Is cheating on a test a mortal sin?

Answer 1

Cheating on a test in school is a venial sin. Cheating on a more serious test, something like the SAT or ACT, some kind of test that determines your future, is more serious, but still not mortal.

Well it isn't a grave matter, but as long as you know you were wrong and your not going to do it again you'll be fine. if you are christian or belive in a religion pray for forgiveness and you will feel less guilty about it. Reccomendation: you might want to study next time.

Roman Catholic AnswerIt can be, it depends on a number of things. You should ask your priest about it when you are in confession.

Answer 2

Catholic AnswerYes, it is usually a mortal sin. Cheating on a spouse makes you ineligible to receive Holy Communion until after you have made a sincere confession. In other words, your eternal salvation is in jeopardy.

from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition:

1756 It is therefore an error to judge the morality of human acts by considering only the intention that inspires them or the circumstances (environment, social pressure, duress or emergency, etc.) which supply their context. There are acts which, in and of themselves, independently of circumstances and intentions, are always gravely illicit by reason of their object; such as blasphemy and perjury, murder and adultery. One may not do evil so that good may result from it.

1856 Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us -- that is, charity -- necessitates a new initiative of God's mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation [confession]:

When the will sets itself upon something that is of its nature incompatible with the charity that orients man toward his ultimate end, then the sin is mortal by its very object ... whether it contradicts the love of God, such as blasphemy or perjury, or the love of neighbor, such as homicide or adultery . . . But when the sinner's will is set upon something that of its nature involves a disorder, but is opposed to the love of God and neighbor, such as thoughtless chatter or immoderate laughter and the like, such sins are venial.

1858 Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of Jesus to the rich young man: "Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother." The gravity of sins is more or less great: murder is graver than theft. One must also take into account who is wronged; violence against parents is in itself graver than violence against a stranger.

2400 Adultery, divorce, polygamy, and free union are grave offenses against the dignity of marriage (The Sixth Commandment)