Question reguarding Marijuana and confession

[catholiccj1086]

So I came back to the church about a year ago and have been going to confession every two weeks (sometimes every week) sometimes confessing very embarrassing stuff. In my past I have recreationally used marijuana. I have never confessed this though I have thought about confessing it the more I research church teaching on the subject and how it impairs the thought process. I have always equated marijuana similarly to alcohol though I dont drink and only have a handful of times. Let me add I stopped smoking marijuana socially about 2 months ago. My question is: is everytime I went to confession previously invalid because I did not confess to using marijuana? I honestly did not withhold this before I went into the confessional, I honestly never gave it much thought until recently .
Thanks again.

 

[EphelDuath]

If you legitimately were unaware that it is sinful, then you are excused; confess it, however, the next time you go.

Alcohol is alright in moderation, as long as you avoid becoming intoxicated. But that’s not possible with marijuana; the purpose of marijuana is to become intoxicated. It can’t be done virtuously.

 

[catholiccj1086]

Well I thought it would be considered a venial sin. Though I have recently came to the conclusion it would be mortal. I have been learning more and more about our Catholic Moral Theology and have come to the conclusion it is a mortal sin.

 

[revert_jen]

Well I thought it would be considered a venial sin. Though I have recently came to the conclusion it would be mortal. I have been learning more and more about our Catholic Moral Theology and have come to the conclusion it is a mortal sin.

How about you just confess it and don’t do it again, and then it won’t matter. I believe that in addition to any other reasons, marijuana use would be sinful because we are to obey any laws that are not contrary to the moral law. So since it is not immoral to forbid people to use marijuana, it is a law we should follow. I don’t know whether it would be mortal or venial.

–Jen

 

[Magnus467]

The fact that you didn’t realize it was a mortal sin until now means that you are not mortally culpable for your use in the past. When you go to confession and receive a valid confession all of your sins are forgiven. If you honestly did not remember to bring it up or ever thought about it-it is ok.

 

[catholiccj1086]

I am going to confession tomorrow morning and am going to confess it along with my other sins since my last confession 2 weeks ago. I know its against the law which is why I always considered it a venial sin. My thinking was since a couple drinks of alcohol can give you a buzz I always equated the felling of marijuana to that. But as I said in my previous post i have changed my opinion on the matter and would consider smoking marijuana a mortal sin. Weather it is or it is not Personally I have come to that conclusion. I Just hope my previous confessions are not invalid.

 

[revert_jen]

I Just hope my previous confessions are not invalid.

I believe that your previous confessions would only be invalid if you pruposefully withheld something you knew to be a mortal sin. If you didn’t know it was a mortal sin (if in fact it is a mortal sin) then your confessions would still have been valid.

–Jen

 

[EphelDuath]

Generally speaking, you only commit mortal sin when you say to yourself, “I know this is evil/wrong/not what God wants, but I’m going to do it anyway”, and it’s a grave matter.

 

[catholiccj1086]

Okay, everytime I would go into the confessional I would not deliberately withhold that I had used marijuana ( I wouldnt be standing in line thinking im not going to confess my use of marijuana because i am too embarrassed or for w/e reason), the reason I think it has not come up is because I usually confess very very embarrassing personal sin and am always so focused on confessing those that I am too nervous to remember a lot when i am in the confessional. Though since I have been overcoming those very embarrassing personal sins im starting to really think about what I have sinfully done in the past that might not be considered as embarrassing but none the less still a sin…

 

[catholiccj1086]

So I just got back from confession and explained to the priest that I had been going to confession for about a year and had not confessed the sin of smoking marijuana because I had convinced myself that it was not that bad and in my mind equating it with alcohol even though it affects reason and judgment. I also voiced my concern about not having confessed this sin and told him that I had been going to confession and receiving the Eucharist every week and I was worried about committing a mortal sin over and over and over for not having confessed this. The priest explained to me that drugs can cloud a persons mind and that sins become more and more clear with a good examination of conscience. I then went on to list my other sins that I have committed in the last 2 weeks and the priest then gave me absolution and I said my penance. Thanks for all the responses.

Ohh one more thing. After the priest gave me absolution I was ready to say the act of contrition but the priest dismissed me (said go in peace give thanks to the Lord) not making me say an act of contrition. I how ever did say an act of contrition before i said my penance, is this okay?

 

[teachccd]

Ohh one more thing. After the priest gave me absolution I was ready to say the act of contrition but the priest dismissed me (said go in peace give thanks to the Lord) not making me say an act of contrition. I how ever did say an act of contrition before i said my penance, is this okay?

It’s always ok to say an Act of Contrition anytime. Your sins were absolved so that prayer helps us to seek the graces needed to remain that way all while presenting a contrite heart to the Lord…God bless…teachccd