Driving while just a little buzzed?

[vz71]

Thanks, guys, again. However, I want to again point something out: I’ve been perfectly clear and honest that I made a bad decision and that I’m not going to do it again. Right? So, my question was about whether I sinned mortally.

Mortal sin requires a serious offense, knowledge of the seriousness of the offense, and free choice to do it anyway.

Your mental capacity was diminished as a result of the alcohol, so it could easily be argued that you did not have free choice.

The entirety of this thread testifies to you not having full knowledge of the seriousness.

So free choice can be argued, and full knowledge is out.

Drunk driving (there is no ‘buzzed’) is a serious sin, but I do not believe the circumstances as described would qualify one for having committed a mortal sin.

I would advise you to take it up with your confessor.

 

[clem456]

Mortal sin requires a serious offense, knowledge of the seriousness of the offense, and free choice to do it anyway.

Your mental capacity was diminished as a result of the alcohol, so it could easily be argued that you did not have free choice.

The entirety of this thread testifies to you not having full knowledge of the seriousness.

So free choice can be argued, and full knowledge is out.

Drunk driving (there is no ‘buzzed’) is a serious sin, but I do not believe the circumstances as described would qualify one for having committed a mortal sin.

I would advise you to take it up with your confessor.

No this is not correct.
The drink or the state of drunkenness in itself, is not necessarily the potential mortal sin. The potential mortal sin would be consciously choosing an action that causes harm to another person or ones’ self. In other words,you could say that the sin was commited before said drink hit your lips. Many drunks love to excuse the consequences of their decisions with their lack of sobriety. Yes it doesn’t just sound absurd. It is absurd.

You could use the same logic to excuse many things. Let’s say I am tempted to indulge in some pornography. By the time passion gets hold of my body chemistry, I could say my judgement is impaired (this is real btw). Am I responsible for any further actions as potential mortal sin? Yes, I made a decision to go down a path.

 

[vz71]

No this is not correct.
The drink or the state of drunkenness in itself, is not necessarily the potential mortal sin. The potential mortal sin would be consciously choosing an action that causes harm to another person or ones’ self. In other words,you could say that the sin was commited before said drink hit your lips. Many drunks love to excuse the consequences of their decisions with their lack of sobriety. Yes it doesn’t just sound absurd. It is absurd.

So are you talking about the sin of drunkeness or the sin or choosing to drive in such a state?
Both are sins, but they are two seperate things.
And based on the original post he was not exactly expecting the drink to effect him as it had.

I am addressing the sin of driving in such a state.

 

[clem456]

So are you talking about the sin of drunkeness or the sin or choosing to drive in such a state?
Both are sins, but they are two seperate things.
And based on the original post he was not exactly expecting the drink to effect him as it had.

I am addressing the sin of driving in such a state.

Might need a moral theologian here!
I assume OP is aware of the responsibility to uphold the dignity of every human being, and to respect the safety and well being of people in general. The question we are talking about is rather self centered (no offense to the OP, we are getting into theoretical here). The question centers on keeping ones’ self free from sin, without taking into account our responsibilities to those around us. Can those two issues be separated?

If he is a normal person in our society, he has foreknowlege of the problems that are going to potentially result from drinking with the car keys in his pocket. Some of these problems are very serious. Death, dismemberment, etc etc etc. You are asking me to split a pretty fine hair here which I am not willing to do. Someplace in there is potentially some serious sin. Ask the victims of drunkeness if they believe the driver is culpable of some mortal sin. You might find they couldn’t care less about our discussion here.