Where in the catechism does it define specific mortal sins?

[fisherman_carl]

I keep hearing about all these mortal sins from eating meat on Fridays to certain sexual sins but I do not see them listed in the catechism. I am concerned that people may be ill-informed about what constitutes a mortal sin and think that everything they do could be a mortal sin and enter into legalism. Trying to be justified by the law.

I heard a priest say that it is not likely one particular act that sends a person to hell but that a series of choices, a lifestyle, that rejects the Lord from that persons life. My concern is people are going to be worried about this sin or that sin and worry about the letter of the law and ignore the spirit of the law. When in fact it is a relationship with Jesus that is required first and foremost. For out of that relationship, guided by the Holy Spirit, you won’t want to sin anyway, for you will be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit in order to do good works, out of love, that you were created for in Christ Jesus to do (Eph 2). So the emphasis should not be on following rules but following the Spirit of Christ. For in following the Spirit of Christ you are following the law written on your heart.

So to set the record straight that people know the truth about what a mortal sin is so they will be free from fear, this is an excerpt from the Catechism -

IV. THE GRAVITY OF SIN: MORTAL AND VENIAL SIN

1854 Sins are rightly evaluated according to their gravity. The distinction between mortal and venial sin, already evident in Scripture,129 became part of the tradition of the Church. It is corroborated by human experience.

1855 Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him.

Venial sin allows charity to subsist, even though it offends and wounds it.

1856 Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us - that is, charity - necessitates a new initiative of God’s mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation:

When the will sets itself upon something that is of its nature incompatible with the charity that orients man toward his ultimate end, then the sin is mortal by its very object . . . whether it contradicts the love of God, such as blasphemy or perjury, or the love of neighbor, such as homicide or adultery. . . . But when the sinner's will is set upon something that of its nature involves a disorder, but is not opposed to the love of God and neighbor, such as thoughtless chatter or immoderate laughter and the like, such sins are venial.130

1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."131

1858 Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of Jesus to the rich young man: "Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother."132 The gravity of sins is more or less great: murder is graver than theft. One must also take into account who is wronged: violence against parents is in itself graver than violence against a stranger.

1859 Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent. It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God’s law. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice. Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart133 do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin.

1860 Unintentional ignorance can diminish or even remove the imputability of a grave offense. But no one is deemed to be ignorant of the principles of the moral law, which are written in the conscience of every man. The promptings of feelings and passions can also diminish the voluntary and free character of the offense, as can external pressures or pathological disorders. Sin committed through malice, by deliberate choice of evil, is the gravest.

1861 Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back. However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God.

1862 One commits venial sin when, in a less serious matter, he does not observe the standard prescribed by the moral law, or when he disobeys the moral law in a grave matter, but without full knowledge or without complete consent.

1863 Venial sin weakens charity; it manifests a disordered affection for created goods; it impedes the soul’s progress in the exercise of the virtues and the practice of the moral good; it merits temporal punishment. Deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin. However venial sin does not break the covenant with God. With God’s grace it is humanly reparable. "Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness."134
While he is in the flesh, man cannot help but have at least some light sins. But do not despise these sins which we call "light": if you take them for light when you weigh them, tremble when you count them. A number of light objects makes a great mass; a number of drops fills a river; a number of grains makes a heap. What then is our hope? Above all, confession.135

 

[fisherman_carl]

continued

1864 "Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven."136 There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit.137 Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.

 

[1ke]

The sins against the ten commandments are mortal sins. The ten commandments are listed in detail in the Catechism. Also, violating the precepts of the Church are also grave matter (these are also listed in the Catechism). Lastly, disobedience to various canons of canon law are also grave matter.

You are worried about the wrong thing-- you should not be worried about people being concerned about committing sins, but rather about those who think they never commit sins.

The priest is right and wrong. For many people who commit venial sins, it is certainly the habit of those sins that can grow into mortal sin. But, people DO commit mortal sins, and yes “one” of those can end you up in Hell if you are unrepentant. I think it’s dangerous for him to de-emphasize sin in an age and culture that already scoffs at sin.

 

[JRKH]

I keep hearing about all these mortal sins from eating meat on Fridays to certain sexual sins but I do not see them listed in the catechism. I am concerned that people may be ill-informed about what constitutes a mortal sin and think that everything they do could be a mortal sin and enter into legalism. Trying to be justified by the law.

I heard a priest say that it is not likely one particular act that sends a person to hell but that a series of choices, a lifestyle, that rejects the Lord from that persons life. My concern is people are going to be worried about this sin or that sin and worry about the letter of the law and ignore the spirit of the law. When in fact it is a relationship with Jesus that is required first and foremost. For out of that relationship, guided by the Holy Spirit, you won’t want to sin anyway, for you will be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit in order to do good works, out of love, that you were created for in Christ Jesus to do (Eph 2). So the emphasis should not be on following rules but following the Spirit of Christ. For in following the Spirit of Christ you are following the law written on your heart.

(Snip)

Peace
James

I think that this is a pretty good thread and post. Too often we see people asking if this or that specific action is a sin - is it - venial - is it mortal? Such a viewpoint puts too much emphasis on “rules” an not enough on the underlying commandment of Love.

What is or is not a Mortal sin has less to do with actions than it does with our thoughts. Are our thoughts conformed to the 2 Commandments of Love upon which all of the Law and Prophets are based? Or are our thoughts conformed, like the pharasees, to acts and observances of the rules?

Instead of worrying about, and defining, whether this or that action is sinful we should be thinking about and working on developing an interior life that prevents sinful thoughts and actions from getting any traction in our lives.

Yes there are great and small actions that can easily been seen as sinful but the acts, and thoughts are but symptoms of wrong thinking. Thinking that puts ourselves and not God first, and allows us to act in unloving ways towards others.

Sin is not an act - it is a thought - a way of looking at things. It is losing focus on what is important. If we allow ourselves to feel self satisfied because we keep a certain set of rules, then we are no better than those of the OT. But God has called us to a higher level. We must not be satisfied until we eliminate the root cause of our sinfulness and acheive untiy between our will and God’s will.

Peace
James

 

[Ron_Conte]

The teaching of the Catholic Faith is found in Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the teachings of the Living Magisterium (which includes very many magisterial documents). The sole reliance on the Catechism for the truths of the Faith is not Catholicism; it is like a new religion. It is like the Protestant error of sola Scriptura. The Catechism is a useful resource for Catholics, but it should not be anyone’s sole resource for what to believe.

If you only look to the Catechism for doctrine, you will not even understand what the Catechism is saying. The Catechism must be interpreted and understood in the light of Tradition, Scripture, Magisterium. It cannot stant on its own as if it contained all the truths of the Faith.

 

[fisherman_carl]

The teaching of the Catholic Faith is found in Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the teachings of the Living Magisterium (which includes very many magisterial documents). The sole reliance on the Catechism for the truths of the Faith is not Catholicism; it is like a new religion. It is like the Protestant error of sola Scriptura. The Catechism is a useful resource for Catholics, but it should not be anyone’s sole resource for what to believe.

If you only look to the Catechism for doctrine, you will not even understand what the Catechism is saying. The Catechism must be interpreted and understood in the light of Tradition, Scripture, Magisterium. It cannot stant on its own as if it contained all the truths of the Faith.

It sounds like what really saying is that you don’t agree with me or the catechism and that only you know the truths of the faith that you wish to dictate to everyone else. The catechism is plain on this matter and gives the spirit of the law. Let everyone see what constitutes a mortal sin in the catechism so each man can weigh in his conscience before God if he be in mortal sin. The catechism is a guide to the catholic faith. Are you advocating we shouldn’t read it? I am not relying solely on the Catechism like you claim. I have only started reading the Catechism but I have read the bible many times.

Jesus was upset with the Pharisees because they lorded it over the people. Jesus was always caught breaking the rules of men, the Pharisees, like working on the Sabbath. Jesus fulfilled the law, the law that man could not keep. The law only brought death because man could not attain righteousness through it. Jesus Christ’s righteousness is now ours if we are in Christ, so that we can be free from the harmful effects of the law. I am only advocating freedom from false fear for scripture says, “perfect love has no fear”. And freedom from trying to earn our salvation by following rules of men and freedom does not mean I am advocating true sin but rather as scripture says " to live by the Spirit and you will live". “live by the flesh and you will die.” If you have the Spirit of Christ he will lead you and write his law on your heart so that you won’t want to sin. You will know in your heart what is a mortal sin. If I try on my own to follow all of the rules I will fail. But if by the Spirit of God I put to death the misdeeds of the flesh then I shall live.(Rom 8:13) God loves us and he doesn’t send people to hell unless they are really rejecting him and his forgiveness. (cat 1864). No one goes to hell by accident.

 

[fisherman_carl]

The sins against the ten commandments are mortal sins. The ten commandments are listed in detail in the Catechism. Also, violating the precepts of the Church are also grave matter (these are also listed in the Catechism). Lastly, disobedience to various canons of canon law are also grave matter.

You are worried about the wrong thing-- you should not be worried about people being concerned about committing sins, but rather about those who think they never commit sins.

The priest is right and wrong. For many people who commit venial sins, it is certainly the habit of those sins that can grow into mortal sin. But, people DO commit mortal sins, and yes “one” of those can end you up in Hell if you are unrepentant. I think it’s dangerous for him to de-emphasize sin in an age and culture that already scoffs at sin.

It is not enough to know what is a sin, but one must have the Spirit of God and live by that Spirit in order to ‘put to death the misdeeds of the body’. For the law brought death. But Jesus brought life.

“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Mt 5:20

 

[Ron_Conte]

I heard a priest say that it is not likely one particular act that sends a person to hell but that a series of choices, a lifestyle, that rejects the Lord from that persons life.

Even a single unrepentant actual mortal sin is sufficient to deserve eternal Hellfire.

The Council of Trent: “But, whereas all mortal sins, even those of thought, render men children of wrath, and enemies of God, it is necessary to seek also for the pardon of them all from God, with an open and modest confession.” (On the Most Holy Sacraments, chapter 5)

Pope John Paul II: “mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent… With the whole tradition of the church, we call mortal sin the act by which man freely and consciously rejects God, his law, the covenant of love that God offers, preferring to turn in on himself or to some created and finite reality, something contrary to the divine will (conversio ad creaturam).” (Reconciliation and Penance, n. 17)

Pope John Paul II: "In point of fact, man does not suffer perdition only by being unfaithful to that fundamental option whereby he has made “a free self-commitment to God”. With every freely committed mortal sin, he offends God as the giver of the law and as a result becomes guilty with regard to the entire law (cf. Jas 2:8-11); even if he perseveres in faith, he loses “sanctifying grace”, “charity” and “eternal happiness”. As the Council of Trent teaches, “the grace of justification once received is lost not only by apostasy, by which faith itself is lost, but also by any other mortal sin” "(Veritatis Splendor, n. 68)

Pope Benedict XII: “Moreover we define that according to the general disposition of God, the souls of those who die in actual mortal sin go down into hell immediately (mox) after death and there suffer the pain of hell.” (On the Beatific Vision of God, A.D. 1336)

 

[fisherman_carl]

Even a single unrepentant actual mortal sin is sufficient to deserve eternal Hellfire.

Yes, but we have to define what mortal sin is. I speak to those who are in Christ and not to those who are perishing. It is doubtful a truly devout person or man of faith who commits any sin whether mortal or venial will be unrepentant. And with grave sin necessitates grave conviction by the Holy Spirit in that persons heart. For God is loving and merciful and will provide each person the chance to repent. It is only a person who continually rejects that offer of repentance and forgiveness, who hardens their heart to the Lord who is in danger of the fires of hell.

"By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." - Mt 12:37

 

[fisherman_carl]

I would like to further clarify something. First, I do not wish to argue with anyone or cause strife with anyone. I love you all in Christ Jesus. I do not wish to dismiss the seriousness of any sin. The reason for this post is because I feel that the danger of legalism is that it paints the picture of God as this unloving, uncaring judge who is keeping a score card and as soon as we make one mistake he is going to send us all to hell. Such a view is detrimental to our souls and keeps us from receiving the love of God. But this is not the view of the gospels, nor of the Catholic church. The view of God given to us in the gospels is that of a loving Father that loves his children.

If we look at Luke 15 we see a true picture of the Father and his mercy towards his children. God is not willing that any should perish. Like the lost sheep he searches for all his children who go astray to bring them back.

"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?

And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy

and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'

I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance."

The truth is that God is actively involved in our salvation. “For by grace you have been saved…” (Eph 2:8). We receive that grace that activates our faith and activates our actions and sustains our salvation. The grace that God gives us not only gives us faith but also the ability to do good works (Eph 2:8-10) and to reject sin in our lives.

God is not some score keeper that is waiting for us to make a mistake and send us to hell. “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”.(1Peter 3:9). The Lord does not want anyone to perish. He seeks them out like lost sheep.

So it is that knowledge that God the loving Father gives us grace through the merits of his Son Jesus Christ on the cross that we receive his grace and his love and are enabled to do his will.

God Bless and God Loves You All

See this excellent explanation by Scott Hahn on ‘What is Grace’
(Note you need the real player plugin for it to work - you don’t need to donate for the audio to start - it should start automatically)

 

[Ron_Conte]

You are greatly over-simplifying Catholic teaching on morality and sin.
You should read ‘Veritatis Splendor’ and ‘Reconcilation and Penance’ by Pope John Paul II.

 

[fisherman_carl]

You are greatly over-simplifying Catholic teaching on morality and sin.

Thank you I will take that as a complement.

’ "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’
Mathew 8:2-3

You should read ‘Veritatis Splendor’ and ‘Reconcilation and Penance’ by Pope John Paul II.

thanks for the tip

God Bless

 

[fisherman_carl]

You are greatly over-simplifying Catholic teaching on morality and sin.

The problem with that statement, for me, is that you do specify anything in specific so I do not know what you are referring to. What is it that you don’t agree with or think that I am over-simplifying? Perhaps you feel that I have offended you in some way. If I have offended you I do apologize. I admit that I do not always take constructive criticism very well and I tend to be argumentative. Please forgive me for that.

I am not pretending to present the entire Catholic view on moral theology in this post. So please forgive me if it is not complete. I am not even thinking in those terms. I can understand that since you are a theologian you think in those terms but keep in mind I am not a theologian and I am very much still learning. The problem that I was having was that as I look closer into these teachings on mortal sin and how they cause us to lose grace, that this is a hard teaching to accept because I know of many people and some close to me who love God and serve in the church who disagree with the church in part on issues like using a condom for instance used between a husband and wife. In fact one such individual was told by the priest as he was receiving RCIA that not to worry about these issues at that time and that these issues can be dealt with later. If the use of a condom is considered a mortal sin then these people could be in trouble. Now, perhaps they are ‘invincibly ignorant’, I do not know but it is still a serious charge. Now I would hope that if these people are in mortal sin that our Lord would bring them to repentance before it is too late and not leave them in ignorance or in a state that sends them to hell.

Furthermore this whole idea of a single mortal sin causing one to lose salvation is a troubling thought for me and can have me seeing God as this unmerciful, wrathful tyrant wanting to send someone to hell as soon as someone screws up. But as I have indicated in a previous post this is not a true picture of God the loving Father. I found that focusing only on sin and punishment and excluding focus on the grace of Christ and the benefit of that grace in our lives to both save us from our sins and to enable us to live holy and loving lives was a mistake. Yes there is sin and punishment but we should not focus only on that to the exclusion of and realization that we have a loving Father who actively seeks out our salvation and who enables us not only to be justified through the merits of Christ but also to partake in the divine nature.

Also for me is the realization that because God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are real and the word of God is true then we can trust God’s word that he will seek us out like a lost sheep if we stray. If God allows us to stray into mortal sin without us even being aware then how easily could we be deceived. Thus a loving God who operates on the principle of Grace, unmerited favor, would necessitate a loving conviction of our hearts and a chance for repentance if we should stray. And this would be consistent with the parable of the lost sheep or the prodigal son.

Ultimately God is our judge for only he knows the hearts of men. The catechism is really my attempt to understand these issues of mortal sin since they come across so serious. When you hear of such a thing as mortal sin sending one to hell it stirs up the wrong kind of fear in me. The catechism, I suppose, gave me some relief in that it helped me to define what mortal sin is so that I could better avoid it and determine if I was indeed living in it. I realize as you say there are other sources of information that can also help shed light on the issue. And I thank you for those suggestions.

God Bless

 

[thistle]

The teaching of the Catholic Faith is found in Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the teachings of the Living Magisterium (which includes very many magisterial documents). The sole reliance on the Catechism for the truths of the Faith is not Catholicism; it is like a new religion. It is like the Protestant error of sola Scriptura. The Catechism is a useful resource for Catholics, but it should not be anyone’s sole resource for what to believe.

If you only look to the Catechism for doctrine, you will not even understand what the Catechism is saying. The Catechism must be interpreted and understood in the light of Tradition, Scripture, Magisterium. It cannot stant on its own as if it contained all the truths of the Faith.

Obviously in your arrogance and belief in your own self importance you think you know better than the Pope. Well if I have to choose between you and the Pope guess who gets my support.

To quote Pope John Paul II:

**The Doctrinal Value of the Text **

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved 25 June last and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. May it serve the renewal to which the Holy Spirit ceaselessly calls the Church of God, the Body of Christ, on her pilgrimage to the undiminished light of the Kingdom!

The approval and publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church represent a service which the Successor of Peter wishes to offer to the Holy Catholic Church, to all the particular Churches in peace and communion with the Apostolic See: the service, that is, of supporting and confirming the faith of all the Lord Jesus’ disciples (cf. Lk 22:32 as well as of strengthening the bonds of unity in the same apostolic faith. Therefore, I ask all the Church’s Pastors and the Christian faithful to receive this catechism in a spirit of communion and to use it assiduously in fulfilling their mission of proclaiming the faith and calling people to the Gospel life. **This catechism is given to them that it may be a sure and authentic reference text for teaching catholic doctrine **and particularly for preparing local catechisms. It is also offered to all the faithful who wish to deepen their knowledge of the unfathomable riches of salvation (cf. Eph 3:8). It is meant to support ecumenical efforts that are moved by the holy desire for the unity of all Christians, showing carefully the content and wondrous harmony of the catholic faith. **The Catechism of the Catholic Church, lastly, is offered to every individual who asks us to give an account of the hope that is in us (cf. 1 Pt 3:15) and who wants to know what the Catholic Church believes. **

This catechism is not intended to replace the local catechisms duly approved by the ecclesiastical authorities, the diocesan Bishops and the Episcopal Conferences, especially if they have been approved by the Apostolic See. It is meant to encourage and assist in the writing of new local catechisms, which take into account various situations and cultures, while carefully preserving the unity of faith and fidelity to catholic doctrine.

At the conclusion of this document presenting the Catechism of the Catholic Church, I beseech the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Incarnate Word and Mother of the Church, to support with her powerful intercession the catechetical work of the entire Church on every level, at this time when she is called to a new effort of evangelization. May the light of the true faith free humanity from the ignorance and slavery of sin in order to lead it to the only freedom worthy of the name (cf. Jn 8:32): that of life in Jesus Christ under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, here below and in the Kingdom of heaven, in the fullness of the blessed vision of God face to face (cf. 1 Cor 13:12; 2 Cor 5:6-8)!

Given 11 October 1992, the thirtieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, in the fourteenth year of my Pontificate.

 

[JRKH]

You are greatly over-simplifying Catholic teaching on morality and sin.
You should read ‘Veritatis Splendor’ and ‘Reconcilation and Penance’ by Pope John Paul II.

Ron,
Carl may indeed be oversimplifying Church teaching, but I do not think he is oversimplifying the underlying truths upon which those teachings are based.

We all recognize (or at least should recognize) that the underlying truths for the Church’s teachings on morality and sin are the two great commandments of Christ. Love God and Love neighbor as you Love yourself.
When we fail to Love God, and neighbor, then we are being offensive to God. Whether the act is large or small it is injurious to our relationship to God and neighbor and also damaging to our ability to act upon the grace that God has provided to us.

I too have seen this tendency toward “legalism” among christians, both catholic and non-catholic. How many threads do we see here in a given month titles with some variation of “is this a sin”. Frankly - if one has to ask, it probably is.

The reason that the catechism does not list “Mortal sins” is because what constitutes a mortal in will vary based upon how one applies the criteria of grave matter and full consent.
For myself, I consider that anytime I think or act in an unloving way I am placing my soul in danger for to act unlovingly is grave matter, and if I allow such thinking or behavior to continue once I become aware of it, then I am in danger of mortal sin.

Legalism is indeed a dangerous thing for a Christian for it diverts one from what is true and necessary.
Live in Love and all the other sins will dimminish.

Peace
James

 

[1ke]

I too have seen this tendency toward “legalism” among christians, both catholic and non-catholic. How many threads do we see here in a given month titles with some variation of “is this a sin”. Frankly - if one has to ask, it probably is.

I must disagree with you here. This being a forum open to the public it attracts a number of people who suffer from scrupulosity. Scrupulosity is a mental illness, a spiritual illness, and it has nothing to do with legalism.

And, when these people have to ask-- and they do HAVE to ask because they are plagued with fear of sin and a compulsion to ask-- it is probably NOT a sin.

Upwards of 90% of the “is this a sin…” posts are from a group of scrupulous people who regularly post here. Another good percent are from young people-- teens mostly-- who are learning/growing in the formation of their conscience. And some are people who were taught inaccurate info (like “I was taught contraception is OK now I’m hearing it’s a sin… what’s the truth” type questions), people inquiring into the faith, and people who are truly ignorant of Catholic teaching. I think a small minority of the “is it a sin…” posts are people who should know the answer already…

 

[JRKH]

I must disagree with you here. This being a forum open to the public it attracts a number of people who suffer from scrupulosity. Scrupulosity is a mental illness, a spiritual illness, and it has nothing to do with legalism.

And, when these people have to ask-- and they do HAVE to ask because they are plagued with fear of sin and a compulsion to ask-- it is probably NOT a sin.

Upwards of 90% of the “is this a sin…” posts are from a group of scrupulous people who regularly post here. Another good percent are from young people-- teens mostly-- who are learning/growing in the formation of their conscience. And some are people who were taught inaccurate info (like “I was taught contraception is OK now I’m hearing it’s a sin… what’s the truth” type questions), people inquiring into the faith, and people who are truly ignorant of Catholic teaching. I think a small minority of the “is it a sin…” posts are people who should know the answer already…

You may well be right. I may have posted my thoughts too forcefully.
However, if people are having to ask these questions it still points to poor teaching and poor understanding of what God is looking for from us.
If the emphasis in catechesis is on “rules” instead of the underlying principle of Love, then it becomes “legalistic” and people have difficulty determining what is sin when it comes to “grey” areas of the rules.
If one seeks to obey God in Love, that is to obey out of the Love of God then it becomes much easier to discern what is and is not a sin. I believe that understadning this would especially help those who suffer from scrupulosity.

Peace
James

 

[Ron_Conte]

Furthermore this whole idea of a single mortal sin causing one to lose salvation is a troubling thought for me…

It is the teaching of the Church and a required belief that even a single unrepentant actual mortal sin is sufficient to deserve eternal Hellfire. To reject this teaching, or to obstinately doubt this teaching, is a serious sin. You should set aside your own thinking on this subject, set aside what seems fair to you, and believe what the Church teaches:

The Council of Trent: “But, whereas all mortal sins, even those of thought, render men children of wrath, and enemies of God, it is necessary to seek also for the pardon of them all from God, with an open and modest confession.” (On the Most Holy Sacraments, chapter 5)

Pope John Paul II: “mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent… With the whole tradition of the church, we call mortal sin the act by which man freely and consciously rejects God, his law, the covenant of love that God offers, preferring to turn in on himself or to some created and finite reality, something contrary to the divine will (conversio ad creaturam).” (Reconciliation and Penance, n. 17)

Pope John Paul II: "In point of fact, man does not suffer perdition only by being unfaithful to that fundamental option whereby he has made “a free self-commitment to God”. With every freely committed mortal sin, he offends God as the giver of the law and as a result becomes guilty with regard to the entire law (cf. Jas 2:8-11); even if he perseveres in faith, he loses “sanctifying grace”, “charity” and “eternal happiness”. As the Council of Trent teaches, “the grace of justification once received is lost not only by apostasy, by which faith itself is lost, but also by any other mortal sin” "(Veritatis Splendor, n. 68)

Pope Benedict XII: “Moreover we define that according to the general disposition of God, the souls of those who die in actual mortal sin go down into hell immediately (mox) after death and there suffer the pain of hell.” (On the Beatific Vision of God, A.D. 1336)

 

[JRKH]

Often times it seems that when a question or concern such as this is raised, the person posting is thinking less in terms of their own soul than in terms of others souls. As myself, and the OP and others here I hope that none of us would carry around an unrepentant mortal sin for once we became aware of the sinful nature of the thought or act (whether grave or not) we would immediately repent.

So this brings me to the conclusion that there is but one real mortal sin. The one that Jesus spoke of as not being forgiven. That is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

We agree that, based on the Catechism, a sin cannot be mortal unless we know it is a sin and give full consent to it. Furthermore the sin remains a mortal sin so long as we do not repent of it.
Now consider. In order for a person to fully and knowingly commit a mortal sin, one must first reject knowingly the Holy Spirit. Only in this way is the path clear for one to commit additional sinful acts in full knowledge and non-repentance.
Once one has rejected the Holy Spirit, and rejected God’s Lordship in their lives, then he/she has already rejected salvation and any addtional sin committed after that fact is superflous to their damnation.
The only way to repent in this case is to first repent, not of the various sinful acts, though that is important too, but rather to repent the rejection of the Holy Spirit and Return to God in humility and contrition for the prior rejection. Once this has occurred then sorrow, repentance and contrition for the other sinful acts follows easily.

So in short, there is but one mortal sin. That is the rejection of God and God’s salvation, which is the prerequisite condition for committing any further seriously sinful unrepentant act. The only corrective action in such a case is the humble repentance of the sin against God’s Holy Spirit.

Peace
James

 

[Bailey2]

Mortal sin deserves hellfire. The “full consent” and “full awareness” is the issue for a person. Awareness is gradual from birth to death in all things as we grow and develop. Only the merciful, omniscient judge can decide how objective truth is applied to an adolescent, unaware or dimly aware Catholic, etc. Only He knows each of us fully, more so than we know ourselves. How comforting it is that God is Love and because of that is the only Just Judge of our souls. I error a lot on matters of the legalities of Catholic faith but I always hope that if I error on the side of compassion and love, I’m headed in the right direction and truth will be made known to me more and more over time. Long winded way of saying I think everyone on this post is right in some way.