Children and fear of hell (1)

I found your front page report on Catechism lessons allegedly scaring some six-year-olds rather exaggerated, not to say sensational.

It might have given the impression that catechists preparing children for their First Holy Communion are giving more importance to fear than to love.

I am a father of three. My children attended MUSEUM (Society of Christian Doctrine) classes since they were four or five.

They never returned home complaining that some catechist has ever emphasised the fear of hell. And I have never met parents complaining about this, either.

Of course this does not mean there might not be some very rare cases. But these are only exceptions. So I cannot understand why you gave front-page space to such a story, which can only harm the Church.

Actually, I do not agree that the question of hell should be put aside altogether as Our Lord often referred to it in the gospel. On the other hand, I agree that stressing the fear of hell to six-year-olds should not be encouraged.