Full knowledge of impurity

[Nick]

does it seem likely to any of you that most people today do not possess full knowledge of the gravity of acts of impurity, at least in this country?

I have been thinking back on my former life, before my awakening to the reality of Catholicism, and I can remember a few times when I comitted acts of impurity, however, I don’t think that I had full knowledge of the gravity of these acts, because my conscience regarding sex was formed on the playground and from prime time TV. Is it possible that I was ignorant of this aspect of the moral law, and am not guilty of mortal sin, or am I just fooling myself? Do acts of impurity fall under the statement in the Catechism of “no one is deemed ignorant of the moral law”, and therefore it would be impossible to not have full knowledge?

I have been struggling with scrupulosity a lot lately, and this issue has caused me a lot of anxiety. I don’t know if I am obligated to confess these past sins, because I am doubtful if I had full knowledge, and the ten commandments for the scrupulous says it is harmful for someone with a scrupulous conscience to confess a sin that is doubtful.

 

[stbruno]

Moral relativism seems to be the rule today for many people including baptized unbelieving Catholics. I truly believe they know the difference, they just don’t care or have the fear of the Lord anymore. Anything goes, and absolute truth no longer has any place for some people. That’s why we who do understand the truth, need to pray for those who do not or care not to. Be like St.Monica and pray and pray and pray until we impact someone. All things are possible through God.

 

[mosher]

There is such thing as “Sociatal Sin” which is defined as a common vice in a particular society that has become normative so that those participating in this sin do not recognize it as sin. In this line fo thought I would agree and it has some interesting aspects surrounding that conclusion for levels of culpability. However, one must always remember that they are required to constantly seek truth and in this age of information there is no excuse save sloth that keeps people from searching for what is right and true. So, what is damning may not necessarily be the sin at hand but the sin of sloth.