text: 1) Sacred scriptures never used the words "Mortal sin"---that is a term from the Catholic Church.  
  
  
  2) Because, in theory, Mortal sin spells the end of life-giving grace for the soul, theologians in defining mortal sin, have set the stakes to committing it extremely high.  There are times when sexual sin CAN be mortal [rape, child abuse for example].  But the emphasis on sexual sin as the world's worst sins----is badly misplaced.  
  
  3) And yes, a 'rapist priest'----who has had more education and spiritual development than many other people, could not justify himself in taking Communion.  However, how did the bishops in the 1980's deal with these priests?  They sent them to special centers for treatment.  If the laity did this---they would have been told that they have committed mortal sin.  There was, and often times, still is a dual manner of dealing with sinners.