Sin Is In The Blood
Archbishop Fulton Sheen We are living in about the only period in the world’s history that there is a universal denial of guilt. This was foretold by Dostoevsky who wrote; “The time is coming where men will say that there is no sin, there is no guilt, only hunger. And they will come crying and […]
The Pastoral Problem of Masturbation
John F. Harvey, OSFS Introduction Since volumes have been written about masturbation, one wonders why still another theologian feels the need to write about the subject. Is it not presumptions to believe that one has something new to say about an inveterate problem of both men and women over the centuries? I respond that there […]
Fornication
Victor R. Claveau, MJ “Fornication is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption […]
The Lie
A lie is a statement contrary to what a person believes to be true. It may be in a word, in writing, or in deed. It is forbidden explicitly in Sacred Scripture (Col. 3:19; Jn 8:44) and also be natural law. Some theologians base their argument on the fact that the purpose of speech is […]
Mortal and Venial Sins
Not all sins are equally serious. A mortal sin is a grievous offense against the law of God. A venial sin is a less serious offense against the law of God, which does not deprive the soul of sanctifying grace, and which can be pardoned even without sacramental confession. Common sense tells us […]
Masturbation
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: By masturbation it is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have […]
Artificial Contraception
Victor R. Claveau, MJ Artificial conception is any method of preventing conception by unnatural means or by the use of artificial barriers such as condoms, diaphragms, spermicides, etc. Using Artificial means to prevent conception is considered to be a serious (mortal) sin. Sterilization involves procedures that render men or women “sterile” – that is incapable […]
What was the Sin of Sodom?
Victor R. Claveau, MJ When the people of Sodom and Gomorrah had given themselves up to sins of impurity, the evil of their crime was so great that, as the Scripture says, it cried out to heaven for vengeance (Gen. 18:20; 19:13). As a result, God showed his anger, “Then the Lord rained on Sodom […]
Is Liberalism a Sin Against Obedience?
Answer: Liberalism, whether secular or religious, is a sin against obedience. In the doctrinal order it is heresy, and consequently, a mortal sin against faith. In the practical order it is a sin against the commandments of God and of the Church, for it virtually transgresses all the commandments. To be more precise: in the […]
What is Sin?
CCC §1849—Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as “an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal […]