Sinning without Thinking

[BrockH]

I have a question on culpability…
If someone before knew something was a big sin, yet committed it without even thinking (not thinking - ok, I know this is wrong; I know it’s serious; I will do it anyway), but was thinking later on, “oh wow, that wasn’t right.”

How guilty would this person be?

 

[Della]

They would be culpable for that mortal sin. However, realizing they gravely sinned would be a good sign that they were contrite. Such a person should go to confession ASAP, though.

 

[BrockH]

They would be culpable for that mortal sin. However, realizing they gravely sinned would be a good sign that they were contrite. Such a person should go to confession ASAP, though.

Even if they forgot about it being a serious sin?

 

[Della]

Even if they forgot about it being a serious sin?

I don’t see how anyone who knows that it was a mortal sin could forget. Rather, it seems to me that the person didn’t want to face the fact–that is if it was deliberate, as you seemed to indicate in your example. It’s best for such a person to talk to his priest about it, in any case.

 

[SHoJjhmou]

I have a question on culpability…
If someone before knew something was a big sin, yet committed it without even thinking (not thinking - ok, I know this is wrong; I know it’s serious; I will do it anyway), but was thinking later on, “oh wow, that wasn’t right.”

How guilty would this person be?

I think that you have to look at the surrounding circumstances.

Let’s take impure thoughts. They are a big sin, and pretty much everybody knows they are.

But there are times during the day where we start entertaining them without even thinking. When we realize we are doing this we stop, and are guilty of committing a sin of grave matter, without full knowledge…aka venial sin.

Full knowledge for mortal sin is basically asking, “At the time, did you know you were doing something grave matter?”

Of course, there are some times when we SHOULD know that we are doing something of grave matter, but are responsible for not knowing. For example, someone who doesn’t think contraceptives are sinful purposefully tries not to read an encyclical about contraceptives, knowing that the Pope will most likely condemn their idea as sinful.

They technically don’t “know” it’s sinful, but still are culpable. (and also they are heretical, but that’s a whole different subject matter, involving excommunication)

Or another example: a worker who should have read the manual for how to repair a faucet chooses not to, out of laziness. He absolutely wrecks the faucet, out of his own fault. He would be more culpable than a worker who makes an honest mistake; the former would be guilty of mortal sin, the latter, venial, or even no, sin.

So it’s not clear-cut black and white.

 

[TyburnTreeHuggr]

I have a question on culpability…
If someone before knew something was a big sin, yet committed it without even thinking (not thinking - ok, I know this is wrong; I know it’s serious; I will do it anyway), but was thinking later on, “oh wow, that wasn’t right.”

How guilty would this person be?

Could you give an example into your thinking?

Is it like this?

A guy walks into a party and is distractedly examining a glass doodad he takes down from a bookshelf. He later starts talking to pretty lady and accidentally puts the glass doodad in his pocket, so as to not nervously fumble around with it. He goes home after the party ends. Being a forgetful guy, he can’t remember where the house was and cannot return the doodad when he finds it in the dryer a week later (how it survived the wash cycle, I don’t know). He feels really guilty about it and puts up some lost doodad flyers around his neighborhood; but he’s not hopeful, the doodad wasn’t wearing a collar.

Did he steal it- yes.
Is he morally culpable- not likely, I mean, he’d return it if he could.
Is it a mortal sin- no way, Jose!

 

[Jeannie52]

I don’t see how anyone who knows that it was a mortal sin could forget. Rather, it seems to me that the person didn’t want to face the fact–that is if it was deliberate, as you seemed to indicate in your example. It’s best for such a person to talk to his priest about it, in any case.

My thoughts exactly. A person knows something is a mortal sin and committs it ANYWAY is a huge no no. :tsktsk::tsktsk:

If you ask me, the person is either looking for a way out of feeling guilty after he commits a mortal sin or the person is looking for a way out of not having to stand accountable and answer to God for committing a mortal sin.

God gave us the 10 Commandments for a reason.

 

[Kurisu35712]

I have a question on culpability…
If someone before knew something was a big sin, yet committed it without even thinking (not thinking - ok, I know this is wrong; I know it’s serious; I will do it anyway), but was thinking later on, “oh wow, that wasn’t right.”

How guilty would this person be?

They would need to have three things for it to be a mortal sin. 1) The sin is objectively a grave matter 2) They are aware that it is a grave matter 3) They fully consented to committing a sin.

The person is culpable for a venial sin regardless. They committed a sin that was grave. The question is whether they had full consent of will at the time. If there is a specific circumstance/action they later came to understand falls under the category of grave sin but didn’t know that beforehand, I would think it’s serious but venial, and needs to be confessed. I don’t think one can be distracted into committing a mortal sin or commit one by accident. Serious sin, sure, mortal sin no. The reason a mortal sin is mortal is because it turns the soul away from God consciously. The intention wasn’t to sin, the realization came afterwards. Regardless, this isn’t to be seen as an excuse, as the sin is still serious and needs to be confessed as soon as realistically possible, but I doubt a person who accidentally commits what would otherwise be a mortal sin.

I will say, I can’t imagine a scenario in which you could accidentally commit a mortal sin wherein it’s still considered a sin…

 

[TK421]

A spontaneous action would reduce culpability. Though, unless you’re scrupulous, I can’t see any value in not going to Jesus in Confession and telling him this sin and receiving absolution, rather than burden yourself with such considerations. You receive unquestionable peace of mind & joy in your soul if you partake in the sacrament with the intention of not committing the sin again. You shouldn’t be committing grave wrong spontaneously or otherwise.

Reconciliation should never be looked at as a dentist appointment (bad example if you’re me and you enjoy going to the dentist ) It is an elixir of life, poured out to you by a Prince of Infinite Mercy.

 

[SHoJjhmou]

They would need to have three things for it to be a mortal sin. 1) The sin is objectively a grave matter 2) They are aware that it is a grave matter 3) They fully consented to committing a sin.

The person is culpable for a venial sin regardless. They committed a sin that was grave. The question is whether they had full consent of will at the time. If there is a specific circumstance/action they later came to understand falls under the category of grave sin but didn’t know that beforehand, I would think it’s serious but venial, and needs to be confessed. I don’t think one can be distracted into committing a mortal sin or commit one by accident. Serious sin, sure, mortal sin no. The reason a mortal sin is mortal is because it turns the soul away from God consciously. The intention wasn’t to sin, the realization came afterwards. Regardless, this isn’t to be seen as an excuse, as the sin is still serious and needs to be confessed as soon as realistically possible, but I doubt a person who accidentally commits what would otherwise be a mortal sin.

I will say, I can’t imagine a scenario in which you could accidentally commit a mortal sin wherein it’s still considered a sin…

It doesn’t NEED to be confessed, but it’s still a good idea to. But if you confess it, I think you have to state that it was not a mortal sin.

 

[Kurisu35712]

A spontaneous action would reduce culpability. Though, unless you’re scrupulous, I can’t see any value in not going to Jesus in Confession and telling him this sin and receiving absolution, rather than burden yourself with such considerations. You receive unquestionable peace of mind & joy in your soul if you partake in the sacrament with the intention of not committing the sin again. You shouldn’t be committing grave wrong spontaneously or otherwise.

Reconciliation should never be looked at as a dentist appointment (bad example if you’re me and you enjoy going to the dentist ) It is an elixir of life, poured out to you by a Prince of Infinite Mercy.

Yes this. It can be kind of anxiety-inducing waiting to go into the confessional, and I think most people experience this. We don’t like knowing that we sinned, and certainly don’t like saying it out loud, but confession is anything but a chore. It is God’s gift to us. We don’t need to bring pigeons or sheep to be sacrificed, we just need to bring ourselves and a desire for repentance and reunion with God.

 

[TK421]

It doesn’t NEED to be confessed, but it’s still a good idea to. But if you confess it, I think you have to state that it was not a mortal sin.

There is no need to state between venial and mortal sin. I would imagine that would even be discouraged, since we would be placing ourselves as judge on these matters, rather than God.

 

[SHoJjhmou]

There is no need to state between venial and mortal sin. I would imagine that would even be discouraged, since we would be placing ourselves as judge on these matters, rather than God.

Actually, it makes all the difference whether we are doubtful or not as to whether the sin was mortal or not.

Doubtful mortal sins do not HAVE to be confessed…it is not a sin to withhold them.

However, the general rule of thumb is TO confess them if you are not scrupulous, as there is a chance it could be mortal, and you don’t want to take any chances.
If you are scrupulous, then you should not confess them…or you can choose to confess.

We ABSOLUTELY MUST confess sins we know of as being mortal. We don’t have to confess venial sins.

Sins of grave matter committed without full knowledge or full consent are venial sins.

We don’t HAVE to confess venial sins. But it is highly recommended. Granted, we should to be sorry for all sins, but we NEED to be sorry for all our mortal sins.

If only confessing venial sins, we must be sorry for at least one of them.

 

[TK421]

Right, but you don’t explicitly categorize your sins and tell the priest whether X sin was mortal or venial. You just confess your sins. God is the infallible judge on what is mortal and what is venial.

If you feel you’ve committed mortal sin, and have a well-formed conscience (either scrupulous or presumptuous persons do not have a well-formed conscience), I can’t fathom not confessing the sin, since in mortal sin you can’t receive Eucharist without absolution. A practicing Catholic that prays regularly shouldn’t be falling into mortal sin, so if for some reason it does happen, it’s a bad idea to start being academic and questioning whether what you did was mortal or not. Just confess it. Confession strengthens the sinner. You lose nothing if what you did was venial.

 

[SHoJjhmou]

Right, but you don’t explicitly categorize your sins and tell the priest whether X sin was mortal or venial. You just confess your sins. God is the infallible judge on what is mortal and what is venial.

If you feel you’ve committed mortal sin, and have a well-formed conscience (either scrupulous or presumptuous persons do not have a well-formed conscience), I can’t fathom not confessing the sin, since in mortal sin you can’t receive Eucharist without absolution. A practicing Catholic that prays regularly shouldn’t be falling into mortal sin, so if for some reason it does happen, it’s a bad idea to start being academic and questioning whether what you did was mortal or not. Just confess it. Confession strengthens the sinner. You lose nothing if what you did was venial.

On a side note, however, scrupulous people should only confess sins that are certain.

Sorry for keeping on insisting about scrupulous people, but I was/am scrupulous, and just wanted others to know.

But yes, you’re right, don’t be over analyzing it, even if you are scrupulous. You would be pretty certain if you’ve committed a mortal sin anyway.