Three kinds of sin?

[Brooklyn]

I posted on this forum earlier this week that a priest at a Mass on Sunday made the statement that he has committed silly sins and serious sins, but never commited a mortal sin, and he doubted if any of us had, either. I was flabbergasted at this statement and emailed him about it. He wrote back to me (snail mail), and said that he was attempting to explain the difference between serious sin and mortal sin. He said when he was growing up (he is 62), he was not taught the difference. His opinion is that “while many in Church, myself included, regretfully commit serious sin, few of us deliberately commit mortal (i.e. deadly) sin.” That was his full explanation. He said he would discuss this more if I would like.

Has anyone ever heard of this? I was taught that there are 2 kinds of sin - venial and mortal. Also, I didn’t think it was the priest’s role to give us his opinion but to preach the Word of God. Is there anything in Church teaching to support this view of three different kinds of sin?

Mary

 

[Gene_Church]

Pray for him. He needs it.

 

[Brenda_V]

Pray for him. He needs it.

I agree.

I have never heard of “three kinds of sin”. I am 49 and granted I am younger than he is but I am not one of those who has stopped learning about my faith as an adult.

The only thing I can think of is he is inexpertly communicating some of what was said in your previous thread on the subject. He is maybe saying that there are the three requirements for a serious sin to be mortal? Remember:

1. It must be serious in nature.
2. You must have sufficient knowledge of its serious nature (this is what he seems to be saying is missing).
3. You must choose to do it willfully.

Like others on the other thread I disagree with him on this. There are plenty of times when we do something we know is serious in nature and do it any way (or don’t do it). I do believe that there are plenty of people though (more rather than less even) who fall into that category, just not “everyone”.

Brenda V.

 

[CarrieH]

Has anyone ever heard of this? I was taught that there are 2 kinds of sin - venial and mortal. Also, I didn’t think it was the priest’s role to give us his opinion but to preach the Word of God. Is there anything in Church teaching to support this view of three different kinds of sin?

If you look in the CCC 1854-1864, you will see that you were taught corrrectly about venial vs. mortal sin.
Here’s a link to that section online:
usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect1chpt1art8.htm

He probably means well, but his teaching is questionable at best. The devil likes nothing better than to confuse us as to whether we are really sinning, and this priest is adding to the confusion. Pray for him.

 

[ozm8]

What is sin?—the denial oF God?
We do it everyday–little sins?—Little betrayals because within our hearts we know that Christ understands and still loves us?
To be finite/imperfect within the infinite wonder of a godfilled place?
Sin is just a little game, often easily forgiven, come to God!!
cheers stu
Seek the soldiers of Christ.

 

[Light_Seeker]

He said he would discuss this more if I would like.

You may wish to accept his gracious offer for more discussion.

Your understanding, as others have posted, is correct. His is wrong.

I would want my confessor to be absolutely clear on the 2 types of sin, and to know the difference between venial and mortal!

 

[ozm8]

Venial and mortal?
A cruelty and a killing?
To act in such a way as to make the devil play or kill the hope in another? To be cruel? I am not Catholic yet but the words say the killing. yes?
What I want to know, can Christ save us from the eloquence of the Devil? Can the spirituality of man save us from the cleverness/random /not so random cruelty of man? The beast within us? Cheers Stu

 

[Light_Seeker]

Venial and mortal?
A cruelty and a killing?
To act in such a way as to make the devil play or kill the hope in another? To be cruel? I am not Catholic yet but the words say the killing. yes?

Stu,
First of all, a very warm welcome to the forums!

It appears you may not understand Catholicism’s teaching on sin. In a very brief nutshell, disobeying the 10 Commandments is a sin. To be a mortal sin, it must meet the 3 requirements as BrendaV has posted above.

A venial sin is a less serious matter, usually of a moral disorder, or perhaps a mortal sin where one of the 3 requirements were not met - for instance, you did not choose to do it willfully.

There are many fine articles posted on both this site and others delineating mortal vs venial, you may wish to search & explore.

What I want to know, can Christ save us from the eloquence of the Devil? Can the spirituality of man save us from the cleverness/random /not so random cruelty of man? The beast within us? Cheers Stu

God has given us a free will to choose. Evil will always try to tempt us and lead us away from God’s love.

 

[BobP123]

There is also original sin, which is “forgiven” through baptism.

Venial and mortal sins are actual sins, normally forgiven by confession or a perfect act of contrition.