Knowing something is wrong vs mortal

[HNA444]

Ok, so I know I had posted a thread on this once before, but I am still curious about it more. I feel that getting into Heaven is not easy and we have to have a good relationship with God and live by His word. However, what about those that don’t know what is a mortal sin or not. Catholics for example, I know a lot who don’t do the right things and I think they know it’s wrong, but they probably don’t know that it’s mortal. So, my theory is that it seems like they would have a better chance getting into Heaven, because God would have mercy on them for not knowing (even though they know it’s wrong)?

 

[Bookcat]

God will judge them. Some things are via invincible ignorance …and some things one is culpable for ones ignorance to various degrees…

Some things are known rather easily via natural moral law (like do not murder your mother) and some things are known with less ease but can be known.

One does not need a strict theological knowledge either…

In any case God knows the person…and is a good judge.

 

[Bookcat]

Remember too we are saved by Jesus Christ…(it is not that it is just based on if we do good and avoid evil…yes one needs to remain in him etc …so a Christian exits a state of grace via mortal sin etc…and will need a “return of that life”…)

and yes while those who through no fault of their own who do not know him or his Church can be saved (by him) in ways known only to God…

they are not per se in a “better position”…

For they do not know him…the Church…the Scriptures…the Sacraments etc…

 

[ChrisRedfield47]

In my own opinion It is true that people often dont know if something is right or wrong, Mortal sin or not, but the following question is also applied to them: Are they guilty of being ignorant about it?
For example so many people have access to the bible but they dont read it anyway. Arent they guilty about it? Arent they guilty about their ignorance? Only Gods knows

Some are not guilty of their ignorace, extremely poor people for example.

 

[catharina]

Ok, so I know I had posted a thread on this once before, but I am still curious about it more. I feel that getting into Heaven is not easy and we have to have a good relationship with God and live by His word. However, what about those that don’t know what is a mortal sin or not. Catholics for example, I know a lot who don’t do the right things and I think they know it’s wrong, but they probably don’t know that it’s mortal. So, my theory is that it seems like they would have a better chance getting into Heaven, because God would have mercy on them for not knowing (even though they know it’s wrong)?

Following is a great answer:

In my own opinion It is true that people often dont know if something is right or wrong, Mortal sin or not, but the following question is also applied to them: Are they guilty of being ignorant about it?
For example so many people have access to the bible but they dont read it anyway. Arent they guilty about it? Arent they guilty about their ignorance? Only Gods knows

Some are not guilty of their ignorace, extremely poor people for example.

As Chris said, each of us is required to hold an INFORMED conscience.
We must make sure that we do NOT choose to live in ignorance.

 

[SeaShoreGirl]

Mortal sin MUST be a grave matter. You know it’s wrong to take a quarter off of the floor of a church, but it’s NOT a grave matter and therefore, cannot be a mortal sin.

Slicing a guy’s tire…may be a mortal sin or not…if you knowiling slice the tire of a poor guy who needs his car to bring his sick kid to chemo then, yep, it’s probably a mortal sin. If you knowingly slice the tire of a sleezy CEO with six cars who you found out is stealing…it’s not a “grave” matter.

 

[steve_b]

I feel that getting into Heaven is not easy and we have to have a good relationship with God and live by His word.

True. the road to heaven is narrow and hard, and few are on it. [Mt 7:13-14]
HN:

However, what about those that don’t know what is a mortal sin or not. Catholics for example, I know a lot who don’t do the right things and I think they know it’s wrong, but they probably don’t know that it’s mortal.

Re: ignorance. catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9907chap.asp
HN:

So, my theory is that it seems like they would have a better chance getting into Heaven, because God would have mercy on them for not knowing (even though they know it’s wrong)?

God gives us grace, revelation, and the Church. We can’t play games with right and wrong.

 

[PilgrimToChrist]

Ok, so I know I had posted a thread on this once before, but I am still curious about it more. I feel that getting into Heaven is not easy and we have to have a good relationship with God and live by His word. However, what about those that don’t know what is a mortal sin or not. Catholics for example, I know a lot who don’t do the right things and I think they know it’s wrong, but they probably don’t know that it’s mortal. So, my theory is that it seems like they would have a better chance getting into Heaven, because God would have mercy on them for not knowing (even though they know it’s wrong)?

You can be either culpable or not for your ignorance. For example, if you are driving along a road at 75 mph in a 35mph zone and the police officer pulls you over, you cannot say “I didn’t know” because you are responsible for knowing what the speed limit is. You are responsible for knowing and following all the precepts of Natural Law.

However, you are not necessarily responsible for knowing those precepts which are not contained within Natural Law but are rather contained within Divine Positive and Ecclesiastical Law.

 

[Bookcat]

CCC

1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man "takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin."59 In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.

1792 Ignorance of Christ and his Gospel, bad example given by others, enslavement to one’s passions, assertion of a mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience, rejection of the Church’s authority and her teaching, lack of conversion and of charity: these can be at the source of errors of judgment in moral conduct.

1793 If - on the contrary - the ignorance is invincible, or the moral subject is not responsible for his erroneous judgment, the evil committed by the person cannot be imputed to him. It remains no less an evil, a privation, a disorder. One must therefore work to correct the errors of moral conscience.

 

[catharina]

CCC

**1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man "takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin."59 In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.

1792 Ignorance of Christ and his Gospel, bad example given by others, enslavement to one’s passions, assertion of a mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience, rejection of the Church’s authority and her teaching, lack of conversion and of charity: these can be at the source of errors of judgment in moral conduct.

1793 If - on the contrary - the ignorance is invincible, or the moral subject is not responsible for his erroneous judgment, the evil committed by the person cannot be imputed to him. It remains no less an evil, a privation, a disorder. One must therefore work to correct the errors of moral conscience.**

Amen, bookcat - and thanks as usual.

 

[HNA444]

Thanks Bookcat!!!

 

[AnneTeresa]

CCC

1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man "takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin."59 In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.

1792 Ignorance of Christ and his Gospel, bad example given by others, enslavement to one’s passions, assertion of a mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience, rejection of the Church’s authority and her teaching, lack of conversion and of charity: these can be at the source of errors of judgment in moral conduct.

1793 If - on the contrary - the ignorance is invincible, or the moral subject is not responsible for his erroneous judgment, the evil committed by the person cannot be imputed to him. It remains no less an evil, a privation, a disorder. One must therefore work to correct the errors of moral conscience.

Is this saying you ARE responsible if you don’t know, or you aren’t responsible? I don’t follow, particuarly 1791 and 1792.