Is deciding to sin, but not actually following through, a sin?

[Dancer1409]

I’ve heard that thinking about committing a sin but deciding not to do it, is not a sin, but if you decide to commit a sin, like fully 100% decide that you will do it later, but don’t go through with it does that count as a sin. For example, I was on vacation recently, and really wanted to commit a mortal sin. (I don’t want to say what it was but its defiantly possible that my culpability could have been slightly diminished due to illness and pain.) I decided I was going to do it when I got home because I didn’t want to do it in the hotel. By the time I got home though, I was feeling better emotionally and in less pain so I didn’t even think about. But that night in the hotel room I was 100% sure I would go through with it. I don’t know if this counts as a sin or not.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

Morality lies in the will. If one decides to sin, one wills to sin. And so, one sins. Now if one’s knowledge and/or will are impaired by sleep or medication or pain, etc., then one’s culpability may be partially or completely diminished. In such situations, one usually feels more in control than one actually is.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.