Is this considered a "mortal" sin?

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JohnMcloughlin

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I know a friend who is a Christian and he was wondering if he had committed a mortal sin because as a child he watched pornography on multiple occasions. I didn’t know how to respond to him. He was aware that what he was doing was bad, but at the time he didnt realise how bad it was. Would this still count as him having full knowledge of it being bad and qualify it as a mortal sin?
 
But he was aware it was a sin but he just didn’t understand the severity of it. I thought since he knew it was a sin that it would qualify as having full knowledge even though he didn’t know how bad of a sin it was.
 
Ok thanks I’ll advise him to confess it in church and he should be fine.
 
It is grave matter, we don’t know his heart.
Confess to priest if in doubt.
 
But we aren’t sure about the scope of this person’s friend at the time. He was presumably above the age of reason.
His friend here is guessing, but we aren’t the person himself, so if one wanted to be safe, then inform him of this:
it is objectively grave matter but we cannot know his intentions and knowledge at the time.
 
JohnMcloughlin said:
I know a friend who is a Christian and he was wondering if he had committed a mortal sin because as a child he watched pornography on multiple occasions. I didn’t know how to respond to him. He was aware that what he was doing was bad, but at the time he didnt realise how bad it was. Would this still count as him having full knowledge of it being bad and qualify it as a mortal sin?
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There is an example in the Baltimore Catechism of a person that steals an expensive diamond, but thinks that it is inexpensive costume jewelry. So since the value is small the the idea is that it is venial sin. Upon learning that it is an expensive diamond, a mortal sin would occur, if it were not returned. This is to illustrate how grave matter can result in a venial sin or become a mortal sin with knowledge.
 
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Again, your friend needs to speak to his priest.
We cannot advise you, nor you, your friend.

And quite frankly any discussions about children viewing pornography should be completely out of bounds on this forum.
 
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So he needs to return the video tapes to the rightful owner?
Isnt that also sinful, shouldnt they be destroyed?
 
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Vico said:
There is an example in the Baltimore Catechism of a person that steals an expensive diamond, but thinks that it is inexpensive costume jewelry. So since the value is small the the idea is that it is venial sin. Upon learning that it is an expensive diamond, a mortal sin would occur, if it were not returned. This is to illustrate how grave matter can result in a venial sin or become a mortal sin with knowledge.
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Code: 
         it seems as if the op has been answered.
off the tracks we go BlackFriar…
we will mix the op and this example given by Vico
we have one who has stolen such trash knowing what it was. possession alone of said trash is a crime. now giving them back one would be causing the owner to sin simply because of the civil law which is a just law. so no the thief would not have to give them back…

i feel though the thief has a duty to turn himself in so that the owner of said property will receive justice.
 
Did he know that pornography is wrong and watch it on purpose and of his own free will?
 
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