Can mortals sins be forgiven?

Question

I know there are different degrees of sinning, however is there no hope for people who have committed mortal sins? I thought that God was all merciful, and loving. Or is it just the fear that the catholic church is enforcing onto fellow catholics? All we all meant to burn in hell because we are not perfect? I'm so confused.

Answer 1

Wow, so far every single answer had a very different take. Here is my take, which to the best of my knowledge and articulation is the view of the Roman Catholic Church:

Venial sins are sins which wound a person's relationship with God.

Mortal sins are sins which sever a person's friendship with God.

Excommunication is a process (not sin) which completely separates a person from the Church and sacraments through which we receive God's "sanctifying grace" (though if they repent, that is a sign of God's "actual grace" acting in their lives).

None of these is permanent for a truly repentent soul. Venial sins are not required to be confessed; mortal sins must be confessed in Reconciliation; excommunication, I believe, has a somewhat more complicated procedure, but be sure that it involves Reconciliation.

(Of course there are some exceptions; for example:
As far as I understand it, if you are in the state of mortal sin, but you die without going to confession, it IS possible for you to enter heaven. If you make a perfect act of contrition (that is, an act of contrition made in true and pure repentance and sorrow for offending God), you can go to heaven.)

Ultimately, though, it's up to God--we don't know His mind, and only He knows a person's final destination. We just trust in Him.


P.S. Oh, sorry: short answer=yes mortal sins can be forgiven (in the sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession).

Answer 2

All sins are forgiveable and no the Catholic church is not just enforcing fear. Yes there are things in this world that you can do that can send you to hell, but you can always be forgiven for them. You won't burn in hell because you're not perfect, God doesn't expect you to be perfect, he just wants you to turn to him and do your best.

Answer 3

There's forgiveness for every sin. But people have to acknowledge their sins first. And they need to repent and put trust in Jesus.
Knowing that you are a sinner will make you easier to understand how 'grace' work for you.
(Luke 13:3, Jesus said unless you repent you will like wise perish.)
Ok, here's the question,
Are you consider yourself as a good person ?
If yes, have you ever tell a lie ? If you tell a lie, what it will make you ? A liar
Have you ever steal anything, even a piece of candy ? If yes, that will make you a thief
If yousaid yes to both question you've already admitted that you're a liar and you're a thief, and the Bible says that you shall not commit adultery, and Jesus said that if you've looked at someone in lust, then you've committed adultery in your heart. Have you ever looked at a person with lust, Jesus said whoever look someone with lust already commit adultery at heart (Matt 5:28)? If you said yes by your own admission, you're a lying, thieving adulterer at heart.
God knows that as human we're not perfect, we will sin. And we can't keep all His 10 Commandments perfectly. That's why he send the perfect attonment for our sin. Jesus died for us so we don't have to go to hell. (John 3:16)
When He said on the cross that " It's finished" (John 19:30).. It's finished litteraly. You don't have to do anything else to earn your salvation. He did it all the way.
But once you received Jesus and repent all you sin, you must live a holy live. God knows that we will strive along the way. But
ulitimately God knows the heart.
You don't need a priest to confess your sin, just say a simple prayer straight to Him..Check the web-site bellow, it will answer your question more

Answer 4

All sin is forgiven. Mortal sin is just sin that is grave which if you do not repent will make you go to hell. Of course no ones perfect for example look at st. augustine great st. of the catholic church he had pre-maritial sex with many women and concieved a son, got drunk all the time, murdered... and he repented and became a great christian.

Answer 5

Matthew 1:21 , Acts 13:38 , 1 John 3:5 , 1 John 2:1,2 ,1 Peter 2:24 , 1 Tim.1:15 ,Isaiah 53:5-6 , John 1:29 , Eph. 1:7 , Gal. 1:4, Heb. 9:28 , Heb. 10:14 , Matt. 26:28 , there is more.

Answer 6

First, the way for forgiveness of sin/s is to believe in your heart and then confess with your mouth. How can you do the second if you are dead? You, as a human, cannot give life and did not, therefore, you are NOT ALLOWED to take it, (without permission) or when you deem it necessary. Mercy comes with boundaries. Hell comes to those who choose it. And by stalling, as most do, and ignoring the word/s of God you are choosing Hell! Read your bible PLEASE!!!

Answer 7

Christ instituted the sacraments purposefully. The sacrament called reconciliation or penance is what we call our actions when we go to confession. Going to confession and confessing to a priest is the normative way of reconciling oneself back into God's family when we have committed a mortal sin. It is the biblical way corresponding to Jesus' teaching as recorded by the apostle John in John 20: 22-23. What we learn from John is the authority given to the priests is not only to forgive sins but also to retain sins. Jesus commanded the authority to be used. It is the duty given by Jesus for the priest to measure the contrition of the penitent and act accordingly. However, one must repent and pray sincerely to God as an act of contrition before one enters the confessional. The priest represents Jesus by acting in persona Christi and for the entire family of God represented by the Church militant who is harmed by the sin of another. No sin is private but all sin affects others. Jesus described this relationship as a vine with Him as the vine and we as the branches (John 15:5). If one member of the branch is sick then all the branches are affected and suffer as a result. Because of our familial relationship with each other Jesus created a means of confession so that all those affected in His family are represented by the priest as is God. The acts of sin and forgiveness are not private matters. God bless! In Christ Fr. Joseph

Answer 8

Mortal sins can only be forgive by God himself. Priests cannot forgive them here in this life. You can still be forgiven, but it will be God's decision and not the Church's/Priest's.

Answer 9

if you live your life according to the word then you will be forgiven of all sins. the only 2 sins that god does not forgive is blasphemy of the holy ghost and when you do not forgive others who have wronged you.

Answer 10

Don't be confused. All confessed sin can be forgiven. It's the promise of Scripture.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"

1 St. John 1:9