Q: Is cheating on homework in college a mortal sin? I am an 18-year-old freshman who finds it hard to balance school, my faith and a job. Often, teachers give an unrealistic of work and I don’t have the time to do it so I’ve cheated. Is copying answers offline for homework a mortal sin? – J.W.
Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC
A: You are at the start of adulthood and must make decisions for yourself.
It is good to beware that we tend to become the sum of our decisions.
If you start cheating now, where will you be in five or 10 or 20 years? How much are you willing to compromise your integrity?
If someone decides to cheat whenever he faces a difficulty, that doesn’t reflect well on his character.
One thing that can keep us on the right path is our faith or, more precisely, the living of our faith.
In any case, if cheating were “only” a venial sin, would you do it anyway?
If your answer is yes, that is a big problem. To deliberately decide to offend God means a person is probably a lot closer to mortal sin than he thinks.
Another consideration: If you are cheating on homework, you are cheating yourself. The purpose of attending college is presumably to get an education. If you cheat, you aren’t working on your intellectual (or moral) formation. That will boomerang on you eventually.
You might want to take some of this to prayer.
What you decide can set the course of your life … and eternity.