How bad was this?

[RuthByzCat3]

We were taking a physics test. I found out that we were allowed to help each other on one part of the test. However, I helped a friend with 2-3 problems on another part of the test as well. That part was open book if it changes anything. Grave matter?

 

[JRKH]

We were taking a physics test. I found out that we were allowed to help each other on one part of the test. However, I helped a friend with 2-3 problems on another part of the test as well. That part was open book if it changes anything. Grave matter?

Open book makes no difference -

You knew you were not supposed to help? = Full knowledge

You free chose to do it anyway? = Full consent

These two factors make matter more “grave” than it might be otherwise.
What you did was to help this person cheat, which is a sin against Love. your friend did not learn a good lesson from this act.

Go to confession and discuss it with your confessor.

Peace
James

 

[TurboVW]

Open book makes no difference -

You knew you were not supposed to help? = Full knowledge

You free chose to do it anyway? = Full consent

These two factors make matter more “grave” than it might be otherwise.
What you did was to help this person cheat, which is a sin against Love. your friend did not learn a good lesson from this act.

Go to confession and discuss it with your confessor.

Peace
James

Let’s not get too carried away here…

Cheating is wrong. However, we have two students here, one who gave more than the allowable amount of “help” than the teacher allowed. It was also “open-book.”

First and foremost, the teacher has clouded the guidelines for this test. It should be individual or nothing; it’s an open invite for cheating or “helping.”

Secondly, it appears it was an ordinary secondary school test. Not an entrance exam or bar exam, etc. While it’s not right, students “help” each other with these daily tests all the time, especially if a student can “buddy-up” with another.

We can get into a whole debate of learning vs having prior knowledge of the subject matter in which the student is being “helped” in, as if being helped was only a review instead of not knowing it at all. Alas, it’s a learning experience; one needn’t call out it’s gravity as if it were murder.

 

[prstoessel]

I think there is definitely the “knowledge and consent” factors present. I do not think, however, the matter is grave enough to be considered mortal. BUT, always - always - always, go to confession! Do not ever leave it to chance. The fact that you are asking the question indicates this can be more grave than we might think.

 

[HNA444]

Open book makes no difference -

You knew you were not supposed to help? = Full knowledge

You free chose to do it anyway? = Full consent

These two factors make matter more “grave” than it might be otherwise.
What you did was to help this person cheat, which is a sin against Love. your friend did not learn a good lesson from this act.

Go to confession and discuss it with your confessor.

Peace
James

I thought in order to have knowledge you have to also know it is a mortal sin? So, if someone knows what they are doing is wrong (ex-lying, etc…) but doesn’t know it’s mortal, it’s still a mortal sin?

 

[JRKH]

Let’s not get too carried away here…

This is why I sad she should talk to her confessor.

Cheating is wrong.

Pecisely - so the issue is not one of sinfulness but one of gravity.

However, we have two students here, one who gave more than the allowable amount of “help” than the teacher allowed. It was also “open-book.”

Gravity is not effected by their status as students.
The test may have been open book, but it was not “open mouth”… Again, it has no bearing.

First and foremost, the teacher has clouded the guidelines for this test. It should be individual or nothing; it’s an open invite for cheating or “helping.”

The OP did not give any indication that their understanding was cloudy or confused.
An “open invite” to sin is no excuse.

Secondly, it appears it was an ordinary secondary school test. Not an entrance exam or bar exam, etc. While it’s not right, students “help” each other with these daily tests all the time, especially if a student can “buddy-up” with another.

Again, the level of the exam is not an issue, Cheating (sinning) is. Also the fact that it happens “all the time” is not germaine. Other sins happen all the time too…frequency does not reduce culpability.

We can get into a whole debate of learning vs having prior knowledge of the subject matter in which the student is being “helped” in, as if being helped was only a review instead of not knowing it at all. Alas, it’s a learning experience; one needn’t call out it’s gravity as if it were murder.

The “debate” aspect is basically what the OP is asking about. Now we have two sides of it. You seek to minimize it I do not…
The best bet for the OP is to not listen to either of us but rather speak to her confessor.

Peace
James

 

[RuthByzCat3]

I will definitely be speaking to my confessor. I was just wondering so that I would know before Sunday. And I didn’t realize that my abbreviation of “Ruthenian” in my name would cause people to think I was a girl. I think I’m gonna re-register.

 

[JRKH]

I will definitely be speaking to my confessor. I was just wondering so that I would know before Sunday. And I didn’t realize that my abbreviation of “Ruthenian” in my name would cause people to think I was a girl. I think I’m gonna re-register.

No need to re-register. Just do Like I do and sing with your first name.

Peace
James