Question

[Saint Therese]

Is it a sin or a mortal sin to call into work and say you're sick when you're not?

[Resurrexi]

I certainly wouldn't call that a gravely sinful lie (under most circumstances); however, it would be veinally sinful.

Edited June 17, 2009 by Resurrexi

[Saint Therese]

THanks! I wonder what a Church Scholar would say..

[Nihil Obstat]

I don't think there's any way that could be construed as a mortal sin...... in my inexpert opinion.
Hard to stretch that as grave matter....... Plus in any case it's clear you don't have the full knowledge, so even if it somehow was grave matter, which it really can't be unless maybe you're an emergency doctor on call and taking an extended break, then it couldn't be mortal anyway.

[Apotheoun]

You should probably post your query in the Q&A phorum.

In my opinion the answer would depend upon the rules set out by your employer. Some employers treat sick leave time as part of vacation time, i.e., as something that you must use or lose at the end of the year. That said, it is clearly wrong to lie to someone who has a right to know the truth, and I believe that your employer has a right to know what you are doing on company time. Does your employer pay you when you are out ill? My former employer did, and so it would have been a sin against justice for me to lie to him, since he was going to have to pay me sick leave benefits during the time I was away.

[Resurrexi]

Here is what the Catechism says of the gravity of lies:

"The [i]gravity of a lie[/i] is measured against the nature of the truth it deforms, the circumstances, the intentions of the one who lies, and the harm suffered by its victims. If a lie in itself only constitutes a venial sin, it becomes mortal when it does grave injury to the virtues of justice and charity." ([i]Catechism of the Catholic Church[/i], No. 2484)

[Saint Therese]

Okay, for the sake of discussion, lets say that the person calling in sick would not be getting paid for the day that he/she called in.

[Resurrexi]

I would still say venial, unless perhaps your employer really needed the person calling in sick that day and suffered a grave harm to his business.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1894055' date='Jun 17 2009, 12:36 AM']I would still say venial, unless perhaps your employer really needed the person calling in sick that day and suffered a grave harm to his business.[/quote]
(Or you were an emergency doctor on call and ten patients died because you were 'sick'. )

[TeresaBenedicta]

[quote name='Saint Therese' post='1894051' date='Jun 17 2009, 02:33 AM']Okay, for the sake of discussion, lets say that the person calling in sick would not be getting paid for the day that he/she called in.[/quote]

I think circumstances are what would determine whether or not such a sin would be mortal. As you say here, the person would not be getting paid. That's helpful in that there is no "stealing" going on, which might be enough to be considered grave matter.

Other things to consider:

What is the nature of your work? Will everything be thrown into wack by your absence? Will the company lose money due to your absence? What are your obligations while at work? Is your job one that only you can do?

[Resurrexi]

By the way, Apotheoun was correct that calling in sick when one is not really ill could be a grave sin of stealing if the "sick" person were being paid on the day off, and if whatever sick days were left over at the end of the year wouldn't be given as vacation.

[Saint Therese]

What if hypothetically the person calling in were trying to avoid an unpleasant situation at work?

[TeresaBenedicta]

[quote name='Saint Therese' post='1894065' date='Jun 17 2009, 02:39 AM']What if hypothetically the person calling in were trying to avoid an unpleasant situation at work?[/quote]

Depends on the nature of said unpleasant situation. If it's something that one needs to "own up to", so to say, or where one might be getting in trouble for misconduct...

If the thought of going to work and facing an unpleasant situation causes anxiety, I don't see how calling in to say "I don't feel well today" would be a lie. Anxiety definitely does not make one feel well.

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

I think it's legalistic to consider it from a mortal/venial point of view, as if venial sins are of little concern. I think the person in question would do best to confront the unpleasant situation so that it can be fixed. It seems like missing work only avoids the problem without solving it. Easier said than done though, I know. I pray it works out.

[Apotheoun]

The best thing to do is to simply tell the truth, and not lie about being sick in the first place. Or if you cannot tell the truth, simply go into work as you have agreed to do when you took the job.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='thedude' post='1894072' date='Jun 17 2009, 12:43 AM']I think it's legalistic to consider it from a mortal/venial point of view, as if venial sins are of little concern. I think the person in question would do best to confront the unpleasant situation so that it can be fixed. It seems like missing work only avoids the problem without solving it. Easier said than done though, I know. I pray it works out.[/quote]

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1894076' date='Jun 17 2009, 12:45 AM']The best thing to do is to simply tell the truth, and not lie about being sick in the first place. Or if you cannot tell the truth, simply go into work as you have agreed to do when you took the job.[/quote]
Both great points.
Best option clearly is to avoid [b]all[/b] sin.
Especially because those silly Easterners don't have mortal and venial.

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Saint Therese' post='1894065' date='Jun 17 2009, 01:39 AM']What if hypothetically the person calling in were trying to avoid an unpleasant situation at work?[/quote]

If there were a particularly grave reason to avoid this situation, and if no harm would come to the employer or employees or customers of the business and no stealing would be involved, one could use a broad mental reservation.

[Resurrexi]

+AMDG+

[quote name='thedude' post='1894072' date='Jun 17 2009, 01:43 AM']I think it's legalistic to consider it from a mortal/venial point of view, as if venial sins are of little concern. I think the person in question would do best to confront the unpleasant situation so that it can be fixed. It seems like missing work only avoids the problem without solving it. Easier said than done though, I know. I pray it works out.[/quote]

It is certainly [i]not[/i] legalistic to question whether this action is a mortal or venial sin. Thinking that doing so is legalistic could lead to someone unnecessarily refraining from receiving Communion.

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1894085' date='Jun 17 2009, 01:49 AM']+AMDG+

It is certainly [i]not[/i] legalistic to question whether this action is a mortal or venial sin. Thinking that doing so is legalistic could lead to someone unnecessarily refraining from receiving Communion.[/quote]
I agree it is not legalistic to examine the conscience in regards to the gravity of sins committed, but to consider gravity so that one can proceed in committing a venial sin, since it is of less eternal consequence, is not only legalistic but not in step with living the gospel call.

[Apotheoun]

I worked for 13 years as an insurance claims adjuster and hated the job the entire time, but during the first 7 years that I worked at the company I was never absent.

I finally had to use my sick leave time (and I used quite a bit of it) because I broke my back and was hospitalized for several weeks, and was paralyzed for almost 6 months. Yet by the grace of God I regained the use of my legs, and after going through rehabilitation and learning how to walk again I returned to work. I stayed at that company for almost three more years, until they finally relocated to Ohio at which time I was given a severance package as a vested employee.