Why is contraception and missing your Sunday obligation a mortal sin?

[contramundum7]

Commiting a mortal sin doesn’t always lead to damnation–but it means one did something seriously wrong. God will not likely damn everyone who ever used contraception or who missed Sunday Mass, but such behaviors done with full knowledge place souls at risk. The Church warns us that if we commit mortal sins we must repent, confess and ammend our ways. They aren’t mortal sins because the Church says so–the Church says so because objectively they are serious and grave sins.

Yeah - and too bad most Catholics these days don’t seem to think contraception is a mortal sin…
Mortal sin doesn’t always lead to damnation? Do you refer to the idea of… (i can’t think of the word i wnat…) but that idea that there are certain circumstances that make it something less than a mortal sin… like “force of habit”, diminished capacity???

 

[contramundum7]

I once heard Christopher West say contraception was sexual infidelity with that other person in your marriage: God.

It’s not OK to be “usually faithful.”

Makes sense to me…

 

[Cari]

Not quite.

The 2nd precept is that we must go to Confession at least once per year.

The 3rd precept is that we must receive the Eucharist at least during the Easter Season.

I think the 2nd precept is “we must go to Confession at least once a year if we have any unconfessed mortal sins”. If we manage a whole year without one, it doesn’t apply to us. I’ll have to check the catechism…

Ok, so is this the difference:

1. The Church says we must receive Eucharist at least one time a year- that time being the Easter season
2. We’re required to attend Mass every Sunday
3. The only reason we wouldn’t receive on a normal Sunday would be if we were in a state of mortal sin

Is this right? If we chose (and why would we?) we could go to Mass Sunday after Sunday, but not receive due to an unconfessed mortal sin, but we HAVE to take care of that before Easter in order to receive then (which would be where the Confession at least once a year comes in).

Trying to articulate this- plus it helps clear up the OP’s question.
C

 

[1ke]

I think the 2nd precept is “we must go to Confession at least once a year if we have any unconfessed mortal sins”. If we manage a whole year without one, it doesn’t apply to us. I’ll have to check the catechism…

No, the precept is “you shall confess your sins at least once a year” see CCC 2042

1. The Church says we must receive Eucharist at least one time a year- that time being the Easter season
2. We’re required to attend Mass every Sunday
3. The only reason we wouldn’t receive on a normal Sunday would be if we were in a state of mortal sin

#3, also if you had not fasted for one hour

Is this right? If we chose (and why would we?) we could go to Mass Sunday after Sunday, but not receive due to an unconfessed mortal sin, but we HAVE to take care of that before Easter in order to receive then (which would be where the Confession at least once a year comes in).

Yes.

 

[mark_a]

How about the pill? The pill chemically alters a woman’s body to make a perfectly healthy part of her dysfunctional and unhealthy…and not just any part of her body, like her hair or her arm, but the very thing that makes her a woman in the first place - her fertility (men don’t ovulate or have periods).

So, in using the pill, a couple is saying that in order for them to enter in to the most intimate union they will ever experience, the woman has to treat the very thing that makes her a woman like a disease to be controlled at all costs, even at the risk of her own mental and physical well being.

How is that *not *sinful? How is that in any way consistent with God’s plan for love?

Awesome post!

 

[gardenswithkids]

Mortal sin doesn’t always lead to damnation? Do you refer to the idea of… (i can’t think of the word i wnat…) but that idea that there are certain circumstances that make it something less than a mortal sin… like “force of habit”, diminished capacity???

No, I referred to the forgiveness of sins–particularly through the sacrament of confession. Someone who commits a mortal sin should repent, confess and reform. Dying in a state of mortal sin leads to damnation, but not everyone who commits a mortal sin dies in that state.

But you brought up the point out that some sins which are of themselves objectively mortal sins may not be “mortal sins leading to damnation” under certain circumstances if done without “full knowledge” or “deliberate consent”. Still, I think any Catholic commiting objective mortal sins should go to the sacrament of confession. (I’m a fan of confession, and I think we should go regularly even if not in a state of mortal sin.)

 

[thomasf]

I think the 2nd precept is “we must go to Confession at least once a year if we have any unconfessed mortal sins”. If we manage a whole year without one, it doesn’t apply to us. I’ll have to check the catechism…

Ok, so is this the difference:

1. The Church says we must receive Eucharist at least one time a year- that time being the Easter season
2. We’re required to attend Mass every Sunday
3. The only reason we wouldn’t receive on a normal Sunday would be if we were in a state of mortal sin

Is this right? If we chose (and why would we?) we could go to Mass Sunday after Sunday, but not receive due to an unconfessed mortal sin, but we HAVE to take care of that before Easter in order to receive then (which would be where the Confession at least once a year comes in).

Trying to articulate this- plus it helps clear up the OP’s question.
C

So if we don’t HAVE to take communion every week, why the big fuss about going to mass every sunday?

I have a hard time understanding this one being a mortal sin. I understand that the mass is an important part of the church, but things happen and sometimes you can’t get to mass. Should that really be a mortal sin? I would really like to hear the explanation for that one. Or at least know if that is correct.

 

[Cari]

So if we don’t HAVE to take communion every week, why the big fuss about going to mass every sunday?

I have a hard time understanding this one being a mortal sin. I understand that the mass is an important part of the church, but things happen and sometimes you can’t get to mass. Should that really be a mortal sin? I would really like to hear the explanation for that one. Or at least know if that is correct.

We don’t HAVE to do lots of things. We don’t HAVE to brush our teeth. We don’t HAVE to do things that have been medically proven to extend and improve the quality of our life. However, we DO have to breathe, eat, and drink. Without the minimum effort, life will cease. However, if we only eat junk food, breathe only polluted air, and drink tainted water, our lives will neither be abundant, nor particularly pleasurable.

So it is with our immortal lives. We can meet the bare requirements of Eucharist and Confession once a year, and put your butt in the pew every Sunday because we’re told to. But what is that telling God? That He’s worth only the minimum? And yes, if you’re only showing up to weekly Mass because “you have to”, then, operating under that belief, why bother? Why bother being religious at all? After all, God gave us Free Will, and has clearly shown how much He values it. So why violate it by performing religious duties only because you HAVE to?

You say that you understand that Mass is an important part of the Church, but then fail to see why it would be a big deal to miss it when “things come up”. The Church Herself recognizes there are times when one will miss Mass- weather, illness, etc., and under those circumstances, it’s NOT a mortal sin to miss. However, how many times do those circumstances present themselves? What sort of “things” coming up are you talking about? Sleeping in late? Scheduling too many errands, outings, social events on Sunday?

The whole question centers around what is the main priority in your life. If you view reception of the Eucharist as something you HAVE to or DON’T have to do, if there seems to be a “big fuss” about Mass, or if things keep coming up to prevent you from going to Sunday Mass, than God is clearly not the main priority in your life. And as both the Old Testament, the Ten Commandments, and Our Lord’s own words bear out, that is clearly a grave trespass, bringing with it mortal sin.

 

[thomasf]

I didn’t say I didn’t go to mass on Sunday. I didn’t say I don’t like going to mass on Sunday. I didn’t say it was a chore or something I couldn’t drag myself out to do. I didn’t say I only took communion once a year or went to confession once a year. I said the church only required it once a year. I asked why it was a mortal sin to miss mass on Sunday, and what the justification for that was.

Your original answer centered around the importance of the eucharist weekly. But that can’t be the case if the church only requires it once a year, can it?

The commandment says keep holy the sabbath day. The sabbath day isn’t sunday, it’s saturday. Christians changed the day of worship to sunday because that’s the day of Jesus’ ressurection. So clearly we aren’t keeping holy the sabbath day.

So why is it now a mortal sin to miss mass?

 

[Cari]

I didn’t say I didn’t go to mass on Sunday. I said I didn’t like going to mass on Sunday. I didn’t say it was a chore or something I couldn’t drag myself out to do. I asked why it was a mortal sin to miss mass on Sunday, and what the justification for that was.

If you don’t like going, then why do you do it?
By avoiding Mass, for whatever reason (other than weather, illness, etc.), you are putting something before God, and that is a mortal sin.

The commandment says keep holy the sabbath day. The sabbath day isn’t sunday, it’s saturday. Christians changed the day of worship to sunday because that’s the day of Jesus’ ressurection. So clearly we aren’t keeping holy the sabbath day.

Oh man, that’s a whole other thread. Search the archives for that one. But, your comment begs the question, if you truly believe this, then why are you Catholic/Christian denomination other than SDA?

So why is it now a mortal sin to miss mass?

Hope this helps!

C

 

[thomasf]

We don’t HAVE to do lots of things. We don’t HAVE to brush our teeth. We don’t HAVE to do things that have been medically proven to extend and improve the quality of our life. However, we DO have to breathe, eat, and drink. Without the minimum effort, life will cease. However, if we only eat junk food, breathe only polluted air, and drink tainted water, our lives will neither be abundant, nor particularly pleasurable.

So it is with our immortal lives. We can meet the bare requirements of Eucharist and Confession once a year, and put your butt in the pew every Sunday because we’re told to. But what is that telling God? That He’s worth only the minimum? And yes, if you’re only showing up to weekly Mass because “you have to”, then, operating under that belief, why bother? Why bother being religious at all? After all, God gave us Free Will, and has clearly shown how much He values it. So why violate it by performing religious duties only because you HAVE to?

You say that you understand that Mass is an important part of the Church, but then fail to see why it would be a big deal to miss it when “things come up”. The Church Herself recognizes there are times when one will miss Mass- weather, illness, etc., and under those circumstances, it’s NOT a mortal sin to miss. However, how many times do those circumstances present themselves? What sort of “things” coming up are you talking about? Sleeping in late? Scheduling too many errands, outings, social events on Sunday?

The whole question centers around what is the main priority in your life. If you view reception of the Eucharist as something you HAVE to or DON’T have to do, if there seems to be a “big fuss” about Mass, or if things keep coming up to prevent you from going to Sunday Mass, than God is clearly not the main priority in your life. And as both the Old Testament, the Ten Commandments, and Our Lord’s own words bear out, that is clearly a grave trespass, bringing with it mortal sin.

The more I read this the more it offends me. You’ve taken my question of asking for justification for the mortal sin, and made assumptions and inferences about me and my attitude toward the church. That wasn’t necessary. Normally in the apologetics forum there are people ready to present scripture and/or catechism references to questions. That’s all I was asking for. You’ve taken that and attacked my character and inferred I’d rather run errands than go to mass. That’s going a bit too far, imo.

 

[thomasf]

If you don’t like going, then why do you do it?
By avoiding Mass, for whatever reason (other than weather, illness, etc.), you are putting something before God, and that is a mortal sin.

Oops, never mind. That was a typo. I didn’t mean to type that.

Oh man, that’s a whole other thread. Search the archives for that one. But, your comment begs the question, if you truly believe this, then why are you Catholic/Christian denomination other than SDA?

Believe what? It’s a fact, the original sabbath is saturday. Christians changed the day. I don’t really care what day we go to church, I was just pointing out the ten commandment reason doesn’t fall in line.

Hope this helps!

C

No it doesn’t help.

 

[Cari]

I have a hard time understanding this one being a mortal sin. I understand that the mass is an important part of the church, but things happen and sometimes you can’t get to mass. Should that really be a mortal sin? I would really like to hear the explanation for that one. Or at least know if that is correct.

You asked if your viewpoint was correct. Without providing any specifics for “things happening”, I gave examples of times that it WASN’T a mortal sin to miss mass vs. times when WAS. I didn’t state nor imply that you were engaged in any of those examples.

If you were offended, please accept my apologies.

 

[thomasf]

You asked if your viewpoint was correct. Without providing any specifics for “things happening”, I gave examples of times that it WASN’T a mortal sin to miss mass vs. times when WAS. I didn’t state nor imply that you were engaged in any of those examples.

If you were offended, please accept my apologies.

Apology accepted. I didn’t mean to infer I didn’t like going to mass or anything like that. And like I said, I understand the importance of the mass. I just wondered why the mortal sin part. With references.

 

[Cari]

Just a quick rundown on what the CCC says- paragraph numbers only for right now- it’s getting late:

CCC 2181-2182
CCC 2190-2192
CCC 2174-2176

Again, I apologize for not typing each paragraph. If you don’t have a copy of the CCC, you can find it online at:
scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

Just type in the paragraph number in the search bar.

This is only a brief list. I literally just flipped to “Sunday Obligation” in the CCC and listed what was there. Other people should be able to provide more documentation.

 

[thomasf]

Well, that’s pretty convincing. Thank you.

:d

 

[isadora]

What about non-catholics who use contraception of any kind? Is it a mortal sin for them too? And since they never go to confession, are they then by default doomed to hell?

 

[Cari]

As for the second part, about being “doomed to hell”, only God knows a person’s heart. Only God knows who is going where, it’s not for us to speculate.

As for Protestants and mortal sin, the Church teaches us that three conditions must be met:

1. grave matter
2. knowledge
3. free will

In the case of a Protestant using birth control, two of those conditions would (assumably) be met- grave matter and free will. However, most Protestant denominations do not teach that birth control is evil, and so the knowledge part would be missing.

If, on the other hand, a Protestant whose religious expression includes a rejection of abortion as a sin, and then learns about the abortifacient nature of many forms of b/c and continues to take it, then yes, I would think it would become a mortal sin on the part of that person.

Anyone else want to weigh in? Did I miss anything?

 

[Aramis]

Not quite.

The 2nd precept is that we must go to Confession at least once per year.

The 3rd precept is that we must receive the Eucharist at least during the Easter Season.

In the Ruthenian Catholic church, it’s Confession AT LEAST ONCE EACH during the advent-christmas season, and the Lent-Pentecost season.

The problem with condoms is similar and, I think, best expressed by a painting called “The Lovers” by Rene Magritte:

THere is also the issue of a man spilling his seed upon the ground, which was inherently a sin under Judaic law. With barrier methods, this is quite likely. (This also exposes the sin in frotteurism and masturbation.)

 

[briang72]

Aren’t both of the OP’s questions regarding infallible teachings from the Holy Spirit? How can anyone study and accept the Catechism without this belief? Where it isn’t enough to leave it at “because the church says so”, I believe it is enough to say it is “because the Holy Spirit has revealed it so” and to accept that…

(a) it was Christ Himself who defined this belief,

“And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 16:18-19

(b) that we profess this belief (in some form) every Sunday,

“I **believe **in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.”

Nicene Creed

and

(c) that the Lord fulfilled His promise to Peter and the rest of the apostles.

“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.”

Acts 2:1-4