A Couple Of Questions...

[greentea]

I have a few questions about some things I did before I decided to convert...

1) For a couple of months, I used birth control pills to clear up my skin. I was not sexually active and it was purely for cosmetic purposes. I did this behind my mother's back as well, as she forbade me to take them.

2) I used to smoke marijuana habitually with my friends. I never engaged in any sinful acts and would even read the bible and pray while under the influence. This was, of course, done without my mothers approval.

I regret my actions, but I haven't been confirmed or even begun RCIA yet so I'm not given the opportunity of confession. What am I supposed to do before I can confess? These aren't my only sins that need to be confessed of course, but I'm afraid these are keeping me from being in a state of grace and I'm not sure what I can do about it at this point.

3) Before I even thought about converting, I attended Catholic mass with a friend. My protestant church practiced open communion, and although I felt kind of weird about taking it in a Catholic church, my friend promised me that protestants were always welcome to take communion there. Of course I know now that this was wrong, and it's been bugging me for a long while. Did I taint it for everybody else who received it that morning? How should I go about asking forgiveness for this?

Thank you in advance

[Thy Geekdom Come]

As to the first two questions, I would bring them up in Confession with a priest when your time comes for your Confession. Believe me, they've heard worse.

As far as I know, it is morally acceptable to use the pill for the purposes you indicated as long as you are not sexually active. However, it needs to be said that many doctors either get kick-backs from drug companies or are very much into the idea of population control, neither of which are ethically sound ideas, and as a result, the pill is often prescribed for even the silliest reasons when there are very clear and considerably safer alternatives. I would be inclined to question any doctor's prescription of the pill for any reason.

As for smoking marijuana, it's something that needs to stop. First, it can interfere with our ability to be in communion with God (see [url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?s=&showtopic=72475&view=findpost&p=1379559"]this thread[/url] for more background). Second, there is no directive from God saying that we should smoke marijuana or do any other drug, and so the laws against it are just laws and should be followed.

As for disobeying your mother, assuming that you are still being taken care of by her, this is a sin.

I cannot answer as to the gravity of the sin, since that has to do with things I don't know.

Finally, as to the third matter, it is wrong to receive Communion if you are not Catholic, but since you didn't know any better, it was not sinful. Now you know better, though.

God bless,

Raphael