Was this lie a mortal sin?

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Ok, I was on facebook and a friend asked me if I had a scanner. I knew where this was going, he wanted me to scan him some notes from class today. I was studying for another class and its a pain to scan something, put it on my computer, then send it. I lied and said no. I then asked him why, and it turns out that he didn’t need my help anyway since he found his notes. I felt bad afterwards. I don’t think this is a mortal sin because I didn’t know that lying could be mortal. Ive told many “white” lies so I am really trying to curb this habit. If this were to happen again in the future would it be mortal?

I understand that lying is wrong so please don’t lecture me, Im trying to be a better catholic.
 
If you didn’t know lying was a mortal sin, then it wasn’t a mortal sin.

I’d look for lists of mortal sins on the internet, there are plenty of authoritative ones out there.

Personally, I know I lie all the time. A lot of the time its easier to lie. That’s what society tells us, and our culture tells us. Just the other day my dad was calling to make sure my car was parked in doors, and I said “yeah”… even though I was driving it at the time. I obviously was going to do it later. But, I’m still going to confess to lying the next time I go to confession.

How much harder would it have been for you to say: “Hey man, I’m really busy studying right now and I don’t have time to scan things right now, sorry”

Or how much harder would it have been for me to say: “I’m actually out driving right now, but I’ll make sure to park indoors when I get back home”.

Also, don’t be afraid to confess. How often do you confess man?
 
Im pretty young and my parents never confess. It just ocurred to ke that i should confess and take responsobility for mu soul. I actually confessed on tuesday so im going way more often. I just wanted to know if this would be mortal if i had full knowledge?
 
Yeah, lying with full knowledge is a mortal sin.

So yeah, just confess to lying. And pray that God would give you the courage to be honest with people (I know I pray that a lot).

God bless you.

(P.S. I’m only 19 myself :))
 
Compendium issued by Pope Benedict XVI
  1. When does one commit a mortal sin?
1855-1861
1874

One commits a mortal sin when there are simultaneously present: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. This sin destroys charity in us, deprives us of sanctifying grace, and, if unrepented, leads us to the eternal death of hell. It can be forgiven in the ordinary way by means of the sacraments of Baptism and of Penance or Reconciliation.
  1. When does one commit a venial sin?
1862-1864
1875

One commits a venial sin, which is essentially different from a mortal sin, when the matter involved is less serious or, even if it is grave, when full knowledge or complete consent are absent. Venial sin does not break the covenant with God but it weakens charity and manifests a disordered affection for created goods. It impedes the progress of a soul in the exercise of the virtues and in the practice of moral good. It merits temporal punishment which purifies.

vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html

Catechism:

2483 Lying is the most direct offense against the truth. To lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead into error someone who has the right to know the truth. By injuring man’s relation to truth and to his neighbor, a lie offends against the fundamental relation of man and of his word to the Lord.

2484 The gravity of a lie is measured against the nature of the truth it deforms, the circumstances, the intentions of the one who lies, and the harm suffered by its victims. If a lie in itself only constitutes a venial sin, it becomes mortal when it does grave injury to the virtues of justice and charity.

2485 By its very nature, lying is to be condemned. It is a profanation of speech, whereas the purpose of speech is to communicate known truth to others. the deliberate intention of leading a neighbor into error by saying things contrary to the truth constitutes a failure in justice and charity. the culpability is greater when the intention of deceiving entails the risk of deadly consequences for those who are led astray.

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P8K.HTM
 
LIE, Mortal Sin:

Did you murder that dude? No, officer. (And you did.)

LIE, Venial Sin:

Dear, did you water the petunias today? Yes, honey (and rushes out to do it.)
 
There gets a point to where you start splitting hairs.

You could ask one person, is it a mortal sin to lie? And they would respond, “Of course! Lying is a grave matter!”

You could ask another person, is it a mortal sin to lie? And they would respond, “It is not necessarily mortal. You would have to lie about a grave matter.”

Lying is not an intrinsic evil, unlike murder or fornication, because it relies so heavily on the subjective circumstances. Therefore, it is not automatically grave. While the objective matter is grave, the subjective matter may not be.

For instance, if you lied to a stranger as to what color your underwear is, I doubt that would be a sin really at all.
If you lied to your parents about doing the dishes, It would most likely be a venial sin.
If you lied to your parents about going to a drinking party, then there would be a grave matter, and you would most likely be dealing with a mortal sin.

If there is a situation you are confused about in gravity, discuss it with your priest. He didn’t go through 8+ years of seminary for nothing.
 
Anthony_V said:
Lying is not an intrinsic evil, unlike murder or fornication, because it relies so heavily on the subjective circumstances. Therefore, it is not automatically grave. While the objective matter is grave, the subjective matter may not be.

For instance, if you lied to a stranger as to what color your underwear is, I doubt that would be a sin really at all.
If you lied to your parents about doing the dishes, It would most likely be a venial sin.
If you lied to your parents about going to a drinking party, then there would be a grave matter, and you would most likely be dealing with a mortal sin.

If there is a situation you are confused about in gravity, discuss it with your priest. He didn’t go through 8+ years of seminary for nothing.
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Now I’m confused. This week I’ve commented on 2 threads about something being a mortal sin. To my knowledge, if you lie, lying is a mortal sin. If you swear things to God that you don’t keep that’s a mortal sin.

I normally just err on the safe side and confess everything. I lied about not eating some of my roommates food… I don’t know if that’s venial or mortal or neither. But, its a lie so I’m going to confess it. Also, I don’t think I need to waste the priests time by going into detail about what I lie about. I learned that if the priest needs more information than he’ll ask you. But, our Heavenly Father is the one absolving us, and he knows when we say “lying” what we’re talking about.
 
Bookcat made it clear not all lies are mortal sins.
In saying that you ask yourself how much trouble has the lie caused to another.
 
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