Mortal Sin and Confession

[Inquiringperson]

Hypothetical Situation: Joe the validly married Catholic uses contraception without knowing it’s of grave matter. One day, he finds out using contraception is a mortal sin and he stops using contraception on the spot. Does he still need to mention it in his next confession?

 

[Richard320]

Yes. He needs to confess willful ignorance.

 

[Franna]

I know of couples who use artificial contraception and don’t believe it’s a sin,so what do they do in that case.If they don’t believe it’s a sin.

 

[Inquiringperson]

Yes. He needs to confess willful ignorance.

However, he did not commit willful ignorance. He just grew up in a Catholic community believing contraception is okay.

 

[ValPal]

Hypothetical Situation: Joe the validly married Catholic uses contraception without knowing it’s of grave matter. One day, he finds out using contraception is a mortal sin and he stops using contraception on the spot. Does he still need to mention it in his next confession?

It is not a mortal sin since “Joe” had no knowledge it was a mortal sin. It is grave matter, though, so it would be a good idea to mention it in confession.

 

[bmonk]

It would not hurt to mention it in confession, explaining the circumstances. If he truly was ignorant, through no fault of his own, then he is not guilty of sin as such. But if he avoided learning what the Catholic teaching was–even by not following up mentions of problems in, say, secular news stories on contraception–then he is guilty of not properly forming his conscience.

It is not a mortal sin since “Joe” had no knowledge it was a mortal sin. It is grave matter, though, so it would be a good idea to mention it in confession.

Yes. That is right also.

 

[Inquiringperson]

It is not a mortal sin since “Joe” had no knowledge it was a mortal sin. It is grave matter, though, so it would be a good idea to mention it in confession.

Does that mean “Joe” will have to confess it?

 

[triumphguy]

Why would “Joe” not want to confess it?

When I was younger I would try and wriggle out of confessing things by justifying them in my mind.

And that was a burden to me, because my heart was not reconciled even if my head was.

Now I want to confess everything!

 

[ValPal]

Does that mean “Joe” will have to confess it?

My interpretation is that if he truly did not know it was a mortal sin at the time it was committed then technically no. But I’m not a priest so don’t take my word for it.

 

[Inquiringperson]

Why would “Joe” not want to confess it?

When I was younger I would try and wriggle out of confessing things by justifying them in my mind.

And that was a burden to me, because my heart was not reconciled even if my head was.

Now I want to confess everything!

I want to know if the Church mandates that “Joe” has to confess it.

 

[triumphguy]

If he’s not culpable then he doesn’t have to confess.

That’s a very narrow view of confession though.

My question is: why would he not want to confess, even IF he’s not culpable?

I mewan, even if it wan;t a mortal sin, it was a big life decision to make and one worthy of talking to the priest about in confession.

 

[Bookcat]

I want to know if the Church mandates that “Joe” has to confess it.

One is only obliged to confess mortal sins.

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Compendium issued by Pope Benedict XVI

1. When does one commit a mortal sin?

1855-1861
1874

One commits a mortal sin when there are simultaneously present: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. This sin destroys charity in us, deprives us of sanctifying grace, and, if unrepented, leads us to the eternal death of hell. It can be forgiven in the ordinary way by means of the sacraments of Baptism and of Penance or Reconciliation.

1. When does one commit a venial sin?

1862-1864
1875

One commits a venial sin, which is essentially different from a mortal sin, when the matter involved is less serious or, even if it is grave, when full knowledge or complete consent are absent. Venial sin does not break the covenant with God but it weakens charity and manifests a disordered affection for created goods. It impedes the progress of a soul in the exercise of the virtues and in the practice of moral good. It merits temporal punishment which purifies.