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Catholics/Is it mortal or is it venial?
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Question
I am a convert to Catholicism from an alternitive religon. My pre Catholic Religon was very violent in its views, (thankfully it is now a dead religon as it ended with my conversion.)I believed that to torture or hurt people was morally just and that sinners should never be shown any mercy or forgiveness. Recentlly someone got me increadibly angery and I began to comfort myself by thinking cruel and violent thoughts, (to be precise it was the thought of me as an ancient Cannanite Priest Immolating numerous random live Children before Molech while the screams of their Heart broken Mothers were drowned out with excessively loud heavy metal music.) I conffessed this recently as Cruel and violent thoughts. My question is did I give enough detail in Conffession? Is this a mortal or venial sin (I would never actually do something so cruel). Does even thinking about it qualify as a mortal sin or is it venial. I was raised Prodestant and my Mother taught me that if you even think about it it is as bad as if you did it. Is she right?
Hello, Martin:
Thanks for the question.
It sounds as though you made a very good and thorough confession... I would not think it necessary for you to describe all the details about the thoughts of Moloch and sacrificing children. Since you only had the thoughts, but my your own admission say that you would never actually choose to harm anyone: this means that you did not give consent to the thoughts with your will, so it was not a mortal sin. Allow God's loving, healing, and forgiving Grace to flow throughout your entire being, and being turned away from all evil and following after the Lord, just keep striving toward Jesus as He draws you to the Heavenly Father.
May God bless you!
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Answers by Expert:
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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