Protestants and mortal sin

[Jennifer132]

Question: and please correct me if I make any wrong statements about the Catholic Church in explaining my question…

As far as I am aware, and in my experience, many Protestants don’t believe in (or have even heard of) mortal sin. The belief surrounding sin that I was raised on is that all our sins are forgiven “past, present, and future”. We ask God forgiveness when we sin because we have grieved him. Those who persist in serious sins like adultery, theft, etc were probably never really saved anyway. I’m not saying this is right teaching, just what I was raised to believe. There are other views to be sure.

So my question is, it is my understanding that if you commit a mortal sin in Catholicism you must go to confession to be forgiven. Protestants don’t have confession, we confess directly to God in our hearts. So does that mean that if a Protestant commits a mortal sin he or she has no way to properly confess and be forgiven in the eyes of the Catholic Church?

Many Protestants use birth control with no second thoughts and do not consider it sinful. Is it still a mortal sin for them since they were not taught that?

If lack of knowledge of certain mortal sins reduces culpability, when a Prostestant converts, how do they know which sins they’ve committed prior to conversion are mortal and which are not? And if, as a Protestant they have already confessed those sins directly to God, must they confess them again in their first confession?

 

[Horton]

Question: and please correct me if I make any wrong statements about the Catholic Church in explaining my question…

As far as I am aware, and in my experience, many Protestants don’t believe in (or have even heard of) mortal sin. The belief surrounding sin that I was raised on is that all our sins are forgiven “past, present, and future”. We ask God forgiveness when we sin because we have grieved him. Those who persist in serious sins like adultery, theft, etc were probably never really saved anyway. I’m not saying this is right teaching, just what I was raised to believe. There are other views to be sure.

So my question is, it is my understanding that if you commit a mortal sin in Catholicism you must go to confession to be forgiven. Protestants don’t have confession, we confess directly to God in our hearts. So does that mean that if a Protestant commits a mortal sin he or she has no way to properly confess and be forgiven in the eyes of the Catholic Church?

Many Protestants use birth control with no second thoughts and do not consider it sinful. Is it still a mortal sin for them since they were not taught that?

If lack of knowledge of certain mortal sins reduces culpability, when a Prostestant converts, how do they know which sins they’ve committed prior to conversion are mortal and which are not? And if, as a Protestant they have already confessed those sins directly to God, must they confess them again in their first confession?

There are two possible answers to your question. One, if the person converting has a valid baptism then yes they must confess all prior mortal sins in the sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving the Eucharist. If one doesn’t have a valid baptism, then all sins, mortal or otherwise are washed away at baptism.

Hopefully this helps.

 

[Lenten_ashes]

Greetings!

Yes, every mortal sin post baptism needs to be confessed. If you do convert, make a list(they will give you a sheet to go over in RCIA and break it all down) and after you have confessed, just tell Father to include any other sins that you may have forgotten. This covers all.

The Church teaches that sacramentally is the only ordinary means for forgiveness. However, if you are invincibly ignorant and living your protestant faith to the best of your ability, it is possible to attain salvation as God’s mercy is infinite. Not anyone’s place to determine who is hellbound, we have to believe in it but don’t have to believe anyone in particular is there.

BTW , mortal sin needs 3 things to be mortal …one of them being full knowledge. In RCIA you are taught that birth control is a no-no and so the ignorance alibi goes out the window.

The Lord be with you on your journey, my friend.

 

[Lenten_ashes]

There are two possible answers to your question. One, if the person converting has a valid baptism then yes they must confess all prior mortal sins in the sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving the Eucharist. If one doesn’t have a valid baptism, then all sins, mortal or otherwise are washed away at baptism.

Hopefully this helps.

Good point.

As a protestant I’m assuming she already has a valid baptism but I shouldn’t do that.

Jennifer, as Horton has pointed out, if you are unbaptized or lack VALID baptism(like Pentecostal) then a baptism in the Catholic church washes away all sin, original and personal.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

Many Protestants use birth control with no second thoughts and do not consider it sinful. Is it still a mortal sin for them since they were not taught that?

Jennifer, I am sidestepping your final question about someone converting having to confess things done as a Protestant and going to your question above.

I would be curious about how people, Roman and non-Roman Catholic, respond to it. As an Episcopalian, I am not concerned about birth control being a sin. That is not what I believe and I would think many of us would say, ‘If you want to regard it as a sin and not use it, that is certainly your choice.’ I would say the same thing to a Jew or Muslim who chooses not to eat meat from a pig. Or a Seventh Day Adventist who does not eat meat at all.

My question is if a Jew does not insist all people refrain from eating pig meat (even tho it IS Biblically forbidden), why would anyone in the Catholic Church insist that what is sinful for them is sinful for all?

 

[Jennifer132]

Good point.

As a protestant I’m assuming she already has a valid baptism but I shouldn’t do that.

Jennifer, as Horton has pointed out, if you are unbaptized or lack VALID baptism(like Pentecostal) then a baptism in the Catholic church washes away all sin, original and personal.

I’m pretty sure my baptism is valid, according to what I’ve read (I asked on the ask an apologist forum). But the question was more of a general one. I’m not really concerned about confessing my own past sins. I’m wondering what happens to my Christian family members who do not convert (my mother, father, cousins, sister in law, etc).

 

[FabiusMaximus]

I’m pretty sure my baptism is valid, according to what I’ve read (I asked on the ask an apologist forum). But the question was more of a general one. I’m not really concerned about confessing my own past sins. I’m wondering what happens to my Christian family members who do not convert (my mother, father, cousins, sister in law, etc).

Well that’s a complicated question because the truth is “who knows?”

Most Catholics rarely claim to “know for sure” that they’re saved, let alone comment on other people’s!

The Catholic Church does teach though that the Church is the one medium of salvation. Basically, they state that the Catholic Church is the one true Church and therefore you need to go to through the Catholic Church to attain salvation.

For your non-Catholic family members, that doesn’t mean they’d automatically go to hell. Again, a Catholic is technically not supposed to comment on the salvation of others, and while the Catholic Church is considered the one true Church, they also recognize that there are other Christians who love and worship God, and also know that God is greatly merciful, and so leave the door open for others.

It’s a hard thing to accept when you’re moving from Evangelicalism to Catholicism because the concept of salvation is a little different. Evangelicals tend to consider salvation an event - when you accept Christ - while Catholics seem to see it more of an ongoing process.

 

[twf]

Pray for Protestants in this situation. We can only trust in the Lord’s mercy. There are a few possibilities:

1. In any given case, a Protestant may not have committed a mortal sin, even if the act is grave matter, due to lack of knowledge or lack of consent.
2. If a Protestant HAS committed a mortal sin, they may be given the grace to make a perfect act of contrition (true, pure sorrow for offending the Lord). Only God knows if our contrition is perfect - but if it is, mortal sins can be forgiven outside of sacramental absolution. (Of course Catholics are still obliged to go to confession as an act of obedience even if their contrition is perfect).

 

[PaulfromIowa]

As far as I am aware, and in my experience, many Protestants don’t believe in (or have even heard of) mortal sin. **The belief surrounding sin that I was raised on is that all our sins are forgiven “past, present, and future”. We ask God forgiveness when we sin because we have grieved him. Those who persist in serious sins like adultery, theft, etc were probably never really saved anyway…

We confess directly to God in our hearts.** So does that mean that if a Protestant commits a mortal sin he or she has no way to properly confess and be forgiven in the eyes of the Catholic Church?

Those statements are somewhat contradictory, aren’t they? If the Predestined rarely sin, what do they have to confess? I think that you are realizing that Predestination and “Once Saved, Always Saved” are false teachings, although, as you note, widely believed among Protestants.

Many Protestants use birth control with no second thoughts and do not consider it sinful. Is it still a mortal sin for them since they were not taught that?

Read the Catechism about the three conditions for mortal sin. Read Paul VI’s encyclical Humani Generis and note that he was truly prophetic about artificial contraception and abortion.

If lack of knowledge of certain mortal sins reduces culpability, when a Protestant converts, how do they know which sins they’ve committed prior to conversion are mortal and which are not?

Someone converting to Catholicism should study the Church’s moral teachings. You are correct that many in the Western world today do not even recognize grave sin.

if, as a Protestant they have already confessed those sins directly to God, must they confess them again in their first confession?

A baptized Protestant makes a general confession before being Confirmed. Only mortal sins committed since baptism need to be confessed.

What about those Protestants who never convert to an Apostolic Church (Catholic or Orthodox) and thus never have their sins absolved in the Sacrament of Penance? What about those Protestants who never get baptized because they were told it was not necessary? We can pray for them and realistically hope that God forgives their lack of knowledge, or their reliance on less than correct teaching.

The Catechism teaches:

Every man who is ignorant of the gospel of Christ and of his Church but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity.

See also:
“What “No Salvation Outside the Church” Means” by Jim Blackburn

 

[R_H_Benson]

Jennifer, I am sidestepping your final question about someone converting having to confess things done as a Protestant and going to your question above.

I would be curious about how people, Roman and non-Roman Catholic, respond to it. As an Episcopalian, I am not concerned about birth control being a sin. That is not what I believe and I would think many of us would say, ‘If you want to regard it as a sin and not use it, that is certainly your choice.’ I would say the same thing to a Jew or Muslim who chooses not to eat meat from a pig. Or a Seventh Day Adventist who does not eat meat at all.

My question is if a Jew does not insist all people refrain from eating pig meat (even tho it IS Biblically forbidden), why would anyone in the Catholic Church insist that what is sinful for them is sinful for all?

Because certain acts, like the use of artificial contraception, are objectively disordered and contrary to the moral law. The Catholic Church, because she is guided infallibly by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme moral authority on earth. If an act is deemed contrary to the moral law by the Catholic Church then objectively speaking said act IS just that. Subjectivity would come into play when discerning culpability, but can never change the objective evil of the action.

 

[GNM1999]

This is a thing that scares me about converting. I can’t remember all of the sins I committed last week, let alone all of the sins I’ve committed since my baptism. And I’ve known about the mortal sin thing since about February. So there are probably a lot of sins I’m not remembering. I keep worrying that if I forget one I’m going to Hell, since I can’t remember it and therefore can’t confess it.

 

[FabiusMaximus]

This is a thing that scares me about converting. I can’t remember all of the sins I committed last week, let alone all of the sins I’ve committed since my baptism. And I’ve known about the mortal sin thing since about February. So there are probably a lot of sins I’m not remembering. I keep worrying that if I forget one I’m going to Hell, since I can’t remember it and therefore can’t confess it.

Pretty sure that as long as you don’t willfully omit your sin in your confession, it’s forgiven, even if you forgot to mention it.

 

[R_H_Benson]

This is a thing that scares me about converting. I can’t remember all of the sins I committed last week, let alone all of the sins I’ve committed since my baptism. And I’ve known about the mortal sin thing since about February. So there are probably a lot of sins I’m not remembering. I keep worrying that if I forget one I’m going to Hell, since I can’t remember it and therefore can’t confess it.

There are many “examination of conscience” resources available online that can be very helpful for recalling sins to ensure that you make a complete confession to the best of your abilities and as far as your memory can serve. As long as you make your best effort to recall your sins, and don’t willfully omit any mortal sins, you are doing the best you can and must trust in God’s mercy to forgive you of any sins you may be forgetting. All sins, even mortal, that you may have legitimately forgotten will still be forgiven so long as you make your best effort. A pious practice for confession can be to, after you have finished confessing all the sins you remember, add the phrase “for these and all the sins of my past life, I am deeply sorry” to cover all those sins you may have forgotten.

 

[JewishCatholic]

Only Catholics and Jews can make it into heavens according to scripture and the church. Everybody else unfortunately goes into hell no matter how good of a person they were or if they were to young to make their own decisions We are blessed that we were raised Catholic so we can make it to heaven! If you die without being baptized in the Church or in a state of mortal sin you go dircetly to hell. Since missing mass on sunday is a mortal sin the rest of the population is unfortunately left behind. Which is why it is so important for us to convert others.

Peace be with you.

John 3:16

 

[Lenten_ashes]

I’m pretty sure my baptism is valid, according to what I’ve read (I asked on the ask an apologist forum). But the question was more of a general one. I’m not really concerned about confessing my own past sins. I’m wondering what happens to my Christian family members who do not convert (my mother, father, cousins, sister in law, etc).

I see.

That’s very noble of you to concern yourself with their salvation!

As another poster stated, it’s impossible to know what God will do as only He knows the disposition of hearts… I do know being a former protestant that these folks are very genuine and well intended. And if I know that, I’m pretty sure God knows that and so I pray for mercy for all those not yet united to the church.

Pax

 

[Lenten_ashes]

This is a thing that scares me about converting. I can’t remember all of the sins I committed last week, let alone all of the sins I’ve committed since my baptism. And I’ve known about the mortal sin thing since about February. So there are probably a lot of sins I’m not remembering. I keep worrying that if I forget one I’m going to Hell, since I can’t remember it and therefore can’t confess it.

Confess what you do know and then tell Father you would like to include any sins you may have forgotten.

And that covers all.

 

[DAML72]

Only Catholics and Jews can make it into heavens according to scripture and the church. Everybody else unfortunately goes into hell no matter how good of a person they were or if they were to young to make their own decisions We are blessed that we were raised Catholic so we can make it to heaven! If you die without being baptized in the Church or in a state of mortal sin you go dircetly to hell. Since missing mass on sunday is a mortal sin the rest of the population is unfortunately left behind. Which is why it is so important for us to convert others.

Peace be with you.

John 3:16

This is absolutely 100% WRONG, and a very irresponsible thing to say to a potential convert. I would suggest you get yourself a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church right away.

 

[JewishCatholic]

I see.

That’s very noble of you to concern yourself with their salvation!

As another poster stated, it’s impossible to know what God will do as only He knows the disposition of hearts… I do know being a former protestant that these folks are very genuine and well intended. And if I know that, I’m pretty sure God knows that and so I pray for mercy for all those not yet united to the church.

Pax

Sir , with all due respect they have no chance at reaching heaven unless if their in the church. God clearly states he would never allow a non catholic or non jew into heaven. While they may be genuine belivers and good people it does not stop the fact that God has spoken on this issue.

Peace to all

John 3:16

 

[JewishCatholic]

This is absolutely 100% WRONG, and a very irresponsible thing to say to a potential convert. I would suggest you get yourself a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church right away.

Sir, I speak the word of god to the best of my ability even when its unpopular. I follow Gods orders not men’s.

Peace to you all!
God bless Pope Francis!!!

John 3:16

 

[DAML72]

Jennifer132

Others have answered well the Church’s position with regard to the salvation of those outside the church, and you can always consult the Catechism for more detailed and precise information.

To address your question about confession for converts, I always recommend what I did - I confessed every grave sin that I could think of when I came into the church (I didn’t name each and every instance, but broke it down into categories and spoke in terms of numbers or frequency when possible). Whether or not these were mortal sins for me, I didn’t know, but I have the peace of mind now of knowing that they have all been forgiven regardless. It’s a huge blessing to be able to look back on your first confession and know that it was a good, full one. So, for instance, if you used birth control - my recommendation would be to confess it, even if you didn’t know or think it was a sin at the time. Missing Mass probably isn’t something that needs to be confessed because we aren’t bound by that until we are Catholics, but I think I confessed it anyway. There are lots of examination of conscience websites/resources out there to help jog your memory and make a good confession when and if the time comes.