A: Every sin represents a turning away from God, which is never a good thing. But as we know from life experience and common ...

250 A.D. "The clergyman who is deposed for mortal sin, shall not be excommunicated." St. Basil the Great, "Canonical Letter" c. 374 A.D. "There are venial sins and there are mortal sins.

Venial sins do not imperil our souls in the same way that a mortal sin would, but it's still important to strive to avoid committing even venial sins.