Can this be clarified? Young kids and mortal sin

[fix]

itsjustdave1988:

A women can make a flash decision to abort her child. Is it possible that prior to making this decision, she had full knowlede and perfect consent? Certainly. She could have studied Catholic morality in college, written papers on the illicitness of abortion. Selfishness could be her only antecedent willful motive.

Thanks, that clears it up.

 

[fix]

Giannawannabe:

It seems that if we keep finding reasons for kids not to go to Confession regularly, then they won’t.

I found this to be of interest:

Even when its advocates do not bluntly deny any moral consciousness in children, they at least charge that “the consciousness of sin . . . went out with making tots accuse themselves as sinners when they were simply being children.” 53] Very true. It all depends on how you define sin and sinner. If sin is not the commission of an objectively forbidden act, then, no doubt, a child that steals or lies or refuses to obey its parents is not committing sin. Logically, though, by this standard not even adults are sinners when they “commit” adultery, abort, or fornicate. They are “simply being human.” No theologian seriously claims that even the wilful disobedience of a child is to be equated, in terms of guilt, with the cold hatred of a man of forty. But in both cases, though differing vastly in culpability, sin was committed because in both instances the will of God was contravened. This will of God has been taught by the Church as binding on all the faithful, not excluding those whose conscience is just beginning to develop and needs direction in the ways of God.

Where this norm is ignored, children are exposed to the ravages of an amoral culture that surrounds them like an atmosphere. When they finally go to Confession, they are not told to relate sins but rather speak of their “attitudes,” or “want of generosity” or “lack of affection,” since these alone are sinful. Everything else is the vestige of an archaic legalism…

First Confession:
An Historical and Theological Analysis
[*by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.*](http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Sin/Sin_001.htm)

 

[rwoehmke]

Mortal sin is a sin of grave matter or one must believe it is grave matter.

Mortal sin is committed with full knowledge of the sinner as to the gravity. (does not have to be correct knowledge)

Mortal sin is committed with deliberate consent of the sinner

In those three conditions for mortal sin we assume that it must strictly speaking be grave matter, this is incorrect. It must be a grave matter or we must “think” it is grave matter. I am here to tell you that to an adult some of the things kids do may not technically be grave, but if they are old enough to think they are and they freely chose to do it anyway knowing they are rejecting God by doing so. Well?

 

[Giannawannabe]

rwoehmke:

In those three conditions for mortal sin we assume that it must strictly speaking be grave matter, this is incorrect. It must be a grave matter or we must “think” it is grave matter. I am here to tell you that to an adult some of the things kids do may not technically be grave, but if they are old enough to think they are and they freely chose to do it anyway knowing they are rejecting God by doing so. Well?

Agreed. What is the harm in having children examine their child-like consciences and know what their sins are? Sin hurts God. We want to teach the children that hurting God is the most important reason NOT to sin–not just because they might go to Hell. If a child thinks that he has hurt God by disobeying God’s laws, then he needs to go to Confession for forgiveness and to receive God’s grace to strengthen his soul. Then, he needs to make up for any sins committed. This helps to form young consciences towards perfect contrition.

 

[Confiteor]

Giannawannabe:

As a First Communion and Reconciliation teacher, I tell my students that they go to Confession for 2 reasons—1)forgiveness of sins 2**)to receive graces in order to strengthen their souls against temptation to sin**. In this way, not only is it important to confess mortal sin, but venial sin as well. Venial sins make our souls weak and less able to resist commiting mortal sins—that’s why we need the graces received in Confession.

As to 7-year-olds committing mortal sin…my students appear to have very good understanding of sin. They know if something is wrong. So, if they go ahead and commit an act that they know is wrong, they understand that it is a mortal sin. I usually have them use the Ten Commandments for an examination of conscience. If they sin against any of the Commandments, with full knowledge that it is wrong, then it would be a sin for them to confess. Children need to start somewhere to examine their actions and realize that their sins hurt God. If they do something to hurt God, they need to say they are sorry and make up for it.

It seems that if we keep finding reasons for kids not to go to Confession regularly, then they won’t.

I agree with virtually everything you’ve said. However, though I think children should confess all violations of the Commandments, I suspect some of those will be in the venial category (i.e. stealing small amounts can be for adults) and therefore, technically not required. Still a good idea because this can be a confusing area (for adults too, as I’ve expressed)!

 

[HOFseminarian]

This is true, the church does say that children under 7 years old are not capable of commiting mortal sin.
To sin there are three qualification.

1. You must knowing commit the action.
2. You must freely commit the action
3. You must know that the action is wrong.

 

[fix]

HOFseminarian:

This is true, the church does say that children under 7 years old are not capable of commiting mortal sin.
To sin there are three qualification.

1. You must knowing commit the action.
2. You must freely commit the action
3. You must know that the action is wrong.

Does the Church not say that when one reaches the age of reason it is possible to commit a mortal sin? That age may vary from person to person I would think.