J
Joe_5859
Guest
I thought it might be helpful to add a few clarifications to help steer the discussion away from uncharitable words.
First, the Church and many of the posters here are not attempting to point at specific people and say “You are in a state of mortal sin!” In general, we can say that a particular action is grave matter, but one must look at the other two requirements (full knowledge and complete consent) in order to see if a specific instance of someone committing that sin would constitute mortal sin.
Being an internet forum, none of us can speak with any certainty as to the knowledge and consent level of another poster. Therefore, to be theologically precise, it would be more accurate to say that so-and-so has committed a sin that is of grave matter rather than saying so-and-so has committed mortal sin. Of course, it is easier to say “mortal sin”, and it makes more sense to most of us. However, you can say that, in general, this sin is mortal, provided the other two requirements are met (which, for many of us here, goes without saying).
I don’t think anyone here has been pointing fingers at anyone in particular and questioning their eternal salvation. A question was raised about the morality of a particular act, and many people are simply trying to respond with what the Church says on the matter. I don’t think anyone is trying to be judgmental or condemning. They’re just trying to explain Church teaching.
Anyway, that’s my two cents. Maybe I’m overly optimistic.
First, the Church and many of the posters here are not attempting to point at specific people and say “You are in a state of mortal sin!” In general, we can say that a particular action is grave matter, but one must look at the other two requirements (full knowledge and complete consent) in order to see if a specific instance of someone committing that sin would constitute mortal sin.
Being an internet forum, none of us can speak with any certainty as to the knowledge and consent level of another poster. Therefore, to be theologically precise, it would be more accurate to say that so-and-so has committed a sin that is of grave matter rather than saying so-and-so has committed mortal sin. Of course, it is easier to say “mortal sin”, and it makes more sense to most of us. However, you can say that, in general, this sin is mortal, provided the other two requirements are met (which, for many of us here, goes without saying).
I don’t think anyone here has been pointing fingers at anyone in particular and questioning their eternal salvation. A question was raised about the morality of a particular act, and many people are simply trying to respond with what the Church says on the matter. I don’t think anyone is trying to be judgmental or condemning. They’re just trying to explain Church teaching.
Anyway, that’s my two cents. Maybe I’m overly optimistic.