Mortal Sins: The Catholic Church's Darkest Commandments

In Catholic theology, a mortal sin is a gravely sinful act that can lead to damnation if a person does not repent before death. Mortal sins are considered a deliberate turning away from God and His commandments, depriving the sinner of God's sanctifying grace. To be considered a mortal sin, three conditions must be met: the act must be of grave matter, committed with full knowledge of its gravity, and with deliberate consent. While the Catholic Church does not provide an exhaustive list, well-known examples of mortal sins include breaking the Ten Commandments, suicide, induced abortion, rape, and murder.

Worshipping false gods

Other acts considered under the umbrella of worshipping false gods include:

• Sacrilege: Committing sacrilege involves the desecration or disrespect of something sacred or holy, such as burning a cross, defacing Catholic churches, or desecrating the Eucharist.
• Atheism: Atheism is the rejection of the existence of God, which goes against the first commandment.
• Divination, Magic, and Sorcery: These practices involve attempting to command occult powers, control or communicate with demons or spirits, attempting to predict the future, and using magic charms.

Sexual sins

The Catholic Church teaches that sexual love between a man and a woman is sacred and good but must be reserved for marriage. This teaching is rooted in the creation account of Genesis, where God creates man in His image and likeness, making them male and female. Before the man and woman come together as husband and wife, they are first blessed by God, who says, "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it".

The physical expression of love in marriage is a sacred sign of the covenant of life and love that a husband and wife share in union with God. This marital love signifies the vows freely exchanged between each other and reflects the faithful, permanent, exclusive, and self-giving love they have promised to each other and to God.

Any action that deviates from this design is considered intrinsically evil. Violating the covenant of marriage, whether physically or spiritually, by oneself or with another, constitutes adultery. Jesus elevated the living of that faithful, permanent, exclusive, and self-giving love of marriage to a higher standard of holiness.

The following are examples of sexual sins, or mortal sins, according to Catholic teaching:

• Lust
• Voyeurism
• Masturbation
• Contraception
• Fornication
• Homosexuality
• Polygamy
• Polyamory
• Pederasty
• Pedophilia
• Rape
• Sodomy
• Bestiality
• Pornography
• Prostitution
• Adultery
• Divorce
• Incest
• Free unions (cohabitation or concubinage)
• Sexual acts before or outside of marriage

The degree of sin, whether mortal or venial, depends on the type and circumstances. However, these activities are always considered sinful.

It is important to note that the temptation to commit sexual sin is not a sin in itself, and Catholics should examine the reasons behind their desires to commit sexual sin.

Sins against the self

Self-harm, for instance, is considered a sin against the self as it violates the commandment "Thou shall not kill", which includes harming one's own life. Similarly, suicide is also a grave matter and is considered a mortal sin. However, the culpability of an individual who commits suicide may be diminished if they were experiencing grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or fear at the time.

Additionally, neglecting one's spiritual growth or well-being can be a sin against the self. This includes spiritual sloth, or acedia, which is characterised by a refusal of "the joy that comes from God" and a repulsion of "divine goodness".

Other sins against the self include gluttony, which is the overconsumption of food or drink, and lust, which is an intense desire for sexual pleasure, money, power, or fame. These sins are considered harmful to the soul and can lead to a separation from God if not repented.

Sins against others

Violence and Harm

The most serious sins against others involve direct and intentional killing, such as murder, manslaughter, and abortion. Suicide is also considered a grave sin, although it is recognised that mental illness and other factors can diminish responsibility. Other acts of violence, such as rape, endangerment of human life, and causing someone else to sin gravely, are also considered mortal sins.

Theft and Fraud

Theft, robbery, and fraud are all considered mortal sins, as they involve taking what belongs to another person. This includes theft of goods, cheating and unfair wagers, and defrauding workers of their rightful wages.

Lying and False Witness

Lying, bearing false witness, perjury, and blasphemy are all considered grave sins. However, the gravity of a lie depends on the nature of the truth it deforms, the intentions of the liar, and the harm suffered by the victim.

Adultery and Sexual Sins

Adultery, divorce, and sexual relations outside of marriage are considered grave sins. This includes prostitution, pornography, and fornication. Homosexual actions are also considered mortal sins.

Hatred and Disrespect

Hatred of one's neighbour, when one desires grave harm to another, is considered a mortal sin. This also includes ingratitude, disrespect, and disobedience to one's parents, children, or siblings.

Sins against God

For a sin to be considered mortal, three conditions must be met: the sin must be of grave matter, committed with full knowledge, and with deliberate consent. Grave matter refers to actions that are seriously evil, such as violating the Ten Commandments. Full knowledge implies that the sinner is aware of the sinful nature and gravity of their actions. Deliberate consent means that the sinner accepts and tolerates their actions.

Mortal sins include the worship of false gods, idolatry, sacrilege, atheism, blasphemy, breaking the Sabbath, hatred towards one's parents, murder, abortion, euthanasia, suicide, adultery, sexual sins such as pornography and prostitution, theft, and bearing false witness. These sins are considered grave due to their direct violation of God's commandments and the serious harm they cause.

Mortal sins have severe consequences, depriving individuals of God's sanctifying grace and their relationship with Christ. Repentance and confession are necessary for forgiveness and absolution. Without repentance, mortal sins can lead to eternal damnation in hell, as they separate individuals from God's grace.

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