“Ask a Priest: Is Cheating on Homework a Grave Sin?”

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest
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.

 

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!