So hypothetically if a pregnant woman were to take a pill that she didn’t know was an abortion pill (ignore the improbability of this) we’d all agree it was an unfortunate accident. Similarly if Saint Peter didn’t realize that he was denying Jesus whilst he was denying Jesus wouldn’t that make him less culpable? It seems he got a sort of “aha” moment when the crook crooked and Jesus looked at him suggesting that maybe he did not realize what he was doing before. Do you think that the above reading would be giving him too much of the benefit of the doubt?
This question casts into a slippery slope. Apparently by difference.
The ontological and holistic manner that Saint Peter denied Jesus three times was much more severe. As it was saying he denied he was even the Pope (the Rock.) For by saying “I do not know this man.” He denied the body, blood, soul, and divinity. He denied every word Christ ever said, out of fear.
But, Jesus told him beforehand, knowing his sins. And Christ did not banish Saint Peter either. Consider when he slit the ear of the priest servant. Jesus stated “those who live by the sword…” He healed the ear of the priest servant. That’s mercy.
Jesus told all the Apostle’s what was going to happen, because the only thing which would endure, was Christ’s mercy. His love which abounds forever.
So was Saint Peter’s denial a mortal sin? Yes, it was. He knew the degree, extent, and what he did by denying Jesus three times. He denied the Blessed Sacrament which He and the Twelve were conferred.
Now, as for the mistaken use of a pill not knowing it would abort. Say for whatever reason it was a mistake out of ignorance. They had no knowledge. However, when they have knowledge later that it was a grave sin. That it was moral (i.e. the degree and nature of the sin.) They should still go to Confession. God would allow for purgatory as the last possibility of Salvation in His Mercy. Just by the fact it wasn’t in fully knowledge and will. Just the knowledge. Or it was just without knowing. And that would still be the necessity of that person’s Salvation. Who would then in Purgatory say they are sorry, they didn’t know. And God knows that. No matter how big, grave, deep, and small one’s sin is, it’s all going to be made known at the end of life. And, God still will have a recounting of them. For our good. For our Salvation. So Purgatory is the answer for something that is not full in case mortal (i.e. knowledge, will, and matter.) All three have to exist to be mortal. And that would mean Confession, Penance, and Reconciliation.
