What
is blasphemy?
Blasphemy is any word or action or gesture which shows contempt for or insult
to God. It is always a mortal sin. It can be direct or indirect. In this latter
case, it is scorn or ridicule or contempt shown to the Church, her doctrines
and discipline, or sacred persons or things. Sometimes it is joined to heresy
or cursing or anger at God.
Reprinted from May 2, 1997
Simony is the deliberate buying or selling of spiritual goods or of a temporal thing that is attached to a spiritual good (such as a position in the Church). Spiritual goods would include grace, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, sacraments, sacramentals, relics, indulgences, blessings, prayers, exercise of an ecclesiastical office, etc. The stipend offered to a priest for the celebration of Mass for a particular intention is not simony. The sin is named after Simon Magus (Acts 8:9-24)
Reprinted from May 9, 1997
Are white lies considered sins?
Lying is always a sin. A lie is the deliberate telling of an untruth for the purpose of deception. It is intrinsically immoral no matter what its color
Reprinted from April 4, 1997
My employer does not pay me the wages I truly believe that I am worth. Therefore,
I take things home from the shop to use in other jobs and to use around my
house. Is this what is called "occult compensation?"
No. what you are doing is called stealing.
Reprinted from February 21, 1997
Are there any objective rules of thumb for determining when a sin is mortal
and when it is venial?
"The Catechism of the Catholic Church" contains the answer to your question in number 1854. I suggest you study this matter thoroughly there. The catechism says, among other things: "For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be met: Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent. " For a further explanation of these things, the catechism is the best reference work. It is available now in paperback at a low cost.
Reprinted from February 28, 1997
Is it a sin to watch magicians on TV?
Magicians who play tricks with eyes and hands and other deceptive activities to entertain an audience can certainly be watched and enjoyed. Only if someone were to claim that his or her "magic" was not due to trickery, but to some supernatural or preternatural powers would it be wrong to support such notions. It is hard to know if there would be any "magicians" of this sort around in our country these days.
Reprinted from December 19, 1997
Many years ago I vandalized a car and stole a radio out of it. When I recently
confessed this, the priest told me that I had to make restitution or these
sins would not be forgiven. Was he correct?
Yes. You must make a good faith and sincere effort to find the owner of the car and pay for the damage and return the radio, having it properly installed. It is not necessary that you reveal your identity, however, unless there is not another way to make restitution. In case, you cannot locate the owner, after a long and hard attempt, you must give the equivalent amount of money for your restitution to the poor or to the Church. Incidentally, congratulations for your repentance and confession of your mortal sins.
Reprinted from January 17, 1997
If I tell a lie, do I have to go to the people that I lied to and tell them
the truth?
Restitution is sometimes a necessary duty for liars. This is particularly the case where slander has resulted in harm being done to someone. For instance, if one were to lose a job because of the slander or to have his or her reputation seriously injured, the liar would have to strive to under the damage and make appropriate recitation. In such cases, even if a liar went to confession, the sin of lying or slander would not be taken away until the restitution was made.
Reprinted from November 1, 1996
What is the sin against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29) which can never be forgiven,
but is an eternal sin?
No sin is unpardonable, speaking objectively, since God wills all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). However, God cannot and will not pardon anyone unless there is repentance and an acceptance of His mercy. It is precisely the lack of repentance and the refusal of God's mercy which cannot ever be forgiven. Usually the "sins of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" are listed as six in number: 1. Presumption of saving oneself without Christ or His Church or else without personal effort and cooperation with grace; 2. despair of God's mercy; 3. deliberately resisting the truths of the Catholic Faith; 4. envy of another's spiritual good; 5. final impenitence.
Reprinted from November 15, 1996
How does one cooperate in evil or aid another in sin
Moral theologians tell us there are nine ways to cooperate in evil or aid another in sin: 1) counseling or advising another to sin; 2) commanding another to sin; 3) provoking another to sin; 3) provoking another to sin; 4) consenting to another's sin; 5) showing another how to sin; 6) praising another's sin; 7) concealing, remaining silent about, or doing nothing to prevent another's sin; 8) taking part in or rejoicing in the results of another's sin; and 9) defending another's sin.
Reprinted from November 29, 1996
If a Catholic gets married while in the state of mortal sin, is the marriage valid?
Yes. The marriage is valid. However, the Catholic commits an additional mortal sin of sacrilege in this case, and, obviously, receives no grace in the sacrament. The Catholic would have to receive absolution in the sacrament of penance before receiving any of the graces of the sacrament of matrimony.
Reprinted from September 27, 1996