veniality

Veniality is the quality of being minor, pardonable, or easily forgiven.

The word applies most often to faults, sins, or offenses that fall short of serious wrongdoing.

In Catholic theology, venial sins are distinguished from mortal sins—the former being forgivable through prayer and good works, the latter requiring confession.

Outside religious contexts, veniality suggests a transgression too slight to warrant real punishment: The veniality of his white lies made them easy to overlook.