Unsure if something is a mortal sin

[ResoluteSheep]

If a person doesn’t want to commit sin at all but an occasion arises whereby the person is unsure whether he is committing a mortal sin, yet if the person knew for sure that it wasn’t a sin, he wouldn’t do it. How should someone react to such cases? Would it be mortal sin if a person is unsure of whether something is mortal sin yet proceeds to do so anyway?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

If a person doesn’t want to commit sin at all but an occasion arises whereby the person is unsure whether he is committing a mortal sin, yet if the person knew for sure that it wasn’t a sin, he wouldn’t do it. How should someone react to such cases? Would it be mortal sin if a person is unsure of whether something is mortal sin yet proceeds to do so anyway?

What!?

 

[kptrs]

I don’t know what the official Church teaching is about it, but if you’re unsure, I would err on the side of caution and refrain from committing the act that might be a mortal sin. Then educate yourself about whether the act is truly a mortal sin or not by consulting a wise and trustworthy priest, the Catechism, etc.

If you have already committed the act and it’s weighing on your conscience, go to Confession and confess it to a priest. The priest you confess to will then tell you whether it’s a mortal sin or not.

 

[MaryT777]

I don’t know what the official Church teaching is about it, but if you’re unsure, I would err on the side of caution and refrain from committing the act that might be a mortal sin. Then educate yourself about whether the act is truly a mortal sin or not by consulting a wise and trustworthy priest, the Catechism, etc.

If you have already committed the act and it’s weighing on your conscience, go to Confession and confess it to a priest. The priest you confess to will then tell you whether it’s a mortal sin or not.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. Well said.

 

[CrystalMayner66]

Would it be mortal sin if a person is unsure of whether something is mortal sin yet proceeds to do so anyway?

I am not sure, but I personally assume so in my own life. Of all the things I am willing to risk, going to Hell is not one such thing. I’d rather play it safe. Very safe.

The CCC has this to say: catholicity.com/catechism/mortal_and_venial.html

 

[ShrodingersCat]

The OP is scrupulous. They need a priest’s help. OP, the rules that apply to people with normal consciences do not apply to scrupulous people. Go to a priest. And maybe subscribe to the Scrupulous Anonymous magazine.

 

[GEddie]

If a person doesn’t want to commit sin at all but an occasion arises whereby the person is unsure whether he is committing a mortal sin, yet if the person knew for sure that it wasn’t a sin, he wouldn’t do it. How should someone react to such cases? Would it be mortal sin if a person is unsure of whether something is mortal sin yet proceeds to do so anyway?

I don’t understand.

Normally, one is not in mortal sin, if one was not aware that the action in question was a mortal sin.

But are you saying that you **wouldn’t **commit the action in question if you knew it wasn’t a sin?

ICXC NIKA

 

[Monte_RCMS]

Look up “Scrupulous Anonymous” both here on CAF and on Google.

 

[ResoluteSheep]

I don’t understand.

Normally, one is not in mortal sin, if one was not aware that the action in question was a mortal sin.

But are you saying that you **wouldn’t **commit the action in question if you knew it wasn’t a sin?

ICXC NIKA

Sorry about the phrasing of the question. Yes, what I mean is - if one is unsure whether a particular action is mortal sin or not, yet proceeds to commit it anyway: would this be a mortal sin? But this person would not commit it if he/she was certain it was a sin

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Sorry about the phrasing of the question. Yes, what I mean is - if one is unsure whether a particular action is mortal sin or not, yet proceeds to commit it anyway: would this be a mortal sin? But this person would not commit it if he/she was certain it was a sin

OK, so now the person
a) is not only unsure if the sin is mortal, but also
b) is unsure if this act is a sin at all.

I think there is a scrupulosity problem here.
Most people have a pretty good idea what constitutes serious sin. If some act is to the point of maybe being mortal sin, there’s not going to be any waffling about is it even a sin or not. There might be confusion about whether a sin is mortal or venial, but not confusion about whether the same act is or is not a sin at all.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

If a person doesn’t want to commit sin at all but an occasion arises whereby the person is unsure whether he is committing a mortal sin, yet if the person knew for sure that it wasn’t a sin, he wouldn’t do it. How should someone react to such cases? Would it be mortal sin if a person is unsure of whether something is mortal sin yet proceeds to do so anyway?

A mortal sin MUST meet all 3 of these requirements-

1. the action must be grave matter
2. you MUST know that it is grave matter
3. you willingly do it anyway

Please follow the advice of the other posters and seek help from a priest.

 

[DanielStDominic]

If a normal, well-formed conscience believes that something might be a mortal sin, but chooses to commit that act anyway, then they are acting on a doubtful conscience, and doing so is always objectively wrong.

We have an obligation to first find out, before committing an act, whether doubts we have about its moral nature are ill-founded.

This moral principle is illustrated by the hunting in the woods example. If I as a hunter see something that could be an animal, but might well be a man, then my moral duty is to first find out what I’m looking at before shooting at it. Doing the contrary is both morally and legally deficient.

On the other hand, intention is important. Generally speaking, someone who is unwilling to offend God is in a different situation from the person who really doesn’t care very much whether they are offending Him or not.

So the rule of thumb is to find out, before acting, whether doubts you have about that act are true or false.

And then there’s problems arising what kind of conscience we’re talking about here. A normal conscience is not a scrupulous conscience is not a lax conscience, and all three categories require different approaches.

 

[DanielStDominic]

A mortal sin MUST meet all 3 of these requirements-

1. the action must be grave matter
2. you MUST know that it is grave matter
3. you willingly do it anyway

Please follow the advice of the other posters and seek help from a priest.

Honestly, this is not really relevant to acting on a doubtful conscience before the fact. I can’t apply these criteria in making a decision on how to act. I’m not excused from having to abstain from certain acts just because I don’t KNOW whether they’re mortally sinful or not. If I suspect they could be, I’m not free to simply commit them. If I don’t know something at the moment, I have to find out.

On the other hand, this applies to analyzing behavior AFTER the fact.

 

[SwizzleStick]

A mortal sin MUST meet all 3 of these requirements-

1. the action must be grave matter
2. you MUST know that it is grave matter
3. you willingly do it anyway

Please follow the advice of the other posters and seek help from a priest.

This is sound advice.

 

[1ke]

If a person doesn’t want to commit sin at all but an occasion arises whereby the person is unsure whether he is committing a mortal sin, yet if the person knew for sure that it wasn’t a sin, he wouldn’t do it. How should someone react to such cases? Would it be mortal sin if a person is unsure of whether something is mortal sin yet proceeds to do so anyway?

This sort of thinking is an indicator of scruples and needs spiritual direction not internet hypotheticals.

 

[PraiseChrist]

If a person doesn’t want to commit sin at all but an occasion arises whereby the person is unsure whether he is committing a mortal sin, yet if the person knew for sure that it wasn’t a sin, he wouldn’t do it. How should someone react to such cases? Would it be mortal sin if a person is unsure of whether something is mortal sin yet proceeds to do so anyway?

You state that if this person knew this particular thing was a sin, then they wouldn’t do it. And that this person doesn’t want to sin at all. Assuming that you are this person, who has scruples, then the teaching of St. Alphonsus would apply. “When there exists in a scrupulous person the habitual will to not offend God, it is certain that he or she acts in doubt and there is no sin…” Therefore, for a scrupulous person who knows the basic teachings of the Church regarding morality, you are free to do this. However, clarify the doubt with one single spiritual director when you get a chance.

Moreover, you cannot expect to be mentally stable while using this forum as a means to resolve moral theology questions. It would perhaps be a good thing if the Moderators on this forum make it clear that scrupulous people should stop posting on the moral theology section (for the sake of their peace of mind). For yourself, the single way find the answers to your questions is to find only one priest you trust the most (as well as meet with you regularly) and blindly obey him over your own conscience or feelings, regarding spiritual practices. Place that at the forefront of your spiritual endeavors.

 

[BornInMarch]

If a person doesn’t want to commit sin at all but an occasion arises whereby the person is unsure whether he is committing a mortal sin, yet if the person knew for sure that it wasn’t a sin, he wouldn’t do it. How should someone react to such cases? Would it be mortal sin if a person is unsure of whether something is mortal sin yet proceeds to do so anyway?

I wouldn’t ask these questions on this forum.

On this forum a lot of people are of the opinion that everything is a mortal sin and that everybody but them personally is going to Hell.

 

[Joe_Sixpack]

First, we’re all obligated to have a well formed conscience. From time to time, however, we run into situations where we find ourselves with a doubtful conscience (the inability to decide for or against the morality of an act). Prior to committing the act, we must resolve the doubt, or avoid acting until the doubt is resolved (objectively solved with moral truth; not subjectively solved with mere opinion). If we can’t resolve the doubt we cannot act at all–it would be a mortal sin to do so. It’s a mortal sin to act upon a doubtful conscience, even if we learn later we did the right thing, because we acted without moral certitude.

There are three elements that must be present for a sin to be mortal: serious matter (the thought, desire, word, action, or omission must be seriously wrong or thought to be seriously wrong); sufficient reflection (the person knows it is seriously wrong); full consent of a free will to doing what the person knows is seriously wrong. All three conditions must be present for a sin to be mortal.