Breaking the law..sinning?

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I know that theft is a mortal sin, but what about speeding? Let’s say every morning you drive 75MPH on the interstate and you know the speed limit is only 70MPH, that’s considered a sign, right? and must be confessed?
 
If you are consciously breaking the law every day, yes. It’s a sin.

If it’s something you do accidentally like just go above the limit without looking at the speed…not a sin, just be more careful when driving.

😉

God bless
 
I’m going to say it’s likely a venial sin to go 5 mph over the speed limit, especially if you’re late for an important occasion or for work. Now if you’re going WAY over the speed limit, passing people carelessly, then we’re moving into the realm of mortal sin, as someone (yourself included) could be seriously injured or killed. It is almost always a good idea to follow the law (except in cases where you would be gravely sinning by doing so), so try to leave a few minutes earlier and ask God to give you concern for yourself and others as you drive. But I wouldn’t worry myself sick if you’ve gone 5 miles over the speed limit, especially if you were being careful and courteous otherwise. But I’d try to make a better effort to obey the speed limit in the future. Just my opinion, but you still may want to speak to your priest for reassurance. And definitely take it to Confession if your conscience is bothering you.
 
I just saw that October 7, 2012 is pulpit freedom day. This is where pastors will take a position on the upcoming election. This is against a 1954 Johnson Amendment law which says churches can’t do that. If they do the IRS will remove their tax exempt status. Are these pastors sinning when they break this law? Also I do not know if any catholic priests are participating. The claim is out there that several thousand pastors are participating.
 
Yes it can be a sin.

However I think it is reasonable to judge that in regards to the lawgiver (the lawful authority) that he/she knows that customarily persons go say around 5 or so over the posted limit…so they intentionally post the limit lower than they intend people to go…hence the intention of the lawgiver(which is part of the moral aspect of the law) is that one stay around that limit say within a small reasonable amount… miles per hour…(depending on various things…such as speed limit or road or weather etc) …and one usually finds that police do not enforce the limit as posted…but give that customary room…

of course one needs to make a good judgment of conscience…and avoid danger etc. But I think that this is some reasonable thoughts on the matter…

This is not to encourage going faster than need be…but one should also avoid scruples.

(though say school zones and really low speed limits should be that speed or under…think “kids”…that keep strictly!..and more serious fines can mean they are mean it more strictly…and neighborhoods with 25…keep to that…)

As to serious sin – yes it can be serious or I would think venial.

Example of serious would be:

CCC 2290 - The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others’ safety on the road, at sea, or in the air.

This too will be of interest:

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/migrants/pom2007_104-suppl/rc_pc_migrants_pom104-suppl_orientamenti-en.html

I should note too …remember …what Europeans consider a strict observance is not the
same thing as what Americans do…we have different approaches to law…etc

One needs to consider very much the road conditions…weather…etc…
but I think still that the intention of the law giver comes into play as I noted
and Jimmy Akin’s note here regarding jimmyakin.com/2006/08/poker_legamoron.html “legemoron” where the lawgiver is expectingvariance from the limit…and the limit is there to enforce especially if ones is driving dangerously …too fast etc…and it keeps people hopefully around a safe speed…

and as we can see from the quotes above…it can be even very grave! We need to take good care…keeping say good distance (thats right…please do not tail gate!) etc…
 
I’m no theologian but… it seems to me there is a difference between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. In fact, I would say Jesus in the gospels went to great lengths chastising the Pharisees for putting the letter of the law over the spirit of the law (eg. it’s actually okay to do good on the Sabbath even if the letter of the law says not to work). So the spirirt of a speed limit law (i.e. the purpose) is to foster public safety. I admit there might be a teeny weenie bit of rationalization on my part, but I’m thinking that as long as I’m driving safely, the actual read-out on the speedometer is irrelevent. It’s not my fault that God has gifted me with cat-like reflexes that permit me to drive completely safely even at very high speeds.
 
Is driving over the speed limit a sin?

“Whose face is on the coin? Give to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s and give to God what is God’s”.

Yes, it is a sin if we intentionally do it and as long as we have a legitimate government and a legitimate law.

If we intentionally drive over the speed limit even if “we are just keeping up with the rest of the traffic” we are breaking the law.

Was our government forced upon us or do they rule by fear? No. We have a legitimate government.

Does the speed limit law cause us to break God’s law? No. We have a legitimate law.

What if we only drive 5 mph over the speed limit knowing that we will probably not get ticketed?
Does the fact that you don’t get caught in comitting a sin have anything to do with whether the act is sinful? I think not.

Most people in the United States probably think this is a trivial question. I think it is a very serious question because of what happens to other people, especially young peoiple, when they see others consistently breaking the law. This is a terrible example for conscience formation.

Shriverp
 
I’m not sure about sinning, but a wise person once told me that following mundane rules and laws is a good practice at obedience. Driving the speed limit and fully stopping at stop signs can be good exercises in “dying to self.”
 
I thought I knew the difference between a mortal sin and a venial sin. Now that we are breaking excessive speeding down by MPH to determine which is which I am not sure. In a way it seems a little silly. Can you help me? Thank you
 
joshkt79 said:
I know that theft is a mortal sin, but what about speeding? Let’s say every morning you drive 75MPH on the interstate and you know the speed limit is only 70MPH, that’s considered a sign, right? and must be confessed?
Click to expand...
No, it’s not a sin. Most cops will leave you alone if you are going 0-5 over the speed limit. In fact, to keep up with the flow of traffic, i’m always going 5 over the posted speed limit, whatever it may be.
 
hannajomar said:
I’m not sure about sinning, but a wise person once told me that following mundane rules and laws is a good practice at obedience. Driving the speed limit and fully stopping at stop signs can be good exercises in “dying to self.”
Click to expand...
I like that approach, thank you for sharing! I struggle with impatience and lack of charity in general, and being in traffic would be an excellent opportunity for me to practice being patient and kind. When I’m behind the wheel, I am sorely lacking in both virtues. 😦
 
joshkt79 said:
I know that theft is a mortal sin, but what about speeding? Let’s say every morning you drive 75MPH on the interstate and you know the speed limit is only 70MPH, that’s considered a sign, right? and must be confessed?
Click to expand...
just laws and true justice must be obeyed.

unjust laws and corrupt justice must not be the law.
that is what catholic social justice and social teaching is for.
if you have heard of the ten universal principles then yes they should be upheld in a just society with just laws

hope this helps
Shalom
God Bless
 
Since the conversation has turned to speeding, which sin would that fall under?

As best I can tell: commandment #5 - Thou Shalt Not Kill. Expanding the principle out to include respect for all life, not needlessly endangering others, etc.

Though if that’s the only thing that makes it a sin, then it gets rather confusing with regards to this specific law.

In my state, for example, the speeding limit isn’t a law at all. Well, it is, but it isn’t.

Let me clarify: in my state, it is now technically illegal to go below the speed limit while in a left lane on a highway. This only applies to left lanes, not to middle or right lanes, and, obviously, it only applies in situations where the weather does not necessitate doing below the speed limit (heavy rain, snow, fog, etc.).

The obvious problematic element here is that it is also technically illegal to go above the speed limit, even in the left lane. So theoretically, the only way to follow this law would be to do precisely 55 MPH, which is obviously impossible.

Furthermore, let’s say that you were trying to follow this law precisely. That is to say, go 55 MPH exactly and do so constantly. I would actually say that presents the danger of sin. Because going 60 MPH or 50 MPH or whatever is still FAR safer than having your eyes glued to a speedometer when they should be on the road. So paradoxically, following this law strictly is probably more sinful than following it loosely.

In any event, the situation is such that the law is not intended to be followed strictly. Cops routinely pass me (without sirens/lights/etc.) going faster than 55 MPH. I’ve been in caravans of cars driving 60-65 MPH that drive right past police cars and no one gets pulled over. That happens all the time, because the law is more of a general guideline than a strict rule. It is nice to have a specific number as part of the law only in the sense that it gives you a clear “measuring stick” to judge the level of the infraction.

Let’s say there was ONE police officer that gave out hundreds of tickets for driving 2 MPH above the speed limit. Now let’s say the newspapers got a hold of this information. I have no doubt that there would be an absolute uproar about this from the public, since everyone realizes that while this follows the letter of the law, it does not follow the spirit of the law.

There are many other complications involved in speeding laws, it’s not that plain and simple. I think that if you have a decent but non-scrupulous conscience, then you know when you are endangering lives and safety, and you know quite well when you aren’t.
 
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