Would This Be Mortal Sin or Venial?

[nick24]

I am a college student with a wife and two year old and life right now is pretty hectic and stressful. I did something this semester that I’m not proud of and are ashamed of. Althought my wife was trying to help me she made accessible to me all of her course work plus answers to test in an online course I took this year. Under pressure and temptation, I gave in to “secure” a good GPA. So, I did not put any of my own effort into this class, and as well I used her answers for another class project. I know for a sin to be mortal it must meet the three conditions: Serious Matter, Full knowledge, and Full consent. What my question is, does this sort of cheating constitute as Serious or (Grave) matter?

 

[Mirror_Mirror]

I am a college student with a wife and two year old and life right now is pretty hectic and stressful. I did something this semester that I’m not proud of and are ashamed of. Althought my wife was trying to help me she made accessible to me all of her course work plus answers to test in an online course I took this year. Under pressure and temptation, I gave in to “secure” a good GPA. So, I did not put any of my own effort into this class, and as well I used her answers for another class project. I know for a sin to be mortal it must meet the three conditions: Serious Matter, Full knowledge, and Full consent. What my question is, does this sort of cheating constitute as Serious or (Grave) matter?

Talk with your priest about this. I would definitely go to confession as soon as possible. If you feel that bad about doing this, would you consider retaking the test?

 

[Dan_Grelinger]

I am a college student with a wife and two year old and life right now is pretty hectic and stressful. I did something this semester that I’m not proud of and are ashamed of. Althought my wife was trying to help me she made accessible to me all of her course work plus answers to test in an online course I took this year. Under pressure and temptation, I gave in to “secure” a good GPA. So, I did not put any of my own effort into this class, and as well I used her answers for another class project. I know for a sin to be mortal it must meet the three conditions: Serious Matter, Full knowledge, and Full consent. What my question is, does this sort of cheating constitute as Serious or (Grave) matter?

My opionions only:

If your education is for your own benefit only, that is, it will not be used to gain employment, then this sin is clearly venial.

If, however, your education is to prepare for a career, then it may be grave. Your GPA is to represent a true measure of your capability. If it was influenced by your act, and it is used in your attempts to gain employment, the deception continues. If, you obtain a job based upon this GPA, then your salary was obtained through dishonest means. If you look for another job, and your GPA is looked at during the hiring process, the deception does not stop. In my opinion, this would be grave.

Dan

 

[otjm]

My opionions only:

If your education is for your own benefit only, that is, it will not be used to gain employment, then this sin is clearly venial.

If, however, your education is to prepare for a career, then it may be grave. Your GPA is to represent a true measure of your capability. If it was influenced by your act, and it is used in your attempts to gain employment, the deception continues. If, you obtain a job based upon this GPA, then your salary was obtained through dishonest means. If you look for another job, and your GPA is looked at during the hiring process, the deception does not stop. In my opinion, this would be grave.

Dan

grades are only one factor that employers use to determine your grade. A GPA may be a partial measure of your capability, but it is not as large as some would have it to be. There are people who have excellent GPSa and less common sense than a sick goose. There are those who struggle to get the grades, but have a gift that is not exprressed in a standardized test and do extremely well.

School and students tend to be overly focused on GPAs as it is about the only test they seem to know how to apply; and then there is the whole issue of what an A or a B actually consists of; is it based on a bell curve, and is there a sufficient sample to truly place people in the exam? Or is it an arbitrary number assigned to the test, such that anyone answering a certain number of questions correctly receive the same grade( at which some who are not as good as others obtain the same grade?)

To say that the matter is grave because one might later rely upon the GPS of which this exam is but a very very minor point in a 4 year stint, I submit, doewn’t hold up.

If you are upset about it, go to confession and deal with it.

Then learn a more effective study habit/process. One I suggest is the student learning module by Franklin Covey (and yes, I am well aware they are based in Utah and are Mormon owned; that has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it is an effective module).

I do not mean to suggest that cheating has any place in the moral life. I do suggest that in the overall scheme of things, cheating on one test is practically going to do almost nothing to the rest of your life. For that, you actually have to learn something and apply it; not cheating again is a good place to start. Dan, you are over-reactive.

And to the OP, leep in mind why you are in shcool; you are there to learn all you can, not to get a certain GPA; take care of the former and the latter will tend to take care of itself. And frankly, I seriously doubt anyone is going to ask you your GPA on your third or fourth position or job after graduation.

Another way to “weigh” it is similar to the issue of stealing. Stealing $20 from someone who is no welfare and eating beans and rice, and that $20 was needed for food for the next week, is a grave sin; stealing $20 from a large forporation doing a multi-billion dollar business is not of the same gravity. I do not suggest stealing frro either; the former because it is grave; the latter because it is likely to lead you to steal more. But the fact is that in moral theology, the two acts are not of equivilent gravity. Cheating on a Bar Exam is not quite the same thing as cheating on a Political Science test in college, for a degree that would eventually lead to the Bar Exam.

 

[teachccd]

Rather than try to have a forum figure this out for you, go to confession. You did something wrong. Will you go to hell for this? Only God knows. But go to confession and resolve to never do something like this again. That’s it. Tomorrow is Saturday and most parishes hear confessions. So less than 24 hours to worry!

 

[Verisimilitude]

Does it really matter? It is done. You know you did something wrong. Your heart knows what it is if you mind doesn’t want to listen. Your conscience should lead to proper contrition. If that doesn’t, your confession might.

Remember that little voice that told you it was wrong before you did it? The other voice you did listen too is still around and will show up again. Maybe sooner than you think. When you hear that voice remember these words:

“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” Genesis 4:7

 

[Dan_Grelinger]

grades are only one factor that employers use to determine your grade. A GPA may be a partial measure of your capability, but it is not as large as some would have it to be.

Hmmm, my experience is much different than your words.

When I worked for AT&T in 1984, a large corporation with over 1/3 million employees, even after divestiture, they had a corporate instruction preventing the hiring of anyone within one year of graduation who did not graduate in the top half of their class, as determined soley by their GPA.

In the past 20 years, I have interviewed hundreds of candidates for employment. GPAs are used extensively in the screening process in each of the three major employers I have worked for, especially for candidates with less than 5 years of work experience. I use it as part of the hiring process. It is supposed to represent the ability of the student, a measure that is supposed to be the result of years of effort. A GPA achieved by cheating is a major deception. I guess you could rationalize it away, but I would not suggest that course of action.

One last thought. The person deceived is in a position to understand the gravity of the error, are they not? My conclusions are from the perspective of the one who would be deceived by the purposeful deception.

Dan

 

[teachccd]

Just go to confession. Tomorrow is Saturday.

 

[Grace_Angel]

I am a college student with a wife and two year old and life right now is pretty hectic and stressful. I did something this semester that I’m not proud of and are ashamed of. Althought my wife was trying to help me she made accessible to me all of her course work plus answers to test in an online course I took this year. Under pressure and temptation, I gave in to “secure” a good GPA. So, I did not put any of my own effort into this class, and as well I used her answers for another class project. I know for a sin to be mortal it must meet the three conditions: Serious Matter, Full knowledge, and Full consent. What my question is, does this sort of cheating constitute as Serious or (Grave) matter?

I also think its is important that you go to your priest. I dont think its stealing because your wife knows you have used this material, but you have presented the material as your own and that is dishonest.
Grace Angel.

 

[m134e5]

I am a college student with a wife and two year old and life right now is pretty hectic and stressful. I did something this semester that I’m not proud of and are ashamed of. Althought my wife was trying to help me she made accessible to me all of her course work plus answers to test in an online course I took this year. Under pressure and temptation, I gave in to “secure” a good GPA. So, I did not put any of my own effort into this class, and as well I used her answers for another class project. I know for a sin to be mortal it must meet the three conditions: Serious Matter, Full knowledge, and Full consent. What my question is, does this sort of cheating constitute as Serious or (Grave) matter?

You were given credit which you did not earn. Upon graduation you will receive certification from your college that you have completed coursework that you did not complete yourself. I think that is grave matter. I am glad for your sake you did not get caught. I’m not trying to sound harsh here, but if a student of mine cheated (and I would make all of my assignments and tests essay only- which are harder to cheat on- writing style is distinctive), they would fail the course, and I would try to have them expelled from the school as well. I believe this is grave matter- I am not exactly sure of the Church’s position on this. I would confess it if I were you.

 

[otjm]

Hmmm, my experience is much different than your words.

When I worked for AT&T in 1984, a large corporation with over 1/3 million employees, even after divestiture, they had a corporate instruction preventing the hiring of anyone within one year of graduation who did not graduate in the top half of their class, as determined soley by their GPA.

In the past 20 years, I have interviewed hundreds of candidates for employment. GPAs are used extensively in the screening process in each of the three major employers I have worked for, especially for candidates with less than 5 years of work experience. I use it as part of the hiring process. It is supposed to represent the ability of the student, a measure that is supposed to be the result of years of effort. A GPA achieved by cheating is a major deception. I guess you could rationalize it away, but I would not suggest that course of action.

One last thought. The person deceived is in a position to understand the gravity of the error, are they not? My conclusions are from the perspective of the one who would be deceived by the purposeful deception.

Dan

The OP appears to have cheated on one class. Hardly what is going to be decisive. On the other hand, assuming that he has his wits about him, I would presume that he will be in the top half of the class. As I said, GPAs are not as determinative as some would have it; you aloowed someone to get past the first round of the process if they were it the top half; maybe school has changed since I was there, but the top half is a pretty generous area. If wqe were looking at the top 10%, I would say that the GPA was a lot more important.

Further, from your note, you say that was a partial screening; I am sure you used more than just the GPA (and if you gave them the top half, that still leaves a lot of people). As I indcated, it is by no means the sole criteria. You seem to say as much.

I do not disagree with you at all, that if one has achieved a significant part of his or her GPA, that there is some serious problem afoot in terms of deception. The OP was referring to one class, and so was I; if I did not make that clear I certainly did not intend to indicate that I thought cheating was ok. I was simply trying to put one incident of cheating in perspective, and GPAs in perspective. They may be more important in terms of getting into grad school, or in terms of getting into a specific grad school. If you are not in the top half, you may have a significant problem getting into any grad school. On the other hand, if you are legitimately in only (justbarely) into the top half, maybe grad school really isn’t where you belong.

The OP is stressed about GPAs (which was part of the source of the cheating). I was suggesting that, all things being considered, while a GPA has some relevance to the first job, it is often over-rated by college students with no world experience or view.

Someone might graduate Summa; if their degree is in English, the highest GPA in the class isn’t going to get them a job in management. If they have a decent GPA, a couple of points one way or the other probably is not going to be the deciding factor in the final competition.

 

[mapleoak]

Determining the gravity of a sin such as cheating, discernment is likely based the ultimate intention behind such action. Firstly, it is always sinful, in that it is cause of deception. An example of something that is probably on the lower end of seriousness would be taking the class for the mere reason of just taking the class out of curiosity with no real interest. However, if the resulting certification is used later on for further deception or notoriety, it could escalate the seriousness of any subsequent deception. On the serious side would likely be to have the intentions of deceiving the school into thinking you know what you don’t or using the benefit of ones falsified scores to deceive others about ones skills, such as an employer.

In Christ - J.M.J.
Mapleoak

 

[Dan_Grelinger]

The OP appears to have cheated on one class. Hardly what is going to be decisive.

Morality is determined by intent, act, and the circumstances existing around the act when it is commited.

Results are not applicable when it comes to morality. You seem to be focusing a lot on the results, and not the intent (calculated, premeditated deception of teachers, school administrators, and prospective employers), or the act (deliberate cheating, lying).

In civil law, the results are very important; an examination of them is necesary to calculate damages to the harmed party. In morality, results don’t matter. If you try to commit murder, and fail because of an event outside of your control, you are still culpable to God for murder. The intent, act, and circumstances all were the same, whether you succeeded or not. The state, however, can not charge you with murder if you are not ‘lucky’ enough to succeed at it.

For legal questions, your answers are appropriate. For moral questions, results matter not. I think the OP requested a moral opinion.

Sincerely,

Dan

 

[otjm]

Morality is determined by intent, act, and the circumstances existing around the act when it is commited.

Results are not applicable when it comes to morality. You seem to be focusing a lot on the results, and not the intent (calculated, premeditated deception of teachers, school administrators, and prospective employers), or the act (deliberate cheating, lying).

Actually, that is not entirely accurate. The example is often given as to theft. To steal $20 from someone living on foodstamps is to steal a disproportionate amount and is a serious matter. To steal $20 from a large profitable corporation is not as serious. Intent is not the sole judge of the issue, because the matter must be serious also. My position is that a one-time cheating is not as serious in one class (and from the OP, it doesn’t appear to be a final exam, nor to be a continual pattern of behavior indicating a major attempt to sway a cumulative GPA); my psotion is that given the whole of the circumstances, it is probably not a mortal sin.

I do not make light of venial sins, but they are just that - venial.

For legal questions, your answers are appropriate. For moral questions, results matter not. I think the OP requested a moral opinion.

Sincerely,

Dan

Again, I am not focusing on results (although it may appear that I am); but rather, the totality of the situation. I would consider an attempt to cheat on a licensing examination - for example, to be a clinical psychologist or an attorney - far more serious than cheating on a paper and a midterm in a third year medival history class. It goes back to the totality of the situation; trying to weigh such an act in isolation from the sum total (in a 4 year college stint, he cheated once) does have meaning in trying to weigh the seriousness of what he did.

To be a mortal sin, he must have the intent (for the sake of arguement, he did), and two other factors - it must be serious and he must know it is serious. He may think it serious, but that does not make it so. And I posit that it is not serious, but definitely a path he does not want to continue to trod.

 

[julie_s]

Once you go to confession you are going to feel better, remember God knows what you did and remember that he is an all forgiving God, you must let it go and move on and maybe this is a learning lesson for you and you will only grow in faith

 

[Greg27]

It is understandable you were pressured by several factors to take this road to an action which isn’t right morally. Your own conscience is telling you so, and as the great moral Philosopher Kant said, we must listen to the judgements on us of our own consciences, as they are the most holy of judgements which come to us from our deepest being. Likewise, moral theologians often say the promptings of conscience are the voice of the Holy Spirit in us.

As with any sin, grave or not, we must place our trust in God’s mercy and pray for forgiveness with genuine contritition and seek sacramental confession as soon as possible, rather than trying to acquit ourselves of guilt or despairing our efforts at the good are worthless.

 

[Dan_Grelinger]

Actually, that is not entirely accurate. The example is often given as to theft. To steal $20 from someone living on foodstamps is to steal a disproportionate amount and is a serious matter. To steal $20 from a large profitable corporation is not as serious. Intent is not the sole judge of the issue, because the matter must be serious also.

What you descrive in your theft example are the circumstances surrounding the act of theft, and circumstances do apply in determining morality.

My position is that a one-time cheating is not as serious in one class (and from the OP, it doesn’t appear to be a final exam, nor to be a continual pattern of behavior indicating a major attempt to sway a cumulative GPA); my psotion is that given the whole of the circumstances, it is probably not a mortal sin.

Patterns of venial sins don’t make mortal sins, so looking for a pattern is not very helpful in this case. If it happens just once, and it is a mortal sin, then it is a mortal sin.

Again, I am not focusing on results (although it may appear that I am); but rather, the totality of the situation. I would consider an attempt to cheat on a licensing examination - for example, to be a clinical psychologist or an attorney - far more serious than cheating on a paper and a midterm in a third year medival history class. It goes back to the totality of the situation; trying to weigh such an act in isolation from the sum total (in a 4 year college stint, he cheated once) does have meaning in trying to weigh the seriousness of what he did.

Again, there is no situation where a lot of venial sins equal a mortal sin. If you say that if he does this once, its venial, but if he does it routinely, its mortal, then you suggest many venial sins can become a mortal sin. Not true.

To be a mortal sin, he must have the intent (for the sake of arguement, he did), and two other factors - it must be serious and he must know it is serious. He may think it serious, but that does not make it so. And I posit that it is not serious, but definitely a path he does not want to continue to trod.

You’ve had an employer say that this is serious, as it misrepresents the qualifications of the candidate. You’ve had a college professor say that it is serious and would possibly result in being expelled from school. This deception appears to be grave matter.

Dan

 

[otjm]

Patterns of venial sins don’t make mortal sins, so looking for a pattern is not very helpful in this case. If it happens just once, and it is a mortal sin, then it is a mortal sin.

I agree. But I am not convinced this was a mortal sin. It is true, however, that constant venial sins tends to weaken the conscience, and easily can lead to more serious sins. Not that it does, but he who plays with fire…

No, I don’t say that; just that one who practices sin is apt to become morally weakened to the point that one is more easily tempted in more serious matters.

You’ve had an employer say that this is serious, as it misrepresents the qualifications of the candidate. You’ve had a college professor say that it is serious and would possibly result in being expelled from school. This deception appears to be grave matter.

Dan

And I have disagreed that it misrepresents (necessarily) the qualifications of the cadidate. If it were a signifcant class in a degree (for example, an advanced course in Robotics as part of an Engineering degree, and the postion applied for was involved with robotics from an Engineering standpoint) then I would agree. If it were some run of the mill coursework as part of a BA or BS, then I would disagree. And again, if the cheating were an isolated incident (which from the OP it seems to be), and not a final exam or the one major paper for the course, Then I kind of doubt that it is very significant to show anything other than the candidate is human. We all know of courses that are critical to a workplace assignment, and all know of courses that are on the level of Rocks for Jocks, and all of the other fillers (Western Civ, e.g.) that students seem to have to endure to get that degree.

Given the statistics of around 40% to 60% of students cheating nowadays, I am seriously underimpressed with comments from college professors about kicking students out for any infraction. For major ones, yes. For minor ones - let’s not go there.

Don’t misunderstand; I do not find it acceptable. But from the facts alleged, I cannot automatically judge it serious, either. I would need to know more, and frankly, I am not the OP’s confessor. I have also been in the work world for longer than I care to think, in a number of jobs; and while I would agree that for the first, and maybe second job, the degree is going to have relevance, I still submit that students have a tendency to put more weight on it than it deserves.

In short, without more information, I don’t think either one of us can judge how serious the issue is. Unless he and his wife are getting the same degree, I am guessing that it is more of a filler course (since she seems to have had some of the paperwork for the course) than it is degree related. And frankly, I think most employers are going to look much more at how he does in his major than in an elective or in a prerequisite.

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