Is it a sinful thought before you realize it is sinful?

[Angel7]

I made a BIG mistake recently.

A thread here led me to think that someone was having an abortion, and I thought I would have to pray for the mother and child.

Then I realized the abortion had already taken place. and the 1st reaction was, “sigh of relief/good. Now I don’t feel compelled to pray anymore”

This was like my 1st reaction when I re-read it.

And I’m absolutely horrified (I WANT to be horrified at myself, [sometimes I think I lack sincere emotion]) that this was my reaction to it.

Relief, that I don’t have to pray for anyone.
I’m horrified at myself.

I hope it wasn’t a sin at all. I hope it was just one of those quick reactions people can’t really control.

 

[BobObob]

For a venial sin, one must have some knowledge and some consent. For a mortal sin, one must have full knowledge and full consent (meaning it is a personal choice).

Relief is something you experience, not do. The moral quality of experiencing relief over some evil is determined by what made you relieved and WHY.

If you felt that relief because you initially felt an obligation to pray, but when that obligation went away you felt relieved, than there was no sin. If, however, you are relieved because you’re glad she had the abortion, than you sinned. It sounds like the former is the case, which would mean you didn’t sin, but you may tend to be a little compulsive and/or scrupulous (like many others on CAF and I).