Protestants and Mortal sin

[God_of_Mercy]

If a Protestant commits a mortal sin, how are they made right with God without the Sacrament of Penance?

 

[Miss Shelby]

Through sorrowful remorse and repentance.

Michelle

 

[Letalis]

Through their 'invincible ignorance...' whatever that is.

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

Priests have the power to forgive sins. To say sins can be forgiven without a priest is to cheapen and make useless the Sacrament.

It would be like saying baptism isnt necessary.

 

[MichaelFJF]

Wow it only took 4 posts this time. That's a record I think.

 

[God_of_Mercy]

Through sorrowful remorse and repentance.

Michelle

So mortal sins can be forgiven without a priest?

Priests have the power to forgive sins. To say sins can be forgiven without a priest is to cheapen and make useless the Sacrament.

It would be like saying baptism isnt necessary.

I seem to be getting mixed messages, please clarify.

 

[Letalis]

Priests have the power to forgive sins. To say sins can be forgiven without a priest is to cheapen and make useless the Sacrament.

It would be like saying baptism isnt necessary.

I agree. Maybe I should just tell my priest that I don't need him anymore. Oh right, because I know that I need my priest, I need him, but when you don't know you need a priest, you don't need him.

 

[MichaelFJF]

I agree. Maybe I should just tell my priest that I don't need him anymore. Oh right, because I know that I need my priest, I need him, but when you don't know you need a priest, you don't need him.

There might be one more thing:

To say sins can be forgiven without a priest is to cheapen and make useless the Sacrament.

I'm pretty sure that God can forgive sins.

 

[Letalis]

I seem to be getting mixed messages, please clarify.

This is a point of contention among Catholics. We tend to just leave it up to God.

 

[Miss Shelby]

So mortal sins can be forgiven without a priest?

It's a little more complicated than that. Catholics are bound by the Sacraments, non Catholics are not. It's impossible for me to state in a hypothetical sense who would be forgiven and who would not.

I will say, if a person is investigating the Catholic Faith, and he/she discovers that they believe Catholicsim to be the truth, they have a moral obligation to convert.

Michelle

 

[Miss Shelby]

God of Mercy: When I was investigating Catholicism via the web, I found one person who I trusted and respected, and asked my questions via pm. This is only a suggestion.

Michelle

 

[Miss Shelby]

This is a point of contention among Catholics. We tend to just leave it up to God.

We do? Because you and another person both said that telling non Catholics they don't necessarily need a priest to forgive sins is cheapening the Sacrament? So which is it?

 

[Letalis]

We do? Because you and another person both said that telling non Catholics they don't necessarily need a priest to forgive sins is cheapening the Sacrament? So which is it?

I had no idea they were mutually exclusive. Why is that, exactly?

 

[Gwendolyn]

Everyone needs the Sacraments. That is why Christ gave them to us, to bring us closer to Himself through them.

We do not know how God forgives sins outside of the Sacraments. We know that venial sins can be forgiven without sacramental confession. But mortal sins are difficult. While all sin is grave, mortal sins are especially destructive and effectively sever your relationship with God, because you've chosen yourself and your sin over Him in a very defiant and definitive way. Such a grave affliction requires an equally potent medication.

Those who acknowledge this Truth and fully believe it will begin to feel a pull toward the Sacraments. And once you feel that pull... well, then you're on your way home.

 

[She]

I would like to point out that a Roman Catholic's idea of a mortal sin is not the same as a Protestant's idea of a mortal sin. For example, as an Angican, if I miss Church one Sunday, it is not a mortal sin. On the other hand, as a Roman Catholic, if I miss Mass one Sunday, it is, in fact, considered to be a mortal sin.

There are many other examples of activities which one would consider not to be a mortal sin or, in fact, any sin whatsoever, as a Protestant, whereas, as a Roman Catholic, they would be considered to be mortal sins.

 

[Brother_Justin]

I would like to point out that a Roman Catholic's idea of a mortal sin is not the same as a Protestant's idea of a mortal sin. For example, as an Angican, if I miss Church one Sunday, it is not a mortal sin. On the other hand, as a Roman Catholic, if I miss Mass one Sunday, it is, in fact, considered to be a mortal sin.

There are many other examples of activities which one would consider not to be a mortal sin or, in fact, any sin whatsoever, as a Protestant, whereas, as a Roman Catholic, they would be considered to be mortal sins.

Yes Im sure he is aware of that but I think he was asking for a Catholic point of view on the issue........



Brother Justin <><

 

[Gwendolyn]

I would like to point out that a Roman Catholic's idea of a mortal sin is not the same as a Protestant's idea of a mortal sin. For example, as an Angican, if I miss Church one Sunday, it is not a mortal sin. On the other hand, as a Roman Catholic, if I miss Mass one Sunday, it is, in fact, considered to be a mortal sin.

There are many other examples of activities which one would consider not to be a mortal sin or, in fact, any sin whatsoever, as a Protestant, whereas, as a Roman Catholic, they would be considered to be mortal sins.

Good point. Perhaps the OP might clarify - I was under the impression that he was talking about sins that all Christians consider to be especially grave (adultery, fornication, murder, stealing, etc.).

 

[Rising_Suns]

Please remember there are 3 conditions for a sin to be mortal in Catholic doctrine;

1. Grave matter
2. Full knowledge
3. Full consent

#2 is an important condition in this context. In order for a Protestant to commit a sin that is mortally wounding to the soul, they must have full knowledge of its gravity and still choose to commit it anyway. In some cases, this knowledge only comes by being Catholic (i.e., going to Church on sunday is an example commonly used). In other cases, one cannot plead invisible ignorance if the mortal sin violates something deeply ingrained in our moral conscience (murder or rape, for example).

That being said, if a Protestant is sincerely sorry for his sins and asks for forgiveness, God will not deny him graces that is proportionate to his contrition. To suggest otherwise is silly, and contraditctory to the Church's teachings.

However, something to always remember, is that only through confession can we know with aboslute certainty that we have been totally forgiven and absolved of our sins. Outside of confession, we depend on the level of contrition/desire in our hearts. But through confession, God will perfectly restore our souls to grace every time, so long as we are contrite and fullfill our penance.

Blessings,

-Davide

 

[PETE_]

Priests have the power to forgive sins. To say sins can be forgiven without a priest is to cheapen and make useless the Sacrament.

It would be like saying baptism isnt necessary.

I have a priest. His name is Jesus. I confess my sin to Him, and he the Most High Priest.

Baptism is definately commanded... but necessary? The thief on the cross was not baptised yet saved by Christ.

 

[djbcrawford]

Everyone needs the Sacraments. That is why Christ gave them to us, to bring us closer to Himself through them.

We do not know how God forgives sins outside of the Sacraments. We know that venial sins can be forgiven without sacramental confession. But mortal sins are difficult. While all sin is grave, mortal sins are especially destructive and effectively sever your relationship with God, because you've chosen yourself and your sin over Him in a very defiant and definitive way. Such a grave affliction requires an equally potent medication.

Those who acknowledge this Truth and fully believe it will begin to feel a pull toward the Sacraments. And once you feel that pull... well, then you're on your way home.

The only rituals I can recollect Christ giving us was Communion and Baptism. Some early Jewish Christians (Peter included) were condemned by Paul for forcing early christians to become jews and undergo the ritual of circumcision.

All sins are effectively choosing your own way over God's way, and any unrepented sin can sever our relationship with him. We are the people who choose to group sins into different categories.

In my opinion, the sacraments were added by man to make us feel better and to try and ensure repentance was genuine. By saying that it demeans the sacraments by saying they are not needed is just as insulting as saying you're not forgiven without them. If you're not truely sorry for your sins, the sacrament won't make a difference.

God forgives our sins because Christ paid the price for them. We activate his forgiveness by repenting. While some act of penance may make us feel better or prove our remorse, our sin is already forgiven because a price has been paid for it.