I have a friend who will not believe that sex before marriage is a mortal sin. Is there anywhere in Church doctrine that specifically spells out that it is?
I believe I’ve read that ALL sexual sins are mortal in nature. I’ll look that up for you…
But your friend’s insistence on it not being so does not negate the “full knowledge” aspect of mortal sins. Moral law is written in everyone’s heart. I’ll try to find the Catechism passage for you.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
**2353 ***Fornication *is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption of the young.
Matthew 15:19-20
19. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander.
20. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."
1 Cor 6:18
18. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself.
Gal 5:19-21
19. Now the works of the flesh are obvious:** fornication**, impurity, licentiousness,
20. idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions,
21. envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
2353 Fornication is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is **gravely **contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a **grave **scandal when there is corruption of the young.
2391 Some today claim a “right to a trial marriage” where there is an intention of getting married later. However firm the purpose of those who engage in premature sexual relations may be, “the fact is that such liaisons can scarcely ensure mutual sincerity and fidelity in a relationship between a man and a woman, nor, especially, can they protect it from inconstancy of desires or whim.” Carnal union is morally legitimate only when a definitive community of life between a man and woman has been established. Human love does not tolerate “trial marriages.” It demands a total and definitive gift of persons to one another.
2517 The heart is the seat of moral personality: “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication…” The struggle against carnal covetousness entails purifying the heart and practicing temperance: Remain simple and innocent, and you will be like little children who do not know the evil that destroys man’s life.
*2396 Among the sins **gravely **contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices.
1385 … *Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion.
Is that helpful?
here’s the link to the catechism
[quote=rayne89]Catechism of the Catholic Church
**2353 ***Fornication *is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption of the young.
Matthew 15:19-20
19. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander.
20. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."
1 Cor 6:18
18. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself.
Gal 5:19-21
19. Now the works of the flesh are obvious:** fornication**, impurity, licentiousness,
20. idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions,
21. envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
[/quote]
D’oh! Beat me to the punch (and did a darn good job too, I might add)
here’s some concordance links that might help you as well…
compare the tone of the texts regarding these two words…
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/2/S.HTM
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/NP.HTM
If your friend is trying to say “I can have premarital sex becuase it’s just a venial sin and I won’t go to hell” it would seem to me that that attitude is severely screwed-the-heck-up. I don’t know if it’s the sin of presumption or what, but trying to take advantage of Jesus’ sacrifice like that strikes me as pretty darn mortal in and of itself.
Regards to mortal sin in general, if a sin is venial and you know it is a sin and choose to do it anyway, it becomes mortal because you know it offends God.
Man is no privledged to be content with sin, venial or otherwise.
As to the nature of pre marital sex, it is ranked as mortal.
Andy
You might want to tell your friend to read what the sixth commandment says! It’s cut 'n dry!
Please elaborate.
**Sexual sin is mortal. It is described in the bible to be a grave matter, and the Catechism is pretty clear on the subject. Your friend, if they are a believer, is trying to make themselves feel better about what they are doing, but the reality is that sex before marriage is a no no :tsktsk: **
It is a difficult thing, sometimes to understand why. If marriage is in the future, it is difficult to withstand the temptation. But I know, from experience unfortunately, that giving yourself up before marriage can damage that special union after marriage. I would not have done it if I had it to do over again.
There seems to be some confusion between mortal and grave sin. Yes, all sins of a sexual nature are considered grave (serious) but there are three conditions for a sin to be mortal.
[list=1]
*]Must be of a serious nature.
*]One must know it is serious
*]Must have full consent of the will.
Because of poor (inadequate, inconsistant) catechesis it is possible that a person could be ignorant of this. However, as someone noted above, willful ignorance is not an excuse.
Finally, a person must have full consent of the will. There can be mitigating circumstances. For example, a person who has masturbated habitually may fall many times as they try to overcome this temptation. Even though they may fall into sin it may not be mortal because they are lacking full consent of the will. Also, persons who have experienced sexual abuse or assault in the past may also lack full constent of their will because the abuse has distorted the meaning of sex for them.
While it may not be a mortal sin, it still is very serious and has seroius consequences for the soul and body, and society.
These are only a few examples but I thought is was important to be more clear about what constitutes a mortal sin.
Swimstud, your friend could be correct that sex before marraige isn’t a mortal sin (it may not be for some), but he can’t get around that it is still a very serious sin.
I have registered to this forum just so I can say my thanks for your post, Bruised Reed. You are very helpful.
Actually none of that is correct.
Pre-marital sex is a sin of grave matter (that is not a mortal sin). It only becomes a mortal sin the the person knows it is a sin of grave matter and then goes ahead and commits the act. If they don’t know its a sin of grave matter then committing the act is not a mortal sin.
Venial sins do NOT become mortal sins.
It is a mortal sin.
Bruised Reed and Thistle give accurate answers.
People, please note the date of the OP.
Hello All,
I understand that Sex before marriage is A mortal Sin.
Forgive my ignorance, but what constitute to Sex?
I really want my relationship to be Holy.
Can someone clearly define the boundaries?
Regards,
Will not or does not? You can believe whatever you want. He/she knows it is a sin, then yes it is a mortal sin.
Any sexual act at all outside marriage is a sin of grave matter. I’m sure I don’t know all the possible acts but sexual intercourse, masturbation, any contact with the sexual organs, including female breasts, oral sex, sodomy is a sin of grave matter.
That also includes such contact through clothes. No petting allowed.
Very well stated.