Violating your conscience sinful if you think it is?

[wworld]

I read this quote on this page: catholic.com/thisrock/quickquestions/keyword/judging/page2

Q:“ If you think that something is a mortal sin (even though it is only venial), and you go ahead and commit the sin, understanding that when you commit a mortal sin you would be cutting yourself off from sanctifying grace and greatly offending God, are you committing a mortal sin?
”A: In this case, the venial sin becomes mortal because a person ignores his conscience and commits a sin that violates his conscience in a grave way.

Under the heading “Erroneous Judgment,” the Catechism states, “A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience. If he were deliberately to act against it, he would condemn himself. Yet it can happen that moral conscience remains in ignorance and makes erroneous judgments about acts to be performed or already committed” (1790).

When writing to the Romans, Paul speaks of a delicate pastoral situation in the first-century Church. There were many Jewish Christians who still believed that certain foods were unclean or otherwise forbidden (e.g., much of the meat sold in Gentile markets had been sacrificed to idols). Paul explained that none of these foods were really unclean or forbidden, but stressed that his readers should not do things that would tempt people into eating these foods if it would violate their consciences:

Then let us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for any one who thinks it unclean. If your brother is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died. (Rom 14:13–15)
The mortal consequences of sinning in this way are clear. Paul speaks of an individual being “destroyed” by violating his conscience in this way: “Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for any one to make others fall by what he eats” (Rom 14:20). “But he who has doubts is condemned, if he eats, because he does not act from belief *; for whatever does not proceed from belief is sin” (Rom 14:23).

In the end, when all is said and done, we will stand alone before the judgment seat of God and “Christ will reveal the secret disposition of hearts and will render to each man according to his works and according to his acceptance or refusal of grace”(CCC 682).*

I’m worried. How does “full knowledge” apply here? You don’t have, do you? I mean, thinking something venial in matter is mortal obvioulsy is not full knowledge: you don’t know that you what you committed is venial.

I’m confused. And worried. Now I have to worry about over-judging myself.

I don’t think this situation has presented me yet. But sometimes when I commit what is a venial sin, I will worry if it is mortal. Is that covered by this response? What about all those forum topics about someone worrying and asking if something is mortal? The askers don’t know it’s venial, and they’re worried it’s mortal… wouldn’t that mean it actually was mortal?
What does this do to the “full knowledge” condition?

Obviously, though, I didn’t know this before today. So I can’t be held responsible, right?

 

[nickybr38]

I read this quote on this page: catholic.com/thisrock/quickquestions/keyword/judging/page2

I’m worried. How does “full knowledge” apply here? You don’t have, do you? I mean, thinking something venial in matter is mortal obvioulsy is not full knowledge: you don’t know that you what you committed is venial.

I’m confused. And worried. Now I have to worry about over-judging myself.

I don’t think this situation has presented me yet. But sometimes when I commit what is a venial sin, I will worry if it is mortal. Is that covered by this response? What about all those forum topics about someone worrying and asking if something is mortal? The askers don’t know it’s venial, and they’re worried it’s mortal… wouldn’t that mean it actually was mortal?
What does this do to the “full knowledge” condition?

Obviously, though, I didn’t know this before today. So I can’t be held responsible, right?

I’m not sure if I’m understanding everything here correctly but I’ll take a crack at this.

If you’re not sure if something is venial or grave and YOU DO IT ANYWAY you’re showing a direct disrespect for God. If you’re unsure either way you should not proceed until you can clarify. HOWEVER, if it is a sin period you should strive not to do it anyway.

 

[theforgiveable]

I believe the last poster is wrong. The be honest you seem very scrupulous. This article has been passed on millions of times on this forum and i’ll do so again. Although, if you find yourself ** not scrupulous do not use it.**

mission.liguori.org/newsletters/scrupulosity.htm

Read commandment 1, 2, 3, 6.

More importantly read 8 as it relates directly to your question

Also very helpful:
mission.liguori.org/newsletters/pdf_archive/november2005sa_web.pdf

This tells you exactly what mortal sin is. Believe me when I say it, it is very hard for a person with a well developed conscience to commit mortal sins.

 

[theforgiveable]

I’d also be glad to answer any further questions you may have either by this forum thread or via private message. Godbless

 

[nickybr38]

I believe the last poster is wrong. The be honest you seem very scrupulous. This article has been passed on millions of times on this forum and i’ll do so again. Although, if you find yourself ** not scrupulous do not use it.**

mission.liguori.org/newsletters/scrupulosity.htm

Read commandment 1, 2, 3, 6.

More importantly read 8 as it relates directly to your question

Also very helpful:
mission.liguori.org/newsletters/pdf_archive/november2005sa_web.pdf

This tells you exactly what mortal sin is. Believe me when I say it, it is very hard for a person with a well developed conscience to commit mortal sins.

It’s funny because what I posted is what I was taught. It could be wrong though.

 

[theforgiveable]

It’s funny because what I posted is what I was taught. It could be wrong though.

No you are completely right in every way. Those rules are sort of just for the scrupulous. Since we worry everything may be sinful we use those “rules” to help us.

 

[babylonsfalling]

I read this quote on this page: catholic.com/thisrock/quickquestions/keyword/judging/page2

I’m worried. How does “full knowledge” apply here? You don’t have, do you? I mean, thinking something venial in matter is mortal obvioulsy is not full knowledge: you don’t know that you what you committed is venial.

I’m confused. And worried. Now I have to worry about over-judging myself.

I don’t think this situation has presented me yet. But sometimes when I commit what is a venial sin, I will worry if it is mortal. Is that covered by this response? What about all those forum topics about someone worrying and asking if something is mortal? The askers don’t know it’s venial, and they’re worried it’s mortal… wouldn’t that mean it actually was mortal?
What does this do to the “full knowledge” condition?

Obviously, though, I didn’t know this before today. So I can’t be held responsible, right?

If you think something venial might be mortal and do it anyway, then I would say you’ve only committed a mortal sin IF that particular sin is actually judged venial.

But the act of doing the sin while thinking it might be mortal would constitute a second sin related to a moral laziness and a kind of disrespect for the eternal disposition of your soul…a kind of whistling in the dark and hoping for the best when you should be seeking more distance from all sin, whether mortal of venial.

I’ve been guilty of that kind of behavior. Was out of the Church for many years and returned without any notion of needing to go to confession before going to communion. I didn’t know that was any kind of sin and then someone told me it was a mortal sin. I didn’t know whether to believe the person or not so I continued going to communion without first going to confession…hoping it would be okay. In truth I just wanted the person to be wrong so I wouldn’t have to go to confession.

Eventually I just gave up and went to confession and told the Priest everything which is what I should have done in the first place and what I would suggest for anyone with those types of doubts. It’s way too easy to spend more time worrying about this kind of thing than it would take to go to confession and just be done with once and for all.

 

[Bookcat]

Such is the case as noted above by in the quote by the Catholic Answers Apologists.

(they are doing with they they think is grave matter…and doing it with full knowledge and deliberate consent…for example a person thinks it some odd Monday is a Holy Day of obligation and decide just to blow it off…the fact that they find out on Tuesday that it was not such a Holy Day does not remove their mortal sin …)

However since some in this forum are scrupulous etc it is important to note that a person with a difficulty with scruples…can be in a “different boat” …they need to speak with their regular confessor …for they can see sin where sin is not…or fear it unreasonablly etc…instead they need to follow the direction of their confessor (except if it is of course clearly wrong…like he says it is ok to murder someone…)…and work to overcome their scruples. They can thus follow his direction and the principles given them in regards to their scruples and thus in “good conscience” (by following his direction etc) go against their scruple filled fears…