Dang, I took a lot of time to say what you said better in one line, your final one. 

I think you say a lot about conservative Catholic views of their own unworthiness and clerical authority: the power to punish assures the power to control. As you say, they actually believe a priest, a bishop, a cardinal isn't real or worth taking seriously unless he can refuse you absolution, deny you sacraments, kick you out, because, well, he can. Oh, and you deserve it.  "Because I said so." "Because I can." No ambiguity; no dubia.

Fear is a great motivator. 

It gets folks "religiously" to comply... to obey...to conform... to avoid jail, excommunication, and wind sprints.... to keep the rules...to think and act as one...to play it safe by the book and by the Book.


But fear of hell never----ever--motivates folks to optimally love...or to offer optimal mercy...or to receive optimal mercy. 


It sounds like a great country-western song: "Ya Won't Get Into Heaven Just By Escaping Hell."