Q&A 39
Q. I was hoping you'd give concrete examples of mortal sins rather than just theory...
A. Well St. Paul lists a number of them: "...fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like." And he adds: "I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal 5:19-21)
Q. So you're saying if I commit any of these sins I can't get into heaven?
A. More like God is saying, through St. Paul. I'm only repeating what they said.
Q. So if I like get drunk that's it?
A. Yup.
Q. Or I fornicate?
A. Yup.
Q. Or if I'm envious or angry or selfish...?
A. Yup. Dead soul. No heaven.
Q. But surely there must be a question of degree coz if I get a bit angry after being fouled on the soccer pitch that is very different from getting angry at my wife because I'm drunk or stressed in the office.
A. Yes. There you're right. In fact traditionally, the Church has taught that there are three conditions that need to be fulfilled in order for a thought, word, action or omission to be a mortal sin.
She begins with St. John's definition that all wrongdoing is sin. But for it to be a mortal sin
a. the subject matter needs to be grave or serious;
b. one needs to know or be fully aware the matter is grave
c. but nonetheless goes ahead and does it with full consent.
If any of these is missing, it remains wrongdoing but is not mortal. In this sense if you want to generalise, you can say sins of weakness (where I do something without thinking about it e.g. abusing someone on the basketball court after they foul me or telling a friend a small lie to avoid embarrassment) are venial sins and sins of malice (premeditated e.g. getting drunk, watching porn, aborting, etc.) are mortal sins.
8thNovember 2015