Is it sinful to die of an Eating Disorder?

[angelofmusic]

I’ve heard people ( horrible, nasty people) call Anorexia the “slow suicide” and being a sufferer of an eating disorder I am worried about this. I have been in a near-death situation with my eating disorder and I know that it still could kill me.
Does this mean that if I died of Anorexia I would go to hell because people consider it a form of suicide??? I’m terrified!!!

 

[CapIV]

If it is truly a mental disorder in which the victim has no control over it than it cannot be a mortal sin because it is not committed with willingness.

And no one can send you to Hell except for God. He understands extenuating circumstances in the case of mental disorders. A field which is fairly murky to human reasoning.

 

[kaylea]

I would say it is the same as someone who over eats to the point of morbid obesity and possible death. I’m not sure if it would be considered a sin. It’s a disease and addiction that takes you over. I think if you try to get help and don’t just accept the disorder then God will understand. But, just because God understands how you feel and what you feel doesn’t give you the right to give up on this.

 

[Ron_Conte]

I’ve heard people ( horrible, nasty people) call Anorexia the “slow suicide” and being a sufferer of an eating disorder I am worried about this. I have been in a near-death situation with my eating disorder and I know that it still could kill me.
Does this mean that if I died of Anorexia I would go to hell because people consider it a form of suicide??? I’m terrified!!!

People who die from anorexia have not committed the sin of suicide. Anorexia is a mental disorder, it is not something knowingly chosen, and so it is not a sin. A sin is an immoral act knowingly chosen by free will.

However, your sins may have made you more susceptible to this disorder. If you pray, practice self-denial (but not fasting), and do works of mercy, this may strengthen you spiritually against this disorder. You should also be under the care of a psychiatrist.

If you would like some more advice, you can PM me.

 

[teachccd]

If it is truly a mental disorder in which the victim has no control over it than it cannot be a mortal sin because it is not committed with willingness.

And no one can send you to Hell except for God. He understands extenuating circumstances in the case of mental disorders. A field which is fairly murky to human reasoning.

God does not send us to hell. We choose to go there by deliberately separating ourselves from God.Hell is an eternal continuation of that separation.

I do agree that anything that impairs a person’s decision reduces culpablity and maintains the grace necessary for salvation. Only God knows this and His mercy is infinite. God’s will is that all are saved and we are created for eternal life with Him. So seek help for your disorder and if you are doing everything within your ablility to overcome this behavior then God’s actual graces are at work.

Seek pastoral counseling as well as professional help. You are in my prayers…teachccd

 

[drafdog]

Apparently the only way you can commit a mortal sin in the satisfaction of a natural appetite is while having sex. According to the Catholic Church.
We do all manner of unnatural things in satisfying other natural appetites but no one describes such behavior as venially sinful, much less mortally sinful. Go figure.

Matthew