Is it possible to commit a mortal sin by accident?

[EmeraldWings]

you cannot sin accidentally, an accident is *“an unforeseen event or one without an apparent cause” *
God would not be so cruel as to hold something against us that we had no intention or willfulness to do(or not do), it’s the same as if someone were to force your hand to shoot a gun and kill someone, obviously you can’t be held accountable for that…although that’s not a good example of an “accident”…so lets say for example, you were backing out of your driveway, and your neighbors small child was behind your car where you couldn’t see them, and you ended up running over killing them…it would be horrible indeed, probably something any average person would have a hard time forgiving themselves for…but it would clearly be an accident, and not a sin.

i have read that good advice for the scrupulous is to tell themselves “if i’m not sure i’ve committed a mortal sin, then i have not”, if that’s the case for something you’re not 100% sure of, then how can something that was completely beyond your control be a sin?

as for the gluttony issue…gluttony may be one of the capital sins, but it is rarely a mortal sin…though i suppose it depends on how much importance one puts on the food they eat and what they’d be willing to do to get it…
i’m curious where that story of a priest going to hell for eating to much chocolate can be found? i’ve read alot on St. John Bosco, but never came across that…i don’t doubt you read it, but i’d like to see it myself…i just can’t imagine that that’s all there is to the story, there must be more to it.

 

[Joannm]

Eating too many chocolates is not necessarily gluttony. It could just be enthusiasm:thumbsup:

Or it could be he was having a really stressful day.

 

[jmcrae]

Is it possible to commit a mortal sin by accident?

I tend to think that a person cannot; that mortal sin is an intentional moving away from God. And to me, that means mortal sin cannot happen “by accident.”

For that matter, if a person is not sure if something is a mortal sin, then how can it be full consent and knowledge? So I raise another assertion that one cannot mortally sin and not know for sure that it was a mortal sin. To me that is a contradiction.

But I’m aware that other opinions abound so I’ll just float those, and see what we get. I have no desire to argue about it, but I’d like to hear respectful thoughts, whether or not they are in agreement with what I have above. My goal is to share ideas, not to determine who is right or wrong.

Personal ideas are welcome, as well as references to other authors.

Alan

Since the definition of a mortal sin is that it is serious matter done with full knowledge and full consent of the will, then no - it is not possible to commit a mortal sin by accident, or unknowingly.

I also find it hard to believe that someone could commit a serious action “by accident” even if they were completely unaware that it was a sin.

For example, even if you didn’t know that robbing a bank is a sin, it’s not the sort of thing you can do “by accident” - I mean, what - ooops, I meant to deposit my pay cheque, but I accidently emptied out the vault and dropped several boxes of cash and jewelry in my back seat …

Oooops, I was taking out the trash and then I accidently sneaked out with my neighbor’s wife and we had sex.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Since the definition of a mortal sin is that it is serious matter done with full knowledge and full consent of the will, then no - it is not possible to commit a mortal sin by accident, or unknowingly.

I also find it hard to believe that someone could commit a serious action “by accident” even if they were completely unaware that it was a sin.

For example, even if you didn’t know that robbing a bank is a sin, it’s not the sort of thing you can do “by accident” - I mean, what - ooops, I meant to deposit my pay cheque, but I accidently emptied out the vault and dropped several boxes of cash and jewelry in my back seat …

Oooops, I was taking out the trash and then I accidently sneaked out with my neighbor’s wife and we had sex.

I like the way you put that. One of the reasons I put up this poll, was there are so many people who ask whether they had mortally sinned without intending to. They look back at something and ask if it was a mortal sin. I was hoping to draw a collection of ideas about the business of sinning without knowing it. I don’t personally have the problem of scrupulosity; if anything I have whatever is opposite of that. But I’m hoping this thread will be a good exercise. I see we have a number of points of view presented, so as of now I’m glad we all had this discussion. Other posters are saying with much more authority, easier to understand, and with good references, what I could only hope to say myself about the matter.

Thank you, posters and lurkers, for taking time to view the thread! :tiphat:

Alan