselves of committing a mortal sin.
However, let’s say that Hitler knew what he was doing was gravely sinful and consented to it. There is still the other aspect of this: repentance.
We don’t know if he repented. God is incredibly merciful. Though mortal sin severs our relationship with God (CCC 1855 says mortal sin “destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him.”), true repentance can heal that. If Hitler truly and sincerely repented, it is possible that he was saved.
Could Hitler Be in Heaven?
I recognize this is an incredibly troubling thought. I’m right there I with you, cringing that someone who did such terrible things could still have the chance at experiencing eternal paradise. Though we hunger for justice, we must recognize that God is most just. Our human understanding of Justice is imperfect, and what God has planned is perfect even if it looks odd to us.
I think the best thing to consider is the parable of the workers in the vineyard.
Matthew 20:1-16 says:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. [And] he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you.Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? [Or] am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Why are you writing about Hitler in Hell?
I wanted to write about this topic for two reasons. The first reason is this is a perfect example of “judge not lest ye be judged.” The second reason is I believe this could be a huge source of hope for people.
Judge Not
A lot of people like to pull out “judge not lest ye be judged” (Matthew 7:1-3) to say that Christians have no right to judge people. However, what this verse in its proper context actually means is that we cannot judge the state of someone’s soul. We absolutely should judge actions; this is made clear in Scripture as well as just being common sense.
It would be ludicrous to not judge Hitler’s actions. Obviously, starting a genocide and mass mistreatment of human beings is despicable. We must point out the evil he performed. This trickles down to even the most minor acts. There are moral truths out there, and we should defend the truths. Hitler is a very extreme example, but he made it clear why we need to condemn morally evil acts.
Despite that evil, as I explained above, we cannot know for certain if he is in Hell. We cannot judge the state of someone’s soul for the aforementioned reasons, but more importantly, because it is God’s job. Claiming with certainty that someone is in Hell is playing God.
Hope
Christ’s ultimate sacrifice was for every single person. If we question if Christ’s sacrifice was enough for a person, we are questioning if God is enough.
While we may long for justice (and trust that God will do that), we should also have hope. If Hitler has a shot at being in Heaven, it is a tangible reminder that no one is beyond redemption.
Wrap-Up
Again, I am not trying to advocate for Hitler being in Heaven. I am simply trying to say that we can’t say with certainty that he is in Hell. Doing so disregards the meaning of mortal sin, plays God by judging his soul, and underestimates the power of God’s mercy.
If you are interested in this topic, there are two more posts I recommend.
Catholic Life Ministries wrote about Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. It was an interesting read that provides an imaginative scene as well as discussing Scripture and tradition.
Bill Pratt described God’s grace in a post on Tough Questions Answered, a Christian apologetics blog.
Having an undergraduate degree in History, with an emphasis on Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, I have often argued the same case. We simply don’t. know.
I do have faith that his 6+ million victims became martyrs, and made it to heaven. And, I would like to think Hitler made amends before his death/at his final judgement!
I would also like to think if he got his chance at heaven in his final judgement, he is probably still in Purgatory.
On the other hand, souls do go to hell. Jesus was clear about that when He was appearing to St. Faustina. So, it isn’t outside the realm of possibility that Hitler did go there.
The man was a monster – regardless of mental health/addictions. Those aren’t an excuse to commit atrocities.
But, only God knows Hitler’s final resting place. So, we must not presume. Good job tackling such a difficult subject!
You explained it perfectly! We need to recognize that Hell is a reality because God is just while also remembering He is merciful. Thank you so much for your insight. I really appreciate what you added to this topic! That’s also really cool you got your undergraduate degree in History. 🙂
As a practicing Christian who believes in Heaven and Hell I can say with 1,000% confidence that that motherfucker Hitler and his Nazi cronies (ie Eichmann and Himmler) are rotting in Hell. Yeah, no one is beyond God’s grace on the condition that he/she repents of their sins and turn to Christ (such as what the Apostle Paul did). Did Hitler ever do that? Hell fucking no he did not. Instead he committed suicide. Remember, that just as God had hardened Pharoas heart and condemned him to do, so did God hardened Hitlers heart so that he wouldn’t be able to repent and therefore is probably suffering in agony for eternity in Hell.
I understand your anger, and it’s anger I’ve felt myself. I think it’s even fair to say that it is righteous anger.
However, no person can say with certainty that a soul is in Hell.
We can -and should- say that Hitler’s actions were atrocious. We can say that what he did was pure evil and immensely sinful. We can say that what he did would very likely land someone in Hell. We should make people aware that Hell is very real and that it is a place some souls go.
All those things being said, the judgment of the soul’s final state is left up to God.
When you consider the sheer amount of evil and suffering he caused in close to 10million murdered victims…then why the Hell are you hoping this piece of shit is in Heaven? Your naïveté is sickening.
Ed,
I don’t hope that Hitler is in Heaven. What he did was horrific and (in our human understanding of justice) unforgivable.
I don’t hope in flawed humans. But I do have hope in our Savior, Jesus Christ. There is no sin that cannot be forgiven because of Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross. Mind you, the sinner must seek forgiveness.
Perhaps my writing wasn’t clear, but my intent for this post wasn’t to say that I hoped Hitler is in Heaven. Instead, it is to acknowledge that it is a possibility (albeit an incredibly, incredibly small one).
I’d like to direct you to some lines towards the end of this post:
Again, I’m not denying that it is disturbing that Hitler could be in Heaven, but I want to share an interesting perspective I read a while back. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the source, but a woman reflected on how she would feel if her abuser was in Heaven. She explained that he wouldn’t be the same man anymore. Only those who are sinless get to Heaven, so if by some slim chance the abuser was in Heaven, it would mean he had repented and been purified.
Another helpful perspective came from another commenter on this post. Check out what Anni had to say about this topic.
On an unrelated note: when you comment on my blog, your IP address and e-mail show up in my comment queue. This means I can tell it’s the same commenter even if you use a different e-mail. I also ask that before you comment on my blog again, please read my Commenting guidelines.
Thank you and God bless.
What about the misfits in the clergy who are queer. Why can not the Church screen them out? Is there not a screening test that would work. ALL that stuff causes a bad publicity. Would that not turn away potential converts?
Thank you very much.
Yours in Christ,
/ANGUS A. STEVENS/
Angus,
In the future, I ask you to please use more sensitivity in phrasing your questions.
That being said, I think your question regarding gay clergy is still important.
It is critically important that homosexuality in itself is not sinful. A man who is sexually attracted to men could be a priest if he, like a man who is sexually attracted to women, is going to remain chaste and obedient to the teachings of the Catholic Church. This resource explains that a man acting on his homosexuality cannot be admitted to the priesthood and this is a more general answer.
As for a screening test, it is important to remember that every member of the clergy has been screened. Unfortunately, no man is sin-free. There are priests, both gay and straight, who commit atrocities that weren’t “caught” during the screening process.
I also want to point out that the sex abuse we see in the Church isn’t exclusive to gay men. It is so important that we keep “sexual abuser” separate from “gay man” because they are not one in the same. We must also remember that sexual abuse isn’t always about sexual attraction; psychologically speaking, sexual abuse also comes from a desire to exert power.
Sex abuse scandals very likely turn away potential converts. It also pushes away faithful Catholics. We need to do something to address these sex abuse scandals. We need to root out the evil that has infiltrated our Church. But preventing gay men from being priests isn’t the solution because it isn’t the source of the problem.
If Hitler was under the age of accountability written of by the Apostle Paul, then the RCC would be correct. However, Hitler was well above the age of accountability so all this nonsense about mortal sins and the like are nothing more than man made rules.
Use the Bible, not the RCC, as your basis of faith.
Hi Ort,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, but I highly encourage you to seek the truth as presented and protected by the Church Christ established.
“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17-19)
Christ established the Catholic Church, and nothing the Church teaches goes against the Bible.
Here is a resource that cites Scripture for venial vs mortal sin: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/mortal-and-venial-sin
I’d be happy to direct you to additional resources if you’d like to learn more about what the Catholic Church teaches.
If Hitler is in Heaven, then praise the saving power of Jesus and the love of God! Thank the Lord for such a savior! I never physically harmed anyone, but my sins put Christ on that cross just as much as Hitler’s. God took them just as seriously. There’s room at the cross for all who are willing to come to Christ. If he repented, he too could be with the Lord. We won’t know til the last day.
It is hard for me to fathom that a man who advocated for the extermination of so many could possibly be in heaven. That said, God’s mercy is beyond anything we can fathom.