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(ABOUTCATHOLICS.COM) - In a brutal homicide last month, Henry McDuff, a local, triggerhappy bartender, said he killed in order to satisfy his desire for revenge.
“This guy comes into my bar, orders a drink and then starts yelling at other customers and breaking all my glassware. I was so mad, I pulled out my shotgun and put a stop to the problem,” says McDuff of the incident.
Speaking to his parish priest Fr. James O’Connor, pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish, noted that McDuff had indeed committed a mortal sin.
"There are two types of sin: mortal and venial. In fact the Bible tells us this in 1 John 5:16-17. Mortal means “death or deadly.” These types of sins are ones that entirely cut off our relationship with God; whereas venial sin, which is not death but still sin, only disrupts the relationship by weakening it. Venial sin does not break the covenant with God,” he said.
Fr. O’Connor continued, “The act McDuff committed meets the three conditions of mortal sin. First, the object of the sin must be a grave matter; second, the sin must have been committed with full knowledge of that the act was wrong, and third, the sin must be committed with full consent of the will.”
Fr. Bob Tanner, a noted Scripture scholar and amateur detective, explains further, “Taking someone’s life is a grave matter because of the gravity of the sin. According to police reports, McDuff stated that he knew murder was wrong at the time he committed it, and that he had premeditated his actions. McDuff’s statement and the serious nature of the sin meet the three conditions for mortal sin.”
“I bought that shotgun in 1992 just in case any of my bar patrons got out of line. I knew what I was doing,” says McDuff. His lawyer quickly urged him to stop talking.
Fr. Tanner also noted that McDuff’s sin had created a great void in his relationship with Christ, and that mortal sin is another way of outright refusing God’s love.
“Jesus wants us all to repent of our sins and make a good confession in order to restore our relationship with God. The sacrament of reconciliation involves confessing our sin to a priest, who acts on behalf of Christ to absolve our sins and to restore God’s grace to us.”
The mother of the victim, Judy Wall, stated in a press release that she misses her son dearly, and hopes that nobody would have to experience this. She also said she is willing to accept Henry's sincere apology, if he gives one, since “that is what Christ wants us to do."
McDuff, when interviewed once again, said that he was sincerely sorry for his terrible sin, and that since his confession last week, he has committed to stop acting in ways that distort who he is, a Child of God.
He says this is a part of the process of conversion. "Conversion means turning from my old self to a new identity as a child of God and that I need his grace. I went wrong once by thinking I was better than God, which led me to commit terrible sin - murder."
McDuff’s trial is set for next month, where he says he will plead guilty. He may face up to a life sentence in prison.
Jon Jakoblich also contributed to this report.
Stephanie is a faithful Catholic woman, loving wife and mother. She holds a
B.S. degree in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota. She attributes a Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) retreat in her teens as a catalyst to strengthen the faith she already had.