Catholics/is it grave sin?

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 9/1/2009


Question
Dear Fr. Timothy,
I am upside down on my house about $100K+ and to protect my family an their future, I am selling my house in a short sale.  That is, negotiating with the mortgage holders to reduce the note amount so that we can sell it at market value.  

Banks won't even talk to you until you're late on payments, so we were advised by our agent to stop paying our mortgages.  I know that it is wrong to do this but we felt we had no choice.  

Are we in sin?  If so, is it grave sin?  If yes, then what should we do to come back into a state of grace?

I understand that you may need more information or may not be familiar with some of the financial aspects of this but any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Adam

Answer
Hi, Adam:
Thanks for the question.
It sounds to me like yur intention for missing the payment on the house in the short-run is for the intention in the long-term to negotiate the sale of the house.  As long as you make every attempt necessary to satisfy the justice of your obligations, then it does not seem to me like you are commiting a grave offense.  Since I do not understand a lot of the details about what you describe, it is difficult to give a detailed answer; but the general principle stands that you in some manner have the obligation to satisfy justice in regards to your long-term debt...

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

Expertise

A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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