Presumption

[Inquiringperson]

It is to my understanding that you commit the mortal sin of presumption if you commit a mortal sin with the idea that you can just confess it. However, can you commit the mortal sin of presumption by doing a venial sin with the idea that you can just confess it? I understand that even if it isn’t a mortal sin to do a venial sin with the idea that you can just confess it, it is an extremely unhealthy thing to do.

 

[datritle]

you might suffer from scrupulosity. you’re not wrong in your wanting to be sure you are in a state of grace, though. all i can say is, this is what protestants so often assume about us. “you can do whatever you want, because you can just go confess it and it’s all okay”. sigh. i suggest speaking with your priest or spiritual director.

 

[Nigel7]

this is what protestants so often assume about us. “you can do whatever you want, because you can just go confess it and it’s all okay”. sigh.

Yes, I often hear this. To which I always laugh and reply that according to protestants they can sin however they wish without even confessing it since they think that all they need to do is say once in their lives that Jesus is Lord and then they get a free pass to live and sin however they wish for the rest of their lives.

What sounds harder, Protestants? Getting your Protestant free pass regardless of your actons?.. Or being held accountable for your actions and actually having to confess all of your sins to a priest?

That’s been a huge change for me since converting to Catholicism. Now I am actually held accountable for my mortal sin, and I must confess them to a priest whenever they occur (which is less and less, thanks largely to this accountability and the sacrament of reconciliation, by the grace of God).
While always liberating and wonderful, it is not always easy, which is a good thing. Real accountability before Christ for our actions is a very good thing. Something which Protestantism lacks, unfortunately.