Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 244.  Thu  2-06-92  9:42  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Denise Dewitt
 Subject: Mortal sin

+-
| WHAT IS MORTAL SIN?
+-[DD=>FM]
 
Dear Denise,
 
All sin is wrong doing --- actions or omissions contrary to God's will
and to the well being of others or of oneself.
 
Sin is mortal only if three conditions are fully met:
 
1) the matter -- what is done or omitted -- is serious;
 
2) there is sufficient reflection on the part of the sinner; he must be
   aware of the seriousness of the matter, and he must be aware that he
   is doing what is seriously sinful;
 
3) there is full consent of the will.
 
If any one of these three conditions is absent or diminished, the sin
is venial; or there may be no sin at all.
 
If there is doubt about any of these three conditions AFTER THE FACT, a
person rightly gives himself the benefit of the doubt.
 
If there is doubt about the sinfulness of the action or omission BEFORE
THE FACT, the doubt must be resolved, if possible, by study,
reflection, consultation, whatever.  If I am in doubt whether an action
I propose to perform is sinful or not, and I go ahead and do it without
trying to resolve the doubt, I commit sin.  If, however, I honestly try
to resolve the doubt and cannot do so, I am then free to act and I do
not sin by doing so.
 
What is serious matter?  The safe guide here is Holy Scripture as
interpreted by the Church, who is the pillar and foundation of the
Truth (1st Timothy 3:15).  Common sense and common decency are very
useful in determining what is seriously sinful or venially sinful or
good or better or best, but it is rash and imprudent to ignore the
teaching of the Church and the Bible.  Self love, prejudice, apathy,
laziness and other human defects easily blind us in moral questions, so
that we really need instruction from the authentic source, along with
enough prayer, humility, and obedience to follow that instruction.
 
A very useful guide here is a cassette tape obtainable from St. Joseph
Communications, Inc. -- P.O. Box 720 -- West Covina, CA 91793:  tape