Mortal Sin

[larry85704]

I ran across this in the Catechism

1861 Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back. However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God.

The way I read this is that we can confront someone and tell them they committed a grave offense, we are prohibited from saying they committed a mortal sin. Other places I’ve read in the Catechism seem to support this. Usually the Catechism will say something is a grave sin, or seriously disordered. But I have yet to come across a place in the Catechism that says something specific is a mortal sin.

If you agree with this then we need to stop saying anything is a mortal sin. If someone says a person commits a mortal sin we need to, in the spirit of brotherly love, tell them to stop saying things the Catechism specifically says he is not to say.

The way I read this section of the Catechism, the Church cannot tell someone they committed a mortal sin either. Yet don’t Church leaders sometimes do that today?

 

[teachccd]

I ran across this in the Catechism

The way I read this is that we can confront someone and tell them they committed a grave offense, we are prohibited from saying they committed a mortal sin. Other places I’ve read in the Catechism seem to support this. Usually the Catechism will say something is a grave sin, or seriously disordered. But I have yet to come across a place in the Catechism that says something specific is a mortal sin.

If you agree with this then we need to stop saying anything is a mortal sin. If someone says a person commits a mortal sin we need to, in the spirit of brotherly love, tell them to stop saying things the Catechism specifically says he is not to say.

The way I read this section of the Catechism, the Church cannot tell someone they committed a mortal sin either. Yet don’t Church leaders sometimes do that today?

I agree with you in that only the person and God knows if a sin is mortal. A grave act must be accompanied by the two other requirements for a sin to be mortal. ( Full knowledge and full consent) Full consent is tricky and only the person and God can know this.

However, I do believe that as the confessor has been given the authority to forgive or retain sin he may also help discern whether or not a penitent was indeed in mortal sin. Ultimately God judges the soul but within the granted authority the ministerial priesthood may direct an individual if mortal sin is discerned. There are certain aspects in which the priest may question and conclude that the danger of mortal sin is present. But I would have to agree that ultimately only God knows but we should seek reconciliation if we ever even think that we may be in mortal sin.

I agree that no one has the right to say that one is in the state of mortal sin. Even we, ourselves, may think that we are when indeed we are not. So, if **I **believe that **I **committed a mortal sin then **I **go to confession and the priest will see my contrition and absolve or retain accordingly. No less and no more…teachccd

 

[larry85704]

I agree with you. Finding someone that agrees with me is somewhat unusual. Thanks for the post.

 

[teachccd]

HMMM…Never would have guessed since that is what the Church teaches…But I guess we all tend to “know” when a mortal sin has been committed. And perhaps* how little* do we “know”?..teachccd