Mortal sin?

[Veronica97]

For the last couple of days I’ve been following the thread “I can’t judge that most souls go to Hell.” The topic is basically that: most souls go to Hell according to the writings of the Saints. It’s probably not the best thing for a scrupulous person to read. Anyway, early this morning I stumbled upon a testimony by a woman named Gloria Polo, a Catholic who had a near death experience and went to Hell. From what I could tell, it seemed not to be in conflict with any Church teachings and in fact inspired me to resolve to sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament more often. However this evening I did some google-ing to try to get some information on how to discern if private revelation could be false (in conflict with the Bible or Church teachings). I saw an article in the search results about how to tell if private revelation might be false, and I noticed that the website it was located on was called “Catholic Planet”. Now I remembered that the guy who is on Catholic Planet–Ronald Conte-- has stated that certain acts during marital relations are illicit, when they have not been found to be so by others in the church such as Christopher West. So I thought for a moment, “Maybe I shouldn’t click on this since Ron Conte may be wrong about other things.” But I clicked on it anyway and skimmed through the article. Now I am wondering if I committed mortal sin by going to a website where the author has been in conflict with church teachings in the past? I start my mornings with a prayer that I may glorify the Lord in all that I think, say, and do. I pray the Rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet regularly. I go to Confession on a monthly basis and I’m always thinking about the Lord and doing what is right in His eyes. Given that, is it likely that I would fall into mortal sin so easily/quickly?

 

[Oneofthewomen]

For something to be mortal sin all 3 of these criteria must be present-

1. it must be “grave matter”
2. you must know it is grave matter
3. you must willingly do it anyway

If all 3 criteria are not met, it is not mortal sin.

Do you think that what you post fits all 3 of these criteria?

 

[Veronica97]

I honestly don’t know. I know that it’s wrong to read books, etc. that are contrary to the Catholic faith. Before I clicked on the link I thought, "Maybe I shouldn’t go here b/c I know this website has posted some false things. But then I thought, “I think it will be okay” and curiosity got the better of me. I’m pretty sure that if I had thought it would cut me off from God, I wouldn’t have done it. Yet I hesitated before I clicked on it. Is this a deliberate venial sin instead or is this objectively grave matter?

 

[Oneofthewomen]

If reading things that go against Chruch teaching is “grave matter”,
I am pretty sure you can make the case that just about everything we read, watch on TV, listen to on the radio, see in the movies, is “grave matter”.

My opinion is that you are not committing mortal sin.
It is all about “intention”. Based on your post, you were looking for information,
that is a good intention. The bad part is the internet is filled with dubious information that can lead someone who is uneducated/not strong in their faith astray.

You have indicated you are confused as to what “sin” is.
I strongly urge you to find a priest who can help you, he is the only person that can give you the answers that are relevent to your particular situation.

 

[CompSciGuy]

For the last couple of days I’ve been following the thread “I can’t judge that most souls go to Hell.” The topic is basically that: most souls go to Hell according to the writings of the Saints. It’s probably not the best thing for a scrupulous person to read. Anyway, early this morning I stumbled upon a testimony by a woman named Gloria Polo, a Catholic who had a near death experience and went to Hell. From what I could tell, it seemed not to be in conflict with any Church teachings and in fact inspired me to resolve to sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament more often. However this evening I did some google-ing to try to get some information on how to discern if private revelation could be false (in conflict with the Bible or Church teachings). I saw an article in the search results about how to tell if private revelation might be false, and I noticed that the website it was located on was called “Catholic Planet”. Now I remembered that the guy who is on Catholic Planet–Ronald Conte-- has stated that certain acts during marital relations are illicit, when they have not been found to be so by others in the church such as Christopher West. So I thought for a moment, “Maybe I shouldn’t click on this since Ron Conte may be wrong about other things.” But I clicked on it anyway and skimmed through the article. Now I am wondering if I committed mortal sin by going to a website where the author has been in conflict with church teachings in the past? I start my mornings with a prayer that I may glorify the Lord in all that I think, say, and do. I pray the Rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet regularly. I go to Confession on a monthly basis and I’m always thinking about the Lord and doing what is right in His eyes. Given that, is it likely that I would fall into mortal sin so easily/quickly?

Apostasy is a mortal sin. This is not. Why would you think it is? This isn’t even venial sin. You are too scrupulous.