Subjective sin and absolution

[Benedicta00]

Though I wonder how it works for people who commit sins, knowing they are wrong in the eyes of the Church, but do not consider them immoral personally.

I have heard of gay and other Catholics who disagree with certain Church teachings and go to confession, but leave out the sins they disagree with the Church on because they do not believe they are sins..

They have knowledge that the Church teaches them it’s a sin- therefor they do commit mortal sin. Now if God finds them guilty is another story. The Church can only teach us what is and is not mortal, they can not condemn someone.

 

[marciadietrich]

They have knowledge that the Church teaches them it’s a sin- therefor they do commit mortal sin. Now if God finds them guilty is another story. The Church can only teach us what is and is not mortal, they can not condemn someone.

Now I thought if it is indeed mortal sin (not just grave matter) then they are supposed to be cut off, not in a state of grace, and if they died in that condition should be condemned, period. Do you mean if they are judged not culpable then it isn't mortal? Then if not culpable they don't qualify under either full knowledge or consent of will and then it would be for them a venial sin despite the grave matter qualification.

Also, I'm not sure full knowledge = been told it is wrong or told it is a requirement. Rather seems full knowledge might possibly = full realization that it is wrong or a requirement. Thus someone who honestly doesn't think contraception is a sin, despite knowing Catholic teaching, might not qualify under full knowledge. Given a been told = full knowledge any protestant told the Catholic Church is the one true Church and is required to be a part of it should qualify on full knowledge and a willful consent to stay outside would be condemning. Same, or even more true, of any baptized/confirmed Catholic who would leave the Church. Yet most Catholics don't seem to lean that way that they automatically have full knowledge and are definately sinning mortally, other than perhaps more staunch traditionalists.

Anyhow, think even someone using contraception should go to see the priest and talk, go to confession even if they don't understand and accept the Church teaching. But expect they are afraid to do so, or don't understand the need to do that. I wouldn't say they are mortally sinning automatically just because they have been told the Church teaching. If they don't even understand the moral underpinnings and thought that cause the Church to reach that conclusion, if they don't have a real understanding of the authority of the Church to teach on those matters... might not be a full understanding of why it is sin. They are compelled to inform themselves - but I expect the average Catholic might not even know about that aspect of faith and conscience formation.

Marcia - the sinner

 

[ps139]

seebs, this is getting into the area of the human conscience - that is, the faculty of our minds which judges the moral quality of an act we are performing or will perform in the future. It is the teaching of the Church, that if you must always follow the certain judgement of your conscience - however if the judgement of your conscience is not certain, then you must follow the teaching of the Church on the matter.

geo. thank you, i have been looking for the answer to this for a long time

 

[nyj]

It is not necessary but still a good practice to confess such sins because the graces of the Sacrament will benefit you all the more if you do. The Sacrament not only absolves sin but also heals and fortifies the soul.

Not only that, but I also would recommend that people end their confession of their sins with something akin to: ... and I seek God's forgiveness for those sins which I have failed to remember in the examination of my conscience. While I doubt God has laundry-lists with all of our sins on them, He'll know what we're talking about, and while we might not be able to give all of our sins a name (or how many times we committed them), He's a pretty understanding guy. I think a simple acknowledgment that we have goofed up more times than we can recall (or wish to remember) and we come to Him in total reliance on His forgiveness, would go a long way.

 

[Michelina]

When a person knows what the Church teaches, he is obliged to accept this teaching, even if he does not agree with it. Our Lord gave the Church the authority to teach in His name. He doesn't give that authority to anyone else. Not even the greatest intellectual and/or mystical Saints have claimed such a right.

Whenever someone says "I don't confess X, Y or Z, because I disagree with what the Church teaches about that", he is committing a serious sin by refusing to accept the Authority of the Church both as Teacher and as Pastor of Christ's Flock. To that he will probably add the commission of an objectively serious sin, even if the ignorance of his misinformed conscience makes him morally innocent of it.

During the past 35 years, many people have forgotten or have not been taught about the binding nature of the authority of the Church. This may seem very undemocratic and 'downright unAmerican' but the Catholic Church is not a democracy, it is a Kingdom.

 

[geocajun]

When a person knows what the Church teaches, he is obliged to accept this teaching, even if he does not agree with it. Our Lord gave the Church the authority to teach in His name. He doesn't give that authority to anyone else. Not even the greatest intellectual and/or mystical Saints have claimed such a right.

Whenever someone says "I don't confess X, Y or Z, because I disagree with what the Church teaches about that", he is committing a serious sin by refusing to accept the Authority of the Church both as Teacher and as Pastor of Christ's Flock. To that he will probably add the commission of an objectively serious sin, even if the ignorance of his misinformed conscience makes him morally innocent of it.

During the past 35 years, many people have forgotten or have not been taught about the binding nature of the authority of the Church. This may seem very undemocratic and 'downright unAmerican' but the Catholic Church is not a democracy, it is a Kingdom.

Well said Michelina