Is cutting a mortal or venial sin?

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White_Peony

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I was debating with a few Seventh-Day Adventist friends two weeks ago. We got onto the subject of mortal and venial sins. They wanted to know if self-harm is a mortal or venial sin? Please, help.

Check out my friends’ website at skatersofchristministry.org
 
Hi White Peony!

Firstly, welcome to CAF! I hope you enjoy your experience here. I have found CAF to be a wonderful resource for my spiritual life. Hopefully, you’ll have a similar experience.

As far as your question goes, I think that would be a mortal sin. To be clear, when I think about “cutting” I think about cutting wrists. In such a situation, one is clearly causing grave harm to themselves and possibly risking their life.
 
smichhertz said:
Hi White Peony!

Firstly, welcome to CAF! I hope you enjoy your experience here. I have found CAF to be a wonderful resource for my spiritual life. Hopefully, you’ll have a similar experience.

As far as your question goes, I think that would be a mortal sin. To be clear, when I think about “cutting” I think about cutting wrists. In such a situation, one is clearly causing grave harm to themselves and possibly risking their life.
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I dieagree. THose who self-harm are in psychological distress and this would mittigate some guilt associate with a sin that would be, otherwise mortal.

It this was dont as some kind of occult type activity it would seem to be more likely to be mortal. In general these questions are best for priests however.
 
ringil said:
I dieagree. THose who self-harm are in psychological distress and this would mittigate some guilt associate with a sin that would be, otherwise mortal.

It this was dont as some kind of occult type activity it would seem to be more likely to be mortal. In general these questions are best for priests however.
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That may mitigate their culpability, but that’s irrelevant to determining the moral objectivity of the act.

Allow me to rephrase: Cutting would be grave matter.

That better?
 
It is absolutely a mortal sin. Listed in several Catholic examens as such. ("Serious injury to self, “defacing of self,” and even “excessive piercing,” etc.)

Anyone who cuts needs help. It is a clinical issue. If it’s a true compulsion, the culpability is lessened; however the evil nature of the activity and the evil consequences of it, remain, and thus any Catholic who is aware of cutting is not excused from facing the gravity of the issue and from being gravely responsible for seeking professional and spiritual help immediately.

The answer to your JW’s friends is that yes, as a moral category, cutting is gravely (mortally) sinful.
 
Is harming yourself a mortal sin?

It depends on what you are speaking of.

If you would of given me some examples, I could of told you.

Why would someone want to harm themselves or others?

----JIM ROBERTS
 
Most self- inflicted cutting falls under a psychological disorder, thus culpability for the action varies so much from person to person that labling it a mortal or venial sin isn’t very appropriate. Someone who cuts themselves needs to have a therapist and a regular confessor who knows their situation and can guide them in conjunction with the psychologist’s reccommendations.
 
smichhertz said:
That may mitigate their culpability, but that’s irrelevant to determining the moral objectivity of the act.

Allow me to rephrase: Cutting would be grave matter.

That better?
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Yes, that is better. THanks for indulging this therapist! 😉
 
Jim_Roberts said:
Is harming yourself a mortal sin?

It depends on what you are speaking of.

If you would of given me some examples, I could of told you.

Why would someone want to harm themselves or others?

----JIM ROBERTS
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I know a former cutter. She cut for 2 reasons. To forget emotional pain and to punish herself.
 
White_Peony said:
I was debating with a few Seventh-Day Adventist friends two weeks ago. We got onto the subject of mortal and venial sins. They wanted to know if self-harm is a mortal or venial sin? Please, help.

Check out my friends’ website at skatersofchristministry.org
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Hiyas:)

I’m happy you put in “self-harm”.

I first thought cutting as in cutting classes 🙂 A rite of passage - if not abused :D:D ]
 
wild_thing said:
Most self- inflicted cutting falls under a psychological disorder, thus culpability for the action varies so much from person to person that labling it a mortal or venial sin isn’t very appropriate. Someone who cuts themselves needs to have a therapist and a regular confessor who knows their situation and can guide them in conjunction with the psychologist’s reccommendations.
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Eating disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, and to a certain degree Depression are responsible for most self injurious behavior.

Patients who are usually in adolescence or early adulthood give a variety of explanations behind their cutting or other self-injurious behavior. Common ideas expressed are to fill feelings of emptiness, to experience a relief from disphoria or anxiety, or to obtain attention from others “cry for help”.

The behavior can become a kind of compulsion or addiction over time. The degree to self-injury can become more severe also as the patient/client needs more intense stimulii to get the same effect.

Most will cut themselves on areas of the body that are not visible normally such as the groin or thights but some will cut the arms or even the face.

More female engage in this behavior than males but it is possible that instances in male are under-reported.

Individual therapy and especially group therapy can be helpful. Medication to address co-existing mental illness may be neccessary.
 
I’m glad to see many of the responses here fit in with what my first thought was.

Cutting is a symptom of something else. So in order to discover if cutting, self harm, is sinful, especially mortally so, one needs to know more about the underlying causes.

Peace
James
 
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