Mortal/Venial Sin

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Hey ya’ll

what have you found that is the easiest way to explain why we believe in ‘levels’ of sin, so to speak? I am writing a paper for a friend on it, and since you all have for experience, I was going to see what does/doesn’t seem to work well. Obviously, I am going to primarily base this on the bible (he isn’t Catholic-RCIA), and get some ECF quotes as well.
 
Lets say I’m friends with someone. I can get angry and raise my voice with them once. That hurts our relationship. Or I can steal their significant other and tell them I don’t want to be their friend anyway. That destroys the relationship.

In our relationship with God, we can either hurt it, or completely destroy it. Actions speak louder then words.

Josh
 
1 John 5:15-16 (RSV) - “There is sin which is mortal…but there is sin which is not mortal.”
 
Here’s one place to start. In John 19:10-11, Jesus himself told Pilate that Pilate’s sin was less than that of the Jewish leaders.

Pilate therefore saith to him: Speakest thou not to me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and I have power to release thee?

Jesus answered: Thou shouldst not have any power against me, unless it were given thee from above. Therefore, he that hath delivered me to thee, hath the greater sin.

This is almost definitely an example of two degrees of mortal sin rather than mortal sin vs. venial sin (although I cannot see Pilate’s conscience nor do I condemn him to hell).

There are many other examples from Sacred Scripture, and I’m sure you can also find ample help in the Catholic Answers tracts.

God bless.
 
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