Restitution for adultery in the mind?

[fakename]

If someone were to commit adultery in one’s heart would that require restitution?

If the two adulteries are the same word in the same sense then it seems that the answer would be “yes” but one can have doubts.

Yet restitution seems to deal with commutative justice and commutative justice (any justice really) requires a relation between two individuals. But adultery in the heart seems to be a disorder of only one person and not an offense of one against another.

 

[Polycarp1]

It is a sin against God and therefore will need to be expiated.

 

[fakename]

It is a sin against God and therefore will need to be expiated.

It’s a sin against God but not a sin that has to do with justice in the strict sense I think (because justice is about equals).

But either right or wrong (re: justice) do you mean to say that there is indeed restitution required?

 

[Polycarp1]

It’s a sin against God but not a sin that has to do with justice in the strict sense I think (because justice is about equals).

But either right or wrong (re: justice) do you mean to say that there is indeed restitution required?

I would think that yes we would owe a spiritual debt to God for breaking His law against committing adultry in our hearts. But I would ask a priest for clarification.

 

[thistle]

If someone were to commit adultery in one’s heart would that require restitution?

If the two adulteries are the same word in the same sense then it seems that the answer would be “yes” but one can have doubts.

Yet restitution seems to deal with commutative justice and commutative justice (any justice really) requires a relation between two individuals. But adultery in the heart seems to be a disorder of only one person and not an offense of one against another.

If you commit adultery, whether physically or in the heart and mind, it is a mortal sin and you need to go to Confession.

 

[Polycarp1]

It’s a sin against God but not a sin that has to do with justice in the strict sense I think (because justice is about equals).

But either right or wrong (re: justice) do you mean to say that there is indeed restitution required?

What do you mean justice is about equals?

 

[fakename]

What do you mean justice is about equals?

Justice (at least justice that requires restitution) is between equal persons. But God is not equal to us so I don’t think that restitution can be paid to God. If it must be paid in this scenario then it must be paid to the spouse or something.

 

[thistle]

Justice (at least justice that requires restitution) is between equal persons. But God is not equal to us so I don’t think that restitution can be paid to God. If it must be paid in this scenario then it must be paid to the spouse or something.

Are you really implying, for example, that if a man commits adultery (physically or in his mind and heart), regrets it and goes to Confession, receives absolution and never betrays his wife again he should still tell her what he had done?? I hope that is not what you mean because that would be total nonsense.

 

[fakename]

Are you really implying, for example, that if a man commits adultery (physically or in his mind and heart), regrets it and goes to Confession, receives absolution and never betrays his wife again he should still tell her what he had done?? I hope that is not what you mean because that would be total nonsense.

I’m only implying in the sense that one must enunciate his problem in order to ask it in a question. And yes that’s my question.

If it is nonsense then is it nonsense for the reason that you didn’t harm a different individual so that no restitution is required? Or are there other reasons?

 

[thistle]

I’m only implying in the sense that one must enunciate his problem in order to ask it in a question. And yes that’s my question.

If it is nonsense then is it nonsense for the reason that you didn’t harm a different individual so that no restitution is required? Or are there other reasons?

There is no restitution required in such scenarios. You go to Confession and sincerely confess and that’s the end of it. It not like stealing money and then paying it back.

 

[fakename]

There is no restitution required in such scenarios. You go to Confession and sincerely confess and that’s the end of it. It not like stealing money and then paying it back.

Oddly enough, I asked a priest today and he said that there is restitution but this restitution is paid to God. Therefore restitution deals with distributive justice too.
But perhaps there is some other sense in which restitution can be taken.

 

[sw85]

It’s a sin against God but not a sin that has to do with justice in the strict sense I think (because justice is about equals).

But either right or wrong (re: justice) do you mean to say that there is indeed restitution required?

Justice about rendering to everyone what they are due.

God is due total obedience and submission, therefore sin is always an injustice to Him, requiring penance.

Thankfully, through Christ, the bar for penance has been set fairly low.

 

[thistle]

Oddly enough, I asked a priest today and he said that there is restitution but this restitution is paid to God. Therefore restitution deals with distributive justice too.
But perhaps there is some other sense in which restitution can be taken.

In the examples you gave restitution (if you want to call it that) is made through a sincere Confession, absolution, and penance given being performed. Nothing else is required to be done.
Can you imagine the potential problems you could create by going to a man and telling you had lusted after his wife (in your mind/heart). Potentially, at the extreme end, you could break up someone’s marriage.

 

[fakename]

In the examples you gave restitution (if you want to call it that) is made through a sincere Confession, absolution, and penance given being performed. Nothing else is required to be done.
Can you imagine the potential problems you could create by going to a man and telling you had lusted after his wife (in your mind/heart). Potentially, at the extreme end, you could break up someone’s marriage.

True, but I’d just like to say, that just because doing x causes y bad effects, doesn’t mean that x is wrong.

So painful restitution is not necessarily wrong and if a marriage breaks up, that’s only beside the intention of the confessor.

 

[thistle]

True, but I’d just like to say, that just because doing x causes y bad effects, doesn’t mean that x is wrong.

So painful restitution is not necessarily wrong and if a marriage breaks up, that’s only beside the intention of the confessor.

In the examples you are talking about it most certainly does mean X is wrong.
Restitution as you call it is NOT required. You are making a mountain out of a molehill (as usual).
You confess, get absolution, and do the penance. END OF STORY.