Sin to deny mortal sin?

  • Thread starter Thread starter KyleMaximilian
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
K

KyleMaximilian

Guest
Hello, this is my first post so bear with me.

The title implies denying a mortal sin to a priest, but that’s not my question. As example, unfortunately I have in the past engaged in the mortal sin of masturbation and pornography. I have gone to confession and sought forgiveness for the sin. MY question is do you have an obligation to admit you sin to others after you have been absolved? In other words, when asked “have you masterbated?” by a teacher, peer, or parent, do I have to admit to my past failings? And if I don’t admit my faults to a person, am I committing another mortal sin? (Now, in no way shape or form would I imply that I am perfect without sin)

I am inclined to believe that I dont have to admit it, but I cant lie and say I am perfect. I am inclined to think this because a “grave reason” to receive Holy Eucharist without recieving absolution includes “serious embarrassment if Communion is not taken.”(New Commentary on the Code of Cannon Law). Would this also apply to lying to others of absolved mortal sins or does the 8th commandment kick in?

In anticipation, thanks for your responsed!
 
You don’t have to tell anyone but a priest your sins. If someone asks about your sins you can tell them it’s none of their business. If someone asks why you didn’t receive communion you can just say you were not in a state to worthily receive.
 
KyleMaximilian said:
Hello, this is my first post so bear with me.

The title implies denying a mortal sin to a priest, but that’s not my question. As example, unfortunately I have in the past engaged in the mortal sin of masturbation and pornography. I have gone to confession and sought forgiveness for the sin. MY question is do you have an obligation to admit you sin to others after you have been absolved? In other words, when asked “have you masterbated?” by a teacher, peer, or parent, do I have to admit to my past failings? And if I don’t admit my faults to a person, am I committing another mortal sin? (Now, in no way shape or form would I imply that I am perfect without sin)

I am inclined to believe that I dont have to admit it, but I cant lie and say I am perfect. I am inclined to think this because a “grave reason” to receive Holy Eucharist without recieving absolution includes “serious embarrassment if Communion is not taken.”(New Commentary on the Code of Cannon Law). Would this also apply to lying to others of absolved mortal sins or does the 8th commandment kick in?

In anticipation, thanks for your responsed!
Click to expand...
Revealing your sins with others sometimes occurs when making restitution. With lying and stealing the gravity depends upon the degree of harm done. It is not cut and dried, so to speak. Even venial sin undermines us however. I think one normally would not reveal the sins you mentioned unless there was a specific important reason for it.

From what you posted you already know that one must not receive Holy Eucharist without having at the very least contrition and making a private confession, even when the following applies, but for others that read this thread I post this:Grave reasons for going to communion without confessing include danger of death and serious embarrassment if Communion is not taken. Lack of opportunity to confess includes absence of a confessor, inability to approach the confessor at a scheduled time for the sacrament, and the availability only of a confessor who is known personally and who cannot be approached without embarrassment. (1111)
catholic.com/quickquestions/when-considering-whether-to-receive-communion-what-constitutes-a-grave-reason-and-opp
 
You do not have to admit any specific sin to anyone but God and your confessor.
If someone were to ask you about a specific sin and you do not wish to share that with them, simply say so. As already mentioned above, it is none of their business.

I can’t think of a circumstance where a teacher or a parent would ask if you have masturbated…peers - yes I can see them asking…

Best to just say, generally, that you have sinned in the past, but that is behind you and you are trying to avoid sin now and in the future.

Peace
James
 
KyleMaximilian said:
Hello, this is my first post so bear with me.

The title implies denying a mortal sin to a priest, but that’s not my question. As example, unfortunately I have in the past engaged in the mortal sin of masturbation and pornography. I have gone to confession and sought forgiveness for the sin. MY question is do you have an obligation to admit you sin to others after you have been absolved? In other words, when asked “have you masterbated?” by a teacher, peer, or parent, do I have to admit to my past failings? And if I don’t admit my faults to a person, am I committing another mortal sin? (Now, in no way shape or form would I imply that I am perfect without sin)

I am inclined to believe that I dont have to admit it, but I cant lie and say I am perfect. I am inclined to think this because a “grave reason” to receive Holy Eucharist without recieving absolution includes “serious embarrassment if Communion is not taken.”(New Commentary on the Code of Cannon Law). Would this also apply to lying to others of absolved mortal sins or does the 8th commandment kick in?

In anticipation, thanks for your responsed!
Click to expand...
No, you are to admit your sins to the priest.

I cannot imagine anyone asking a question, and you are not expected to answer. It’s personal.
 
Why on earth would anyone ask such an intrusive question?

Receiving communion or not receiving communion on any specific occasion is a matter between you and God, in conformance with His commandments and the teachings of the Church.

I could think of many uncharitable rejoinders to such a question, but will not share those. I think the best response to such a nosy question is to say, " I beg your pardon?" accompanied by the best look of shock you can muster.

You need only give people information if they have a legitimate right to it. I can’t imagine anyone other than a confessor, or perhaps a medical doctor, needing access to an answer to that sort of question.
 
Agree with everyone else here, that, in general, there is no obligation whatsover to tell your sins to anyone other than a priest. Of course, there are some exception, according to our circumstances and responsibilities, eg. if I break my parents vase then I should tell them.

But, isn’t this obvious? You seem to know that much yourself already. I’m just wondering whether there is something more complicated happening here, such as (I am guessing) a teacher or parent asking inappropriate questions. If so, then it could be part of a larger and more confusing issue. An intrusive parent? Being “groomed” by a teacher?
 
Don’t lie (absolution does not uncommit the sin in a historical sense, as in giving us the right to say we’ve never done the thing) but you can decline answer, as others have said. Peers have no business asking, nor do teachers. Parents are a bit more complicated.

I would not experiment with receiving the Holy Communion out of fear of embarrassment. And, people have no right to know why you didn’t receive (what particular sin or other reason).
 
KyleMaximilian said:
Hello, this is my first post so bear with me.

The title implies denying a mortal sin to a priest, but that’s not my question. As example, unfortunately I have in the past engaged in the mortal sin of masturbation and pornography. I have gone to confession and sought forgiveness for the sin. MY question is do you have an obligation to admit you sin to others after you have been absolved? In other words, when asked “have you masterbated?” by a teacher, peer, or parent, do I have to admit to my past failings? And if I don’t admit my faults to a person, am I committing another mortal sin? (Now, in no way shape or form would I imply that I am perfect without sin)

I am inclined to believe that I dont have to admit it, but I cant lie and say I am perfect. I am inclined to think this because a “grave reason” to receive Holy Eucharist without recieving absolution includes “serious embarrassment if Communion is not taken.”(New Commentary on the Code of Cannon Law). Would this also apply to lying to others of absolved mortal sins or does the 8th commandment kick in?

In anticipation, thanks for your responsed!
Click to expand...
why would they ask you such a personal question? That is strange.
 
KyleMaximilian said:
. I have gone to confession and sought forgiveness for the sin. MY question is do you have an obligation to admit you sin to others after you have been absolved? In !
Click to expand...
you have no obligation to admit any sin to any person except the priest in confession, at any time, ever. Why would you think so? Unless you have committed a crime and you need to turn yourself in to the authorities it is nobody’s business. No one not even a parent has the right to ask such a question.
 
Only to a priest need you confess your sins. I would be kind of appalled and curious as to why he/she would want to know that. What do they benefit from that knowledge? I would say, “That’s a personal matter between God, my confessor, and me. I’m sorry, but it’s none of your business.” That’s really all you need to say for people to back off.
 
mamaslo said:
why would they ask you such a personal question? That is strange.
Click to expand...
It wouldn’t surprise me. I’ve been asked after Mass once if I was a virgin simply because I was young and wearing a black veil. The lady “needed to check first” before she assumed I should be wearing a white veil. :rolleyes:

Actually, now that I think about it, there was this one time in high school one of my friends who was super Catholic said she’d never marry a guy who has masturbated before. One of my other friends said, “Good luck finding a guy who has never masturbated before, every guy has.” My other friend insisted that there were men who hadn’t, so my friend asked our other friend who is super Catholic if he ever masturbated, to which he replied frankly, “yes”. 🤷 If I remember correctly, I was stuck in shock and utter horror this conversation was even taking place.

Having recently made a general confession, I was told that if a previous sin it brought back up, I’m obligated to say something along the lines of it being stupid so others don’t think it’s okay to do.

In terms of someone asking you if you’ve committed a particular sin, you’re not required to reveal your sin to someone. It could in fact be a source of scandal to some.
 
Deo_Gratias42 said:
It wouldn’t surprise me. I’ve been asked after Mass once if I was a virgin simply because I was young and wearing a black veil. The lady “needed to check first” before she assumed I should be wearing a white veil.

.
Click to expand...
excuse me? the person who asked that is mentally unbalanced and should have been reported to the pastor if she was attempting to function in some official capacity.

Repeat there is no sin in withholding your sins from anyone except the priest in confession. There is grave sin in asking such questions or a lay person in effect demanding that you confess to them. They are in fact impersonating a priest which makes it even worse.
JRKH said:
Best to just say, generally, that you have sinned in the past, but that is behind you and you are trying to avoid sin now and in the future.

Peace
James
Click to expand...
best to say nothing at all don’t encourage rudeness and scandal.
 
puzzleannie said:
you have no obligation to admit any sin to any person except the priest in confession, at any time, ever. Why would you think so? Unless you have committed a crime and you need to turn yourself in to the authorities it is nobody’s business. No one not even a parent has the right to ask such a question.
Click to expand...
If by this you mean to say that you believe that parents have no right to ask their children (especially younger ones) about their behavior, including potentially sinful behavior, I disagree most strongly. Indeed, my opinion is that parents not only have the right to ask such, they have the obligation in many circumstances. Acting in a way that is a sin does not somehow immunize a child from full correct and complete answers to parents about the child’s behavior.

If you mean simply that even parents don’t have the right to ask “what sins did you confess?” I would agree.
 
Well, parents may or may not have the right to inquire, but teachers don’t have that right at all. (Unless maybe they’re asking why you’ve been in the bathroom forever, and are floating questions about drugs, cigarettes, and other potential misdeeds.)

In fact, there are a lot of sexual predator teachers, coaches, etc. who’ve been known to ask nosy questions like that, pretending to be concerned, but really trying to break down a kid’s inhibitions and get personal information on him. So it’s not really good policy to answer such questions.
 
Mintaka said:
Well, parents may or may not have the right to inquire, but teachers don’t have that right at all. (Unless maybe they’re asking why you’ve been in the bathroom forever, and are floating questions about drugs, cigarettes, and other potential misdeeds.)

In fact, there are a lot of sexual predator teachers, coaches, etc. who’ve been known to ask nosy questions like that, pretending to be concerned, but really trying to break down a kid’s inhibitions and get personal information on him. So it’s not really good policy to answer such questions.
Click to expand...
Seriously (on the parents point) may or may not?

Do many/most on hear believe parents don’t have at least the right (if not the obligation) to question their (I’m talking about minor) children about potential misdeeds such as use of porn and masturbation?
 
CuriousInIL said:
If by this you mean to say that you believe that parents have no right to ask their children (especially younger ones) about their behavior, including potentially sinful behavior, I .
Click to expand...
quite frankly you are wrong. you do not have the right as parent do demand they confess sins to you. Yes you have the right to stop behavior that is threatening harm to them or others but you cannot directly demand they tell you their sins. It is a grave abuse to do so. It is my duty to convey this information to parents. Your job is to teach them right from wrong, but that ends with grilling them on what they have or have not done.
 
puzzleannie said:
quite frankly you are wrong. you do not have the right as parent do demand they confess sins to you. Yes you have the right to stop behavior that is threatening harm to them or others but you cannot directly demand they tell you their sins. It is a grave abuse to do so. It is my duty to convey this information to parents. Your job is to teach them right from wrong, but that ends with grilling them on what they have or have not done.
Click to expand...
I’m trying to understand, not argue, so please take it with that “tone” in mind.
Are you saying (and is there church teaching to back your point) that if my child shows up at home with a game that I haven’t seen before and I suspect that he may have stolen it, that it is a “grave abuse” to ask “where did you get that? Did you take it from Timmy?”
And if I can’t ask, how do I know if it’s right or wrong and how do I stop wrong behavior?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top