Pastor Steven Kachel of St. Patrick Church in Onalaska, Wisconsin recently addressed parishioners regarding the celebration of All Saints Day, a celebration of “the countless number of souls who have achieved this great glory.”

“The whole purpose of the church on Earth is to guide us so we may achieve the glory of heaven,” Kachel wrote. “If you think about it, there is nothing more bone chilling or horrifying than the thought of a soul going to hell."

As much as people make light of hell, there is nothing light to it, Kachel cautioned parishioners to remember.

“There is nothing worse than not being in the presence of God,” Kachel wrote. “Our Holy Father is aware of this and it is he who keeps reminding us that we are to be a people who reach out in mercy.”

With that in mind, Kachel wrote of the Pope’s urging to respect civil unions. 

“In no way does this change church teaching. Remember this is a pastoral approach,” Kachel wrote. “Holy Matrimony is a sacrament and marriage is between one man and one woman.”

The point of the message is to reach out to people in mercy where they are, Kachel wrote.

“Remember, the law of love embraces everybody, and God’s love has no limits,” he wrote.