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ConfusedAndStressed Carl
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
I am asking for help because I am deeply confused
and stressed. I am a sinner; I have committed
sins of:
- incest
- homosexuality
- masturbation
- and most Sundays have not been going to
church.
I did not know that any of these were actually
sins until I decided to Google these issues
as they relate to the Catholic faith.
I am really confused, since people say if
you commit these sins, you might forfeit your
salvation or entrance into Heaven. I am a
very religious person. I pray almost every
night before I go back to sleep and if I forget,
I feel deeply sorrowful the next day. I have
a few questions, if you will kindly
answer them:
- Can I be saved from these sins?
- Is masturbation a serious sin?
- Is watching porn a sin as well?
Carl
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Can I be saved from these sins, is masturbation a serious sin, and is watching porn a sin as well? }
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Mary
Ann replied:
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Dear Carl,
You need the help of a good priest.
All of what you talk about is sinful
behavior, if engaged in freely and
knowingly.
If one does not know something is
a sin, then he is not guilty of the sin. Often
people become habituated to certain
activities through events that happen
to them, like child abuse. Many sexual
sins can become habitual, and sometimes
there is an element of compulsion
and addiction, which makes it harder
to stop.
A good confessor can help
you. When you confess your sins,
God will not only forgive anything
you may be guilty of, but He will
give you healing graces and more
freedom.
You must also pray and rely on God,
no matter how often you fail.
God bless,
Mary Ann
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Paul
replied:
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Dear Carl,
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
But as Mary Ann mentioned, you needed
to know it was wrong at the time
you performed these acts and freely
consent to them for you to be guilty
of these sins. If you are guilty,
Christ is waiting for you in the
Sacrament of Confession to completely
forgive you, if you are sorry and
resolve to try and sin no more.
Your apparent sincere sorrow and
desire to be right with God is admirable.
Sexual sins can be more addictive
than heroin, so the key here is perseverance
— not only with your own power
but by the power of grace that God
wants to give you in the sacrament
of Confession (and the Eucharist).
Persevere and do not despair; God
knows our weaknesses, and has set
up this wonderful sacrament to forgive
us whenever we fall. Confession and
Communion are the one-two punch to keep out the devil.
Peace,
Paul
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Mike
replied:
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Hi, Carl —
Beside what my colleagues have said,
I wanted to point you to some related
postings from
our knowledge base.
Take a crack at our searchable knowledge base next time:
https://www.AskACatholic.com/SiteSearch
There are a lot of quick answers there, so give it a try.
In one posting I said:
First we have to remember, due to the effects of
original sin, we will always struggle with concupiscence.
The only time we won't struggle, is when we are six
feet in the ground : )
So strive to do the right thing like
Mary Ann and Paul have suggested,
but don't beat up on yourself.
Mike
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