If you lie in confession, but don't withhold a mortal sin, is that a mortal sin?

[guadalupe55]

I went to confession a few days ago, and the priest asked me a variety of questions, some pertaining to a sin I committed and some not. Among other things, he asked my age, marital status, and even my first name. I answered but felt very uncomfortable.

He also asked how one particular sin “started,” whether I had “read a bad book or something.” I said no, but hesitated because I did read a book, but it was educational, not “bad.” I eventually said that the sin started so long ago that I couldn’t really remember how, even though that wasn’t exactly true. I just felt too distressed and embarrassed to explain it.

The next day at Mass, I remembered this and wondered if I had committed a mortal sin because I knew that lying in confession is wrong. I assumed my confession was valid since I didn’t intentionally withhold a mortal sin, but I thought I should find out for sure before I receive Communion again.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

I went to confession a few days ago, and the priest asked me a variety of questions, some pertaining to a sin I committed and some not. Among other things, he asked my age, marital status, and even my first name. I answered but felt very uncomfortable.

Age and marital status are appropriate questions for a priest to ask because the answers help establish your state in life and help him to determine culpability and if you might need pastoral care on particular issues. I cannot see any need for him to ask your first name though. If you do not want to reveal it, you can either politely ask why he needs to know or state that you prefer to remain anonymous.

guadalupe55:

He also asked how one particular sin “started,” whether I had “read a bad book or something.” I said no, but hesitated because I did read a book, but it was educational, not “bad.” I eventually said that the sin started so long ago that I couldn’t really remember how, even though that wasn’t exactly true. I just felt too distressed and embarrassed to explain it.

An appropriate way to respond might be to ask the priest to define what he means by “a bad book.” If you think he might consider the book you read to be “bad,” you could name the book and state why you read it. “I read a book titled [insert title and author] because I needed to do so for my job” would be one way (if true) to explain that you read a book for educational purposes.

guadalupe55:

The next day at Mass, I remembered this and wondered if I had committed a mortal sin because I knew that lying in confession is wrong. I assumed my confession was valid since I didn’t intentionally withhold a mortal sin, but I thought I should find out for sure before I receive Communion again.

It sounds to me like you were caught off guard by the priest’s questions and equivocated on the spur of the moment. If that is the case, then it doesn’t sound like you committed a mortal sin. But you may still want to mention it the next time you go to confession (which you can do with another priest if you prefer) and ask for the priest’s advice on how to answer questions in the confessional without lying and without feeling pressured to give information you don’t consider relevant.