Listening to neighbors have sex

[iwannabesomeone]

I was walking into my dorm room, and I heard in the room next to me the sounds of two people having sex. I have never had sex, and I was really curious, so I stood there and listened to it. Something felt not right about it, but on the other hand I was not trying to lust while listening to the noise. Anyway this was probably putting me in the near occasion of sin. I think I may suffer from scrupulosity, and I feel really awkward writing this. Should I confess this? Would this be a mortal sin?

 

[eagle_eye222001]

I was walking into my dorm room, and I heard in the room next to me the sounds of two people having sex. I have never had sex, and I was really curious, so I stood there and listened to it. Something felt not right about it, but on the other hand I was not trying to lust while listening to the noise. Anyway this was probably putting me in the near occasion of sin. I think I may suffer from scrupulosity, and I feel really awkward writing this. Should I confess this? Would this be a mortal sin?

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church…

1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."131

Is the object of listening to people have sex a grave matter?

This does not seem to be a grave matter.

Full knowledge…you do not seem to have since your posted such a question.

Full consent…this instance seemed accidental although it seems you kept listening even though you knew what was going on…

You said you did not seek pleasure from the event and you are not even sure if you put yourself in a near occasion of sin…which are both signs of it not being mortal.

I would not seek out such an instance again as listening to such stuff could very well lead to an occasion of sin…and your spying on a private moment which I can’t imagine to be morally neutral either…

We are encouraged to confess venial sins, so I would encourage you too.

In conclusion, no I do not think it is a mortal sin however it does seem to be venial, however if I have erred somewhere with respect to Church Teaching, I welcome to be corrected.

It would be worth reading paragraphs 1854-1863 in the Catechism.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

You’re only human and you were tempted and curious. You didn’t actually do anything sinful and you didn’t participate in the activity. Hearing something isn’t a sin…

Don’t let this cripple you right now. Pray to the Lord and let Him know you love him…

 

[twoangels]

I was walking into my dorm room, and I heard in the room next to me the sounds of two people having sex. I have never had sex, and I was really curious, so I stood there and listened to it. Something felt not right about it, but on the other hand I was not trying to lust while listening to the noise. Anyway this was probably putting me in the near occasion of sin. I think I may suffer from scrupulosity, and I feel really awkward writing this. Should I confess this? Would this be a mortal sin?

Oh goodness. This was definitely not something I would have ever wanted to hear. I never worried about it being a near occassion of sin. I just found it disgusting. Consider it that you simply have a healthy curiosity about something you’re unfamiliar with. When I married, I had a lot of major hang ups. I’d simply advise you not to listen in the future because its private. I would hate the thought of other people hearing my husband and I.

 

[benidict]

I was walking into my dorm room, and I heard in the room next to me the sounds of two people having sex. I have never had sex, and I was really curious, so I stood there and listened to it. Something felt not right about it, but on the other hand I was not trying to lust while listening to the noise. Anyway this was probably putting me in the near occasion of sin. I think I may suffer from scrupulosity, and I feel really awkward writing this. Should I confess this? Would this be a mortal sin?

No. But if listening to two people making love bothers you, I would suggest you take a walk for an hour or two. And hey, its better than listening to two people fighting. That can bring up a whole lot of unpleasant issues, depending on how violent it sounds. Trust me. Listening to two people make love, is not near as bad as hearing some jerk screaming at his woman, and HAVING to get involved…Peace

 

[smichhertz]

I agree with the above posters, it’s not a mortal sin, and probably not a sin at all. It sounds like you were just curious, rather than lusting.

However, remember that curiosity, if left unchecked, can get you into trouble. What you did was not sinful, but it certainly wasn’t virtuous.