Were these doubts mortal sin?

[timeandeternity]

Could someone please help me know if the following situations are mortal sins:

I was recently talking with my best friend, who was Baptist but is now very seriously considering Catholicism. He was telling me that Catholic doctrine overall makes sense and seems right to him, but he can’t get over the feeling that there’s some huge logical flaw in all of it that he’s just not seeing. When he said that, I remember wanting to find that logical flaw–wanting to see if Catholicism could be wrong. This thought came into my mind unbidden, but I did allow it for a few moments and I’m pretty sure I knew what I was doing.

Again, just yesterday, we were talking about Catholic covenantal theology, and he was telling me why it made so much sense to him. I thought, “But I wonder if Protestant theology also makes sense? Does the Catholic way of seeing it actually have to be the only correct way?” I did deliberately cause these thoughts to happen, but stopped after a little while because I was worried that I might be committing a mortal sin. Also, there was a sense that this wasn’t just a question, and that I wanted to see if the Church was wrong.

I’ve read that “voluntary doubt” is mortal; however, the definition of this given by the Catechism seems to imply that someone refuses to accept Catholic teaching and deliberately entertains doubts without wanting or trying to clear them up. I’m not completely sure whether these situations fit under this category. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

Could someone please help me know if the following situations are mortal sins:

I was recently talking with my best friend, who was Baptist but is now very seriously considering Catholicism. He was telling me that Catholic doctrine overall makes sense and seems right to him, but he can’t get over the feeling that there’s some huge logical flaw in all of it that he’s just not seeing. When he said that, I remember wanting to find that logical flaw–wanting to see if Catholicism could be wrong. This thought came into my mind unbidden, but I did allow it for a few moments and I’m pretty sure I knew what I was doing.

Again, just yesterday, we were talking about Catholic covenantal theology, and he was telling me why it made so much sense to him. I thought, “But I wonder if Protestant theology also makes sense? Does the Catholic way of seeing it actually have to be the only correct way?” I did deliberately cause these thoughts to happen, but stopped after a little while because I was worried that I might be committing a mortal sin. Also, there was a sense that this wasn’t just a question, and that I wanted to see if the Church was wrong.

I’ve read that “voluntary doubt” is mortal; however, the definition of this given by the Catechism seems to imply that someone refuses to accept Catholic teaching and deliberately entertains doubts without wanting or trying to clear them up. I’m not completely sure whether these situations fit under this category. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

No sin around for a million miles away.

 

[Spencerian]

Could someone please help me know if the following situations are mortal sins:

I was recently talking with my best friend, who was Baptist but is now very seriously considering Catholicism. He was telling me that Catholic doctrine overall makes sense and seems right to him, but he can’t get over the feeling that there’s some huge logical flaw in all of it that he’s just not seeing. When he said that, I remember wanting to find that logical flaw–wanting to see if Catholicism could be wrong. This thought came into my mind unbidden, but I did allow it for a few moments and I’m pretty sure I knew what I was doing.

Again, just yesterday, we were talking about Catholic covenantal theology, and he was telling me why it made so much sense to him. I thought, “But I wonder if Protestant theology also makes sense? Does the Catholic way of seeing it actually have to be the only correct way?” I did deliberately cause these thoughts to happen, but stopped after a little while because I was worried that I might be committing a mortal sin. Also, there was a sense that this wasn’t just a question, and that I wanted to see if the Church was wrong.

I’ve read that “voluntary doubt” is mortal; however, the definition of this given by the Catechism seems to imply that someone refuses to accept Catholic teaching and deliberately entertains doubts without wanting or trying to clear them up. I’m not completely sure whether these situations fit under this category. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Your thoughts are never immediately sinful. It is natural not to fully understand all that the Church teaches us.

It’s when you *act *on these thoughts or doubts to the contrary of Church teaching where you can place yourself in the occasion of sin.

That said, it sounds like you could take some time out from apologetics and concentrate for yourself on what it means to be Catholic. We do have the fullness of the Christian faith. Derivative traditions (such as Lutherans, Baptists, et al.) do not. Catholics have not only the teaching of the Church, but historical proof (both found in Scripture and founded in history from both non-Christian and Christian sources) that give proof.

Obstinate refusal to accept a Church teaching without trying to clear it up (even it it takes time for you to come to grips with it) is a Bad Thing, yes. I’m sure many Catholics have friends with same-sex attraction and find it hard to accept the Church’s teachings on it. Yet, they know that charity and friendship remain a key part of gently guiding a wayward person to truth. For, in fact, we are *all *wayward, and always need the Body of Christ to guide us.

In many ways, to be Catholic is to understand or accept what you do not yet understand. But, in God’s promise to us, if we keep to His teachings, we will understand.

 

[JRKH]

Could someone please help me know if the following situations are mortal sins:

I was recently talking with my best friend, who was Baptist but is now very seriously considering Catholicism. He was telling me that Catholic doctrine overall makes sense and seems right to him, but he can’t get over the feeling that there’s some huge logical flaw in all of it that he’s just not seeing. When he said that, I remember wanting to find that logical flaw–wanting to see if Catholicism could be wrong. This thought came into my mind unbidden, but I did allow it for a few moments and I’m pretty sure I knew what I was doing.

Again, just yesterday, we were talking about Catholic covenantal theology, and he was telling me why it made so much sense to him. I thought, “But I wonder if Protestant theology also makes sense? Does the Catholic way of seeing it actually have to be the only correct way?” I did deliberately cause these thoughts to happen, but stopped after a little while because I was worried that I might be committing a mortal sin. Also, there was a sense that this wasn’t just a question, and that I wanted to see if the Church was wrong.

I’ve read that “voluntary doubt” is mortal; however, the definition of this given by the Catechism seems to imply that someone refuses to accept Catholic teaching and deliberately entertains doubts without wanting or trying to clear them up. I’m not completely sure whether these situations fit under this category. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

No sin.

You thought about whether protestant theology might also make sense is a perfectly logical thing to consider. It would allow you to look at another approach to theology and find the good (as well as the error) contained there-in. Understanding why and how it makes sense, also helps you to understand Catholic theology better and allows you to discuss these things in greater depth and intelligence.

Just don’t be so open that your brain falls out…

Peace
James

 

[Barbkw]

Denominationial doctrines make sense when their origin and their founding fathers are taken into consideration. Yes, they hold some Truth. However, their understanding of the Bible focuses on Scripture that reinforces reformation theology (to the exclusion of Scripture that contradicts their doctrine).

Catholicism is based on a broader and more historical base: Sacred Scripture, Sacred Apostolic Tradition and the Magisterium.

When you write “Catholic covenantal theology” where you referring to the Sacraments?

 

[Jaypeeto4]

A doubt or doubts will sometimes occur to us, be very overpowering,
and not be our deliberate “fault” at all. Even if we investigate to see if our doubts
are legit.

In 2002, I started doubting EVERYTHING (I don’t ADVISE that at all), and even started reading apologetics for atheism, which for a while seemed very logical and reasonable, but the more I looked at their claims, the more their claims fell apart. Plus, at the same time, reading the letters of Saint Paul that he wrote to the early believers, and his abject sincerity and love breathes forth from everything he wrote: this man, Paul, was no Fraud.

A few months ago I went to a couple of Jews For Judaism type websites which explain why Jews don’t accept Jesus as the Messiah. Some of the arguments are “reasonable,” but don’t hold water with me. Other arguments, though, were flat out falsehoods (some claiming that the 4 gospels weren’t written until over 100 years after the alleged time of Jesus, which is pure BULL, because these gospels are quoted in church writings going back to before the close of the First Century A.D. Then there are the ridiculous claims that Jesus never existed. This is new to Jewish and other non-Christian apologetics. It is a 20th century claim, beginning around 1900 or so. To me, it is a claim of desperation.
I have read the arguments for “Jesus Never Existed,” and while thought-provoking AT FIRST, their apparent logic falls apart completely upon further reflection, as does the ridiculous Jews For Judaism and several other’s assertions that the early church simply borrowed a ton of pagan myths and composed Christianity out of pagan whole-cloth.

Your Catholic Faith has a sound historical and biblical basis. Trust the Faith and the magisterium. Jesus LIVES. If you trust in Him and ask him to cover you with his blood and fill you with His Spirit, so will you. Eternally.
God love you,
Jaypeeto4
+JMJ+