collateral damage

[Churchman25]

So lets say a drug dealer laces cocaine with feninol and then starts sells it to a particular college kid who uses some then maybe gives some to his friend and his freind dies. Also lets say this drug dealer feels bad that he has done such a thing goes to confessfession because hes catholic and renounces drugs. Now even with confession would a mortal sin be planted on a soul every time a person died? because he was the original one who sold the drug kind of like collatoral damage.

 

[Neofight]

So lets say a drug dealer laces cocaine with feninol and then starts sells it to a particular college kid who uses some then maybe gives some to his friend and his freind dies. Also lets say this drug dealer feels bad that he has done such a thing goes to confessfession because hes catholic and renounces drugs. Now even with confession would a mortal sin be planted on a soul every time a person died? because he was the original one who sold the drug kind of like collatoral damage.

There is no indication that selling drugs or the first death was a mortal sin, so how can anyone say that a subsequent death might be?

 

[Trident_H]

People doing the drugs know the risks. The dealer’s an *******. Sure. But the users aren’t exactly lily white either.

 

[1ke]

Now even with confession would a mortal sin be planted on a soul every time a person died?

No.

 

[pianistclare]

You can’t give a another person a mortal sin.

 

[cjb_914]

Well first of all the catechism explains the severity of drug abuse:

CCC 2291 The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense. Clandestine production of and trafficking in drugs are scandalous practices. They constitute direct co-operation in evil, since they encourage people to practices gravely contrary to the moral law.

Regardless of the fact that the drug users aren’t, ‘lily white’ themselves is irrelevant. Selling them drugs is still formal cooperation in evil. In this case you are directly enabling them to commit a sinful act by putting the means in their hands.

So from the catechism, indeed, it would seem his first act was grave matter and so could be a mortal sin if the other two conditions are met (full knowledge, and deliberate consent of the will). I’m unfamiliar with feninol and cocaine for that matter, but it sounds like feninol increases the hazard of using the drug. In this case, this also is a potentially culpable matter if he knew he was placing people in greater danger.

It wouldn’t be further mortal sin if an act he committed had further or ongoing consequences from when he confessed. That said he is responsible for those consequences and he is obligated to attempt to make restitution for his sins, and in this case if he can prevent further harm or loss of life from his actions he most certainly ought to.