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<DIV>Stuart,</DIV>
<DIV>You are exactly right. Actually, there are three things necessary for a sin to be judged as mortal:</DIV>
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<DIV>1. It has to be a serious matter (i.e. against the 10 Commandments or the 7 precepts of the Church.</DIV>
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<DIV>2. The person has to KNOW it's a serious matter.</DIV>
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<DIV>3. They have to do it anyway.</DIV>
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<DIV>Number 2 & 3 presuppose that a sin is not committed in a moment of passion. The determination of a sin as mortal is almost always left to the sinner. A confessor can/will question a penitent but will usually, ultimately leave it to the person. A murder in a fit of jealous rage may not have been the best example. I would submit the example of a police officer who must carry a weapon as part of his job. He is put in a situation where he must fire his weapon, killing the perpetrator. Number 1 & 2 most likely apply but he wouldn't have the chance to think it through before having to fire.</DIV>
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<DIV>Dianne<BR> </DIV>
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<DIV><EM><FONT color=#0000bf face="Comic Sans MS">Like a deer that longs for running waters so my soul longs for you, O God.</FONT></EM></DIV></FONT></EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000bf><EM><FONT face="comic sans ms">Ps 42:1</FONT></EM></FONT></DIV>
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<B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Stuart D. Gathman <stuart@bmsi.com><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> Art Kelly <arthurkelly@yahoo.com><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Cc:</SPAN></B> Apologetics Group <apologetics@gathman.org>; Jimmy Murphy <jmurf80@gmail.com><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Sat, September 25, 2010 10:30:26 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [Apologetics] Incredible, riveting video<BR></FONT><BR>On Sat, 25 Sep 2010, Art Kelly wrote:<BR><BR>> Thus, anything stated in an alleged apparation that is inconsistent with<BR>> Scripture cannot be authentic. But perhaps this lady misquoted or<BR>> misunderstood Jesus. If the apparation is real, maybe he meant that venial<BR>> sins should be avoided too. But he cannot have actually said that venial<BR>> sins and mortal sins are the
same. <BR><BR>My understanding of the Catholic position is that the difference between<BR>mortal and venial sin is in the sinner, not the specific action or<BR>behaviour. A mortal sin is a grave matter, done with full knowledge and<BR>deliberate consent. Murder is normally a mortal sin, but if done in<BR>a jealous rage in the moment of discovering unfaithfulness, may not<BR>involve deliverate consent. For a believer, mortal sin is rebellion, as<BR>opposed to weakness.<BR><BR>-- <BR> Stuart D. Gathman <<A href="mailto:stuart@bmsi.com" ymailto="mailto:stuart@bmsi.com">stuart@bmsi.com</A>><BR> Business Management Systems Inc. Phone: 703 591-0911 Fax: 703 591-6154<BR>"Confutatis maledictis, flammis acribus addictis" - background song for<BR>a Microsoft sponsored "Where do you want to go from here?" commercial.</DIV></DIV></div><br>
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