A good list of mortal sins:

[Windmill]

It used to be considered a grave sin to postpone baptism of a newborn more than a month or two without a good reason. If you think about it, you’re denying them sanctifying grace, and you’d need a really good reason to deny a soul that. People can talk about the theory of baptism of desire, and how we shouldn’t put limits on God’s mercy, but the fact of the matter is that we cannot be sure. So, we should go for the sure thing rather than run into a situation where a newborn dies (ex: SIDS) and the soul was not baptized because of neglect.

In your case, you were not purposely denying your child this grace, and you did not know the gravity of the situation (as best I can tell from your post), so I wouldn’t worry. If you’re concerned, bring it up at your next confession and your priest will give you guidance. I wouldn’t go to the priest that gave you the bad advice. Telling parents that infant baptism isn’t necessary is flat out wrong. It’s a practice that even St. Jerome said was brought to us by the Apostles. The Jews brought children into the covenant at 8 days old. Why is the New Covenant to be denied our little ones?

This is exactly why I think proper examinations of conscience are critical to a moral renewal of Catholics. Giving out vague, simple examinations of conscience at parish confessionals only confuses people.

I think Catholics in this country are realizing that they’ve been given “stones for bread”, and they’re raiding the “breadbox” of sound theology and tradition to nourish their souls.

As a great priest once said, “No heresy was ever started by a layman, and no renewal was ever started by a cleric.”

 

[frindro]

To Ne_OrangeKnight, check CCC 2290 and 2291. There you will see that driving with great speed is grave. It is scandal to deal drugs (outside of an appropriate context, such as if you were a pharmacist), though I would agree that heroin would probably be more serious than marijuana. CCC 2290 points out that all excesses are sinful, so that would include tattoos and piercings (I think CCC 2297 also deals with this).

 

[Ne_OrangeKnight]

To Ne_OrangeKnight, check CCC 2290 and 2291. There you will see that driving with great speed is grave. It is scandal to deal drugs (outside of an appropriate context, such as if you were a pharmacist), though I would agree that heroin would probably be more serious than marijuana. CCC 2290 points out that all excesses are sinful, so that would include tattoos and piercings (I think CCC 2297 also deals with this).

Although, I disagree that CCC 2290 deals with tattoos & piercings (especially since those words are never mentions; it instead cites many pleasures of the flesh, broadly speaking). And, again, what constitutes “excessive” tattoos? Is it simply a matter of size, or of amount? As I asked before, what if one were to cover one’s body in Bible verses, or images of the various Marian apparitions? Is a life-size reproduction of the Virgin of Guadalupe’s cloak “excessive”?

As for CCC 2297, I acknowledge that the word “mutilation” is there, but context (kidnapping, terrorism, torture) seems to suggest a different slant. And, again, it gets us no closer to defining “excessive,” even if it does in fact proscribe excessive tattoos and piercings.

But thank you, otherwise.

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight

 

[Layman]

Not a fan of tattoos and piercings myself, because I understand the following is the case:

Piercings: The openings don’t heal up and, if the jewellry is removed, they can clog up with dead skin cells, AFAIK. I think I saw this on a medical program once. Disgusting.

Also, anyone familiar with farming associates a ring through the nose with what you do to boars and bulls to control them.

Tattoos: You’re marked with a symbol you might get tired of and they fade and stretch. It types you before you even open your mouth. Also, you can’t give blood. Ever.

The medical effects might therefore make these things sinful.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Somehow I’m still inclined to read the Catechism than this.

Here are just some of the things that I’ve always found as less of actual explicit teaching and more of opinionated interpretation.

• Presumption (committing a mortal sin with the idea that you can just go to confession)

Actually, the catechism states that there are two kinds of presumption. Your list though, does not contain either.

• Doing unnecessary work on Sunday for a long period of time, i.e., more than several hours

No work is unnecessary as far as where I live.

• Willfully harboring hatred for another

Righteous hatred included? :ehh:

• Cross-dressing

That word’s not even in the Catechism. :ehh:

 

[Ne_OrangeKnight]

Not a fan of tattoos and piercings myself, because I understand the following is the case:

Piercings: The openings don’t heal up and, if the jewellry is removed, they can clog up with dead skin cells, AFAIK. I think I saw this on a medical program once. Disgusting.

Also, anyone familiar with farming associates a ring through the nose with what you do to boars and bulls to control them.

Tattoos: You’re marked with a symbol you might get tired of and they fade and stretch. It types you before you even open your mouth. Also, you can’t give blood. Ever.

The medical effects might therefore make these things sinful.

I’m not a fan of tattoos or many piercings, either (nose ring…ugh…). But the Church definitely allows for tattoos and piercings in general. (Otherwise my poor wife might be Hell-bound for not repenting of piercing her ears when she was younger. ) I myself have never heard of any of the medical effects you mention. Not that you’re wrong, but I don’t know if such things are common knowledge, and therefore may not have any impact on sinfulness for many individuals.

As for being “type[d]” by a tattoo, there are many things that can make an impression on others (haircut, clothing, general composure) besides a tattoo. Not to mention that many tattoos aren’t in places that are immediately visible, e.g. back, ankle, upper arm. And I don’t think that regretting a decision with long-lasting effects (tattoo or otherwise) is grounds for mortal sin.

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight

 

[Layman]

I was just giving my personal opinion about them. As to sinfulness, I dunno. A form of self-harm, perhaps? Never really understood the mentality.

They’re also a very good way to identify yourself absolutely to the authorities. More rebels and crooks should have them [heh heh].