J. Peter Nixon reflects on the Church's shift away from a terrifying, "high stakes" notion of hell:
[O]nly 60 percent of Catholics believe in hell. While comparable to mainline Protestants (56 percent), that’s far below the 82 percent recorded by evangelical Protestant churches.
A voice in favor of the trend:
As for the younger generation of Catholics, Annie Selak is not convinced that a renewed emphasis on hell is what they need. “There is so much pressure on these kids to live up to the expectations of their parents, administrators, older siblings, high school teachers, and principals. The pressure is astounding! I think the move away from the fear of disappointing God and ending up in hell with one bad decision allows them to have a healthier relationship with their faith.”
(Painting: Coppo di Marcovaldo, Hell (ca 1225 – 1274, Mosaic, Baptistry, Florence)
The Dish 
