Mortal Sin And Habit

[Guest WildFathom]

Hello! I am looking to start a new ministry together with other men locally for men who need assistance breaking habits with immoral sexual behavior, especially, but not limited to masturbation and pornography. I know that the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that once even a gravely evil sin has become a habit it can lessen culpability even enough for it to become a venial sin. Since so many teens and adult men (and women) have formed this habit with our over sexualized society, at what point would the Church say that this sin is no longer 'mortal'? If a priest advises a penitent that the force of habit keeps the sin from being mortal, should it still keep one from receive communion? Obviously the idea is not to get a person out of breaking this serious habit or to keep them from regular and frequent confession, but more for their own peace, especially for those whom this habit is deeply rooted.

If there is a priest here I am really hoping he can answer it. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif[/img]

[cappie]

A habit is something that a person no longer thinks about doing or not doing, they just do it. In other words, a habit does not allow for full consent of the will. It by passes our reason. Habits can include things like addictions.

Therefore since habits do not allow for a person to give full knowledge or complete consent the grave and serious matter is made less serious by it being a habitual sin. Some habitual sins that people can fall into: anger/wrath, sloth, greed, gossip, pre-marital sex, drunkenness, drugs, pornography, and the list might continue.

How the modern word uses habit, like how I am using it, would fall more into what Aquinas refers to as passion. That force or defect that resides outside the will.

"A passion that tends to evil, and precedes the judgment of reason, diminishes sin; " Summa Theologica > First Part of the Second Part Question 24. Good and evil in the passions of the soul Article 3. Whether passion increases or decreases the goodness or malice of an act?

Often these habits can engender a sort of sickness, an addiction, and God will judge the person more mercifully, as should their friends and relatives. In many cases, what they need is the help of doctors, psychologists or therapists, in addition to the spiritual help of priests and the support of those around them.