Looking at pornography

[Mikaele]

If one were to have the intention of looking at pornography, type in some kind of search on google and then decide not to look at it, would that be a sin?

 

[slywakka250]

I wouldn’t spend time worrying about this. You should not look at porn. porn is a waste of time and sinful as well. Just spend your time on better things. no reason to get all worked up about a google search. just forget it, dont’ go back to it, and move on.

 

[Mikaele]

Well I’ve been having discussions with some of my friends, we spoke about that situation and clubbing. Is it something worth confessing?

 

[eagle_eye222001]

1855 Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him.
Venial sin allows charity to subsist, even though it offends and wounds it.

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6C.HTM

This would qualify as a venial sin. Charity stayed…but it was wounded…

I would pray to God in thanksgiving for the grace to stop!

 

[eagle_eye222001]

Well I’ve been having discussions with some of my friends, we spoke about that situation and clubbing. Is it something worth confessing?

Clubbing…activity of gathering socially at nightclubs. Where is the sin in that? Going to clubs in of themselves is not sin. Perhaps you can elaborate to specify what makes you question such an activity.

It is good to confess venial sins. The Church strongly encourage us to do so.

*1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.59 Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful:60

Whoever confesses his sins . . . is already working with God. God indicts your sins; if you also indict them, you are joined with God. Man and sinner are, so to speak, two realities: when you hear “man” - this is what God has made; when you hear “sinner” - this is what man himself has made. Destroy what you have made, so that God may save what he has made … When you begin to abhor what you have made, it is then that your good works are beginning, since you are accusing yourself of your evil works. the beginning of good works is the confession of evil works. You do the truth and come to the light.61

To add onto what a venial sin is.

1863 Venial sin weakens charity; it manifests a disordered affection for created goods; it impedes the soul’s progress in the exercise of the virtues and the practice of the moral good; it merits temporal punishment. Deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin. However venial sin does not set us in direct opposition to the will and friendship of God; it does not break the covenant with God. With God’s grace it is humanly reparable. "Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness."134*
vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P6C.HTM

 

[hxcCatholic413]

If one were to have the intention of looking at pornography, type in some kind of search on google and then decide not to look at it, would that be a sin?

get out of there…online pornography is one of the worst things to hit the fan just like how alcohol is in Alaskan villages. God Bless!

 

[Mikaele]

Would there be any similarity between my first scenario and this one: say someone had the intent to murder his neighbour, but just as he was about to pull the trigger he stopped, would that be a venial sin?

 

[eagle_eye222001]

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
vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c1a8.htm

I recommend reading the Catechism paragraphs 1846 to 1876.
vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c1a8.htm

The following links are good as well.
catholic.com/library/Mortal_Sin.asp
catholic.com/thisrock/quickquestions/keyword/venial%20sin
catholic.com/thisrock/1995/9505fea4.asp
catholic.com/thisrock/quickquestions/keyword/venial%20sin/page2

Those links should let you know what is mortal and what is venial.

 

[eagle_eye222001]

Would there be any similarity between my first scenario and this one: say someone had the intent to murder his neighbour, but just as he was about to pull the trigger he stopped, would that be a venial sin?

I think this would be…venial since a grave act did not occur. However I’m unsure. Maybe someone more steeped in moral theology could help here.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

If one were to have the intention of looking at pornography, type in some kind of search on google and then decide not to look at it, would that be a sin?

No, you are being tempted to sin. Be careful about become scupulous, or the abnormal trait of thinking that everything is sin. We get tempted all the time. Satan as pulling at us to turn away from God. However, it seems as if you overcame the temptation. Thank God for His strength. Pornography is as psychologically addictive as heroin. It is best if you just don’t start looking at it.

 

[eagle_eye222001]

No, you are being tempted to sin. Be careful about become scupulous, or the abnormal trait of thinking that everything is sin. We get tempted all the time. Satan as pulling at us to turn away from God. However, it seems as if you overcame the temptation. Thank God for His strength. Pornography is as psychologically addictive as heroin. It is best if you just don’t start looking at it.

Wasn’t he past the temptation stage since he had decided to act on it…except obviously grace prevailed before anything really bad happened.

I agree though about being careful to not become scrupulous where everything is a sin.

In any event, I wouldn’t lose sleep over it. Nothing too bad happened. Take it as a close call and make sure your prayer life is up to speed.

 

[Spirithound]

If one were to have the intention of looking at pornography, type in some kind of search on google and then decide not to look at it, would that be a sin?

It is not a mortal sin, but it is worth confessing.

 

[aball1035]

If one were to have the intention of looking at pornography, type in some kind of search on google and then decide not to look at it, would that be a sin?

I would definitely confess this. At one point you did make ends to find pornography, yes? It was a temptation but if you act on it (which you did, in that you searched for it), so i’d call this a mortal sin.

 

[confusedlost]

I agree with Scott L - this was a temptation and by God’s grace you overcame the temptation.

Scrupulousness is the work of satan.

Also, when there is actual venial sin it is still not required to confess - only mortal sins are required. Thank God for the extra grace He gave you at the last moment.
If you feel the need to talk more to someone privately about this issue - then confession is certainly a place to considered doing so.

as one post mentioned, to consider looking at your prayer life
and what might be of help to increase your spiritual life to help sustain your will not to give in; nor go as far even.

Mass is the most powerful.
Eucharistic Adoration (there are even 2 online sites of Perpetual Adoration - much better sites to go to online for sure if you want to do something online - evenings, nights, etc)
savior.org

Rosary (St. Padre Pio called it his ‘weapon’)

Read a good spiritual book -
on the Passion of Jesus,
the Gospels
or the life of a saint - St. Maria Goretti for example (he killer got started down the wrong road by porn), etc.
good spiritual music that can draw your mind and heart to God.

if this is an ongoing temptation - consider what can do to keep busy/busier to avoid idle time on your hands;
maybe have Holy Water on hand near the computer - or a Crucifix - as a reminder when you go on the computer. Harder to google for porn with a small Crucifix right in front of you.

I might say that if you googled for porn again - then you are playing with fire and that may be considered beyond just temptation (venial sin even if you don’t go any further).

Being horrified at how you gave into googling is a good thing; and a good lesson on human weakness and the need to avoid occasions of sin.

God bless.

 

[aball1035]

I agree with Scott L - this was a temptation and by God’s grace you overcame the temptation.

Scrupulousness is the work of satan.

Also, when there is actual venial sin it is still not required to confess - only mortal sins are required. Thank God for the extra grace He gave you at the last moment.
If you feel the need to talk more to someone privately about this issue - then confession is certainly a place to considered doing so.

as one post mentioned, to consider looking at your prayer life
and what might be of help to increase your spiritual life to help sustain your will not to give in; nor go as far even.

Mass is the most powerful.
Eucharistic Adoration (there are even 2 online sites of Perpetual Adoration - much better sites to go to online for sure if you want to do something online - evenings, nights, etc)
savior.org

Rosary (St. Padre Pio called it his ‘weapon’)

Read a good spiritual book -
on the Passion of Jesus,
the Gospels
or the life of a saint - St. Maria Goretti for example (he killer got started down the wrong road by porn), etc.
good spiritual music that can draw your mind and heart to God.

if this is an ongoing temptation - consider what can do to keep busy/busier to avoid idle time on your hands;
maybe have Holy Water on hand near the computer - or a Crucifix - as a reminder when you go on the computer. Harder to google for porn with a small Crucifix right in front of you.

I might say that if you googled for porn again - then you are playing with fire and that may be considered beyond just temptation (venial sin even if you don’t go any further).

Being horrified at how you gave into googling is a good thing; and a good lesson on human weakness and the need to avoid occasions of sin.

God bless.

I’m interested on why this wouldn’t be a mortal sin. I would say it is, simply because the person was tempted, and willingly made ends to find what they were looking for. However, there are possibly things we don’t know. Here’s what I came up with

Scenario 1: The person was looking at pictures that became more and more immodest, but by the time he knew what he was doing said “I shouldn’t do this” and stopped before going too far. This would be perhaps a light venial sin at most.

Scenario 2: The person was willingly making ends to look for pornography but by the time he found it, he decided not to look at it. I would call this a mortal sin because at one point he willingly was looking for something that’s mortally sinful (and knowing once he found it, he would willingly commit the mortal sin), which is a mortal sin in itself.

 

[Holly3278]

Looking at pornography is gravely sinful which means it can be a mortal sin which means it can send to you Hell for eternity.

 

[benidict]

Another solution would be to get rid of your PC and use public internet resources like the library. Or work. We have them here where I am at, and it is the only place I use it. And its free! If that is impossible, you can always get on your parental controls. type in some random code that you wont even know, and you wont be able to get on these sights. Just some suggestions.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

Looking at pornography is gravely sinful which means it can be a mortal sin which means it can send to you Hell for eternity.

If you don’t confess and repent. God is a god of mercy, not punishment. He wants us to come clean and conform our lives to His will. He has no desire to condemn and punish us. We are the ones who choose that route, not Him.

 

[Pat_Payne]

Wasn’t he past the temptation stage since he had decided to act on it…except obviously grace prevailed before anything really bad happened.

I agree though about being careful to not become scrupulous where everything is a sin.

In any event, I wouldn’t lose sleep over it. Nothing too bad happened. Take it as a close call and make sure your prayer life is up to speed.

I have a related question – I was checking my email tonight, and I found a number of new group announcements for a website that helps build in real life social groups. One of them had a somewhat provocative name, and I was curious – not so much in the form of lust but in the “Huh? What the heck is this?” manner. I clicked on the link, and as I did, I had the sense of “You know, better to just leave it alone.” as the page came up, I found it was a meetup for artistic nude models and photographers. I closed out a second later. The site does not allow nudity or explicit content, but just by being there due to idle curiosity, I’m wondering if that’s sin in and of itself. I reported the meetup afterwards.

 

[benidict]

I have a related question – I was checking my email tonight, and I found a number of new group announcements for a website that helps build in real life social groups. One of them had a somewhat provocative name, and I was curious – not so much in the form of lust but in the “Huh? What the heck is this?” manner. I clicked on the link, and as I did, I had the sense of “You know, better to just leave it alone.” as the page came up, I found it was a meetup for artistic nude models and photographers. I closed out a second later. The site does not allow nudity or explicit content, but just by being there due to idle curiosity, I’m wondering if that’s sin in and of itself. I reported the meetup afterwards.

No. If you are in the vicinity when a murder is taking place. does That make you guilty of a sin? Wrong place wrong time my friend. Common Sense goes a long long way. Getcha some!