Is profanity considered a mortal sin?

[ShaunH]

I have been trying really hard to stop all swearing and profanity. But recently, my slow computer was getting me mad, and I said “what the hell”. I look back on it and I’m starting to wonder if maybe I had caught myself before I said it, but I am unsure. Now I am scared I have committed a mortal sin. How can one tell? I went to confession only 2 days ago, should I go again?

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

I have been trying really hard to stop all swearing and profanity. But recently, my slow computer was getting me mad, and I said “what the hell”. I look back on it and I’m starting to wonder if maybe I had caught myself before I said it, but I am unsure. Now I am scared I have committed a mortal sin. How can one tell? I went to confession only 2 days ago, should I go again?

No - it can be venial; or, it can be mortal. It is not of its very nature mortal. And even if profanity* were* of its nature always mortal, that would not automatically make it imputable as mortal in every instance.​

It sounds as though what you’ve described is probably not even a venial sin, but rather, an imperfection - that is, an act that not imputable as sin, but has some of elements of sin. Imperfections are not formally sinful - but they are dangerous even so. You did not intend to sin - & intention is essential for an act to be imputable as sin. As for mortal sin, the fact that you are not certain you’ve committed a mortal sin, is absolute proof that you have not. It’s the kind of thing that one can, in the nature of the case, not do by accident.

Hope that helps

 

[ShaunH]

Thank you for your response. So I should not be too worried about this?

 

[Claire_from_DE]

Just saying hell, damn, and the other 4-letter words is crude and disrespectful of the people who may hear you but not sinful in itself. If you say them with the intention of distressing the people you are speaking to it could be sinful. Saying ‘God damn you to hell’ to someone would be wrong of course.

Profanity is taking the name of God in vain, misusing the holy name of God or Jesus Christ. That could be venial or mortal depending on the circumstances.

What you did wasn’t a sin at all.
.

 

[centurionguard]

Interesting thread. Vanacular language in anybodies mother tongue has it’s fair share of unorthodox expletives which can get quite vulgar at times.
Off color language can get habit forming. One particular expression (" Oh My God") which might sound harmless because almost everybody uses it as an expletive without even being conscious of it. I have listened to how often other people say this and try to curb myself when I consciously remember that I have said the phrase. I’m no purist but I feel in someway consciously guilty when I do say Oh My God. Would one classify this expression as a lesser variant of taking the Lords name in vain ? I never was into taking the Lords name in vain even in my childhood. Perhaps this is because the nuns drilled it into our heads in Sunday Morning catechism as a kid saying that saying the Lords name was a sure ticket into hell. That fear must of worked because I despise hearing people saying the Lords name in vain.

 

[Don9of11]

Remember there are 3 things that need to be present for a sin to be a mortal sin. Full knowledge, complete consent and grave matter. Getting mad or frustrated at your computer and swearing at it is no different then yelling and swearing at a telephone poll, except you would look rather silly yelling at a telephone poll.

Also consider who was wronged in this instance. Certainly not your computer. Did you hurt yourself? The catechism list examples of grave mater as stealing, killing, adultery, bearing false witness, defrauding, failure to honor your mother and father. I can’t see that you violated any of these.

Since you are aware of your propensity to swear and you are actively trying to control it, I don’t think you have to much to worry about.

Don

 

[Al_Masetti]

The word “Hell” is not a profanity. Someone using that word is not profaning the Name of God. As someone else pointed out, it is merely vulgar speech. Using vulgar speech out loud in public MAY be a venial sin if it gives bad example to others. But that is a separate issue from the question you raised.

[Some years ago, at an all men’s Lenten retreat (in a tropical jungle military base in the years before there were very many women in the military), the priest said he had a unique teaching experience to use blunt and plain language and he gave examples of words that are NOT curses and NOT profanity … he was very nervous about it … but the examples he used included the “h” word, the “s” word and the “f” word. Vulgar, impolite, but not curses or profanity.]

 

[amyjo10]

I have problems with swearing, too.

I used to say “GD” all the time and I didn’t even realize it was blasphemy. Now, if I ever say that, I go to confession.

Though “what the hell” isn’t necessarily a mortal sin, keep in mind what Jesus tells us: “It is not what goes into a man’s mouth that makes him unclean (referring to kosher laws,) but what comes out of a man’s mouth that makes him unclean.” (I forget the scripture…but I’m 100% sure Christ said this. It’s in the Red Letters.)