When is lying a mortal sin

Subscribe to my RSS Feed. Conte Jr. Skip to content. When is lying a mortal sin? Posted on 17 February by Ron Conte. This entry was posted in ethics , intention and moral object. Bookmark the permalink. Search for:. If the works of God seem foolish to you, who is the fool — God or you? Blog at WordPress. Follow Following. Sign me up. In order to not get penalized for missing the quiz, I lied to my teacher by emailing her and saying that I was sick today and unable to come to class. Usually, we are required to get "university documentation" for sickness, but my university only gives out documentation for SERIOUS illnesses, like appendicitis and heart attacks.

They don't care if you have the flu or a cold or a migraine, etc--only "dire" illnesses. Anyway, that's sort of besides the point. So I lied about being sick, in order that my grade wouldn't suffer. I was planning on going to class, was on my way to class--just had to make that "quick" pitstop in the library printing center, which turned out to take much longer than I thought--and thus couldn't make it to class.

I know all of of this could have been avoided if I had been prepared for class ahead of time. I just can't figure out if I've sinned mortally by lying in this way, or if it was only venial. I want to go to daily mass, but I'm not sure if I need to go to Confession first. Thank you for taking the time to help. If I should ask this in the Ask a Scholar forum, I'll do so. Winchester 4 posts. Nihil Obstat 10 posts. Tab'le De'Bah-Rye 13 posts. ToJesusMyHeart 4 posts. October 9, October 8, By definition -If you are not sure it's a mortal sin, it is not a mortal sin.

Probably it should be at or near the top of your list when you next go to Confession. A good reparation would be to help a. A good reparation would be to help another person get ready for a test.

Well I am no moral theologian, nor am I a priest, but it does not sound like grave matter to me. That is only my opinion.

Offenses Against Truth. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John To lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead someone into error. By injuring man's relation to truth and to his neighbor, a lie offends against the fundamental relation of man and of his word to the Lord. If a lie in itself only constitutes a venial sin, it becomes mortal when it does grave injury to the virtues of justice and charity.

It is a profanation of speech, whereas the purpose of speech is to communicate known truth to others. The deliberate intention of leading a neighbor into error by saying things contrary to the truth constitutes a failure in justice and charity. The culpability is greater when the intention of deceiving entails the risk of deadly consequences for those who are led astray. It affects his ability to know, which is a condition of every judgment and decision.

It contains the seed of discord and all consequent evils. Lying is destructive of society; it undermines trust among men and tears apart the fabric of social relationships. When it is impossible publicly to make reparation for a wrong, it must be made secretly.

If someone who has suffered harm cannot be directly compensated, he must be given moral satisfaction in the name of charity. This duty of reparation also concerns offenses against another's reputation. This reparation, moral and sometimes material, must be evaluated in terms of the extent of the damage inflicted.

It obliges in conscience. Sometimes we do it without thinking. For example, when you gossip about a friend or neighbor, you are likely telling some falsehoods. The same applies to boasting; you are likely over representing your abilities or achievements. The automatic white lies we tell to our partners, bosses, and even kids often become second nature. A mortal sin is one where you commit a grave sin with full knowledge of its gravity and consequences.

The type of lying that falls under this category is injurious lying. Some examples include lying when under oath, telling lies about your neighbour, or knowingly lying to a police officer. But most of the lies we tell, often without thinking, are venial sins.

These are less serious sinful acts, done without intention of causing harm and without knowing their consequences. Most white lies are venial sins. Venial sins still injure your friendship to God, but they do not sever it.

You can go to confession or seek forgiveness privately.