He was high, I got in. What's up with this?

[CTuck]

Here we go. I am absolutely unable to drive, legally. My roommate is the only friend I have in the town where I live. He knows I don’t condone it, but he likes to smoke pot. Given that I could walk, and sometimes take a bus, would it be a sin for me to ride along if I knew he was high? The Catechism says that those who because of drunkenness incur grave guilt by endangering others on the road. There is a difference in being high and being drunk, knowing from my own past experiences, but I am not willing to reconcile driving while high due to a technicality. I confessed this to my priest, thinking that by riding along while knowing my friend was high that I had shared in his sin, and he told me that it wasn’t a sin, that the Church only requires that I bring his behavior into question to him. Sin? Mortal/venial? Thanks yall.

 

[Myqyl]

I can’t say sin or not sin, but I can tell you without a doubt it would be stupid. Your friend is risking his life every time he gets behind the wheel high. He is also risking the life of hundreds of innocent people that have no choice in the matter. And you risk your life when you get into the passenger seat.

If you are truly his friend, do NOT gloss over the fact that he is endangering lives. He can very well kill someone with this behavior. If he wants to smoke pot, that’s his problem, but he has NO right to endanger everyone else. Don’t wait till he runs over some 3 year old kid before you stand up to him and tell him it’s completely unacceptable. This is no more “his choice” than if he were to randomly fire a gun in a playground.

Pray for him, talk to him, stop him! But under no circumstances should you ride with him!

God bless.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Here we go. I am absolutely unable to drive, legally. My roommate is the only friend I have in the town where I live. He knows I don’t condone it, but he likes to smoke pot. Given that I could walk, and sometimes take a bus, would it be a sin for me to ride along if I knew he was high? The Catechism says that those who because of drunkenness incur grave guilt by endangering others on the road. There is a difference in being high and being drunk, knowing from my own past experiences, but I am not willing to reconcile driving while high due to a technicality. I confessed this to my priest, thinking that by riding along while knowing my friend was high that I had shared in his sin, and he told me that it wasn’t a sin, that the Church only requires that I bring his behavior into question to him. Sin? Mortal/venial? Thanks yall.

First of all you’re taking a risk just being with him in the car if he’s high. If he has an accident, you could hardly avoid being involved in some form or another, from personal injury, to guilit if someone else is killed or injured, to legal complications.

Secondly there would be a difference between his offering you a lift and your requesting a lift.

As for being “high” not being a traffic liability, I remember someone who could hardly keep his eyes open when he was a passenger in my car, and with hindsight, I suspect he was high on dope at the time. Had he been driving, he’d have been a risk to others as well as himself.

 

[baltobetsy]

Why don’t you trust the priest?

 

[runningdude]

Why don’t you trust the priest?

Honestly, though, you can’t look at sin from purely a venial/mortal standpoint. Anything that has as a direct consequence injurious effects on your soul is sinful. Intention harm to the body, or even reckless risk of harm to the body is sinful too, as the body is a gift from God, to be cared for.

You have to obey your priest, but you also need to recognize your innate human value, and do every to promote your safety and well being!

 

[Garyjohn2]

Listen to your priest over strangers online.

 

[puzzleannie]

Here we go. I am absolutely unable to drive, legally. My roommate is the only friend I have in the town where I live. He knows I don’t condone it, but he likes to smoke pot. Given that I could walk, and sometimes take a bus, would it be a sin for me to ride along if I knew he was high? yall.

it would certainly be stupid to get in a car with a driver who is drunk or high
if stupidity were a sin, this would qualify
you do know that if he is stopped and has stuff on him you too will be arrested

no you are not responsible for his sinful choice, but you are responsible for your own safety and well-being. when you get in the car with him you are saying, in effect, that you approve and abet his action.

 

[CTuck]

Why don’t you trust the priest?

I’ve known a priest that told me some strange things (doesn’t like the Catechism, masturbation isn’t a sin but if it was it would only be venial, smoking pot was okay to a point, etc,) so I’ve become a little wary of what I’m told. I’ve know plenty of good priests, the ones that know what the church teaches and will tell you if they think you need it, but it’s always those one or two that keep you on your toes.