Of course God is loving and merciful, but lest we forget that HE is also JUST.  To presume God's mercy is a sin - A sin against the Holy Ghost that can condemn a soul to perdition for all eternity.  THIS is perennial Catholic teaching.  Many souls have become canonized saints for the sake of purity.  I choose the way of these courageous souls who understood TRUTH then and didn't allow the zeitgeist to convince them otherwise through deceitful belief in a God who offered mercy with no justice.  My life isn't mine.  It was given to me by God and I will have to be accountable before HIM on the Judgement Day.