- Feb 5, 2002
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Q: Does a person’s mortal sin prior to becoming Catholic follow him or her until confession and absolution? In particular, if a non-Catholic friend paid for someone’s abortion during the 1970s under the false belief that the fetus was just “tissue” and not a baby yet, should the friend now acknowledge that his or her part was a mortal sin and go to confession and seek absolution?
A: Regarding the first part of your question, it depends on whether or not the person becoming Catholic was a true convert, in the sense of turning to Jesus from a non-Christian religion; or whether they had been a non-Catholic Christian who “entered into full communion” with the Catholic Church.
Continued below.
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A: Regarding the first part of your question, it depends on whether or not the person becoming Catholic was a true convert, in the sense of turning to Jesus from a non-Christian religion; or whether they had been a non-Catholic Christian who “entered into full communion” with the Catholic Church.
Saved by baptism?
Continued below.

Do past mortal sins follow converts to Catholicism until confession?
Sins committed before becoming Catholic — like aiding an abortion — may require confession, depending on baptism, intent, and knowledge.
