Freedom, Responsibility, and the Nature of Sin

License

unbridled, excessive, undisciplined freedom that abuses true freedom

True Freedom

Correct use of freedom that is unselfish, fulfilled in goodness, limited, follows God's law, and leads to higher levels of happiness.

Abuse of Freedom

Purpose = doing what we want/desire; Is selfish - what feels good for me; Separates freedom from goodness; Is unlimited; Ignores God's law; Leads to lower levels of happiness.

Impediments to Freedom

Obstacles to be overcome that prevent us from using our reason and/or will to choose to love.

Ignorance

Not knowing what we should or should not do.

Inadvertence

Not paying attention or being distracted while we are acting.

Duress

Someone tries to force us to do something.

Fear or Panic

An emotional state that can impede decision-making.

Inordinate Attachments

Being enslaved by money or other possessions.

Habit

Being enslaved by vices (bad habits).

Reduced Responsibility

Does not mean ZERO responsibility; it indicates a lesser degree of moral culpability.

Example of Ignorance (Child)

A child grows up hearing parents curse and swears and does not know that such language is wrong.

Example of Ignorance (Adult)

A Catholic adult knows she is supposed to do penance on Fridays in Lent but does not know she must abstain from meat.

Example of Inadvertence

A man caused a car accident because his 3 year old daughter threw crayons at the windshield.

Inadvertence

A lack of attention or awareness that affects responsibility.

Duress

A situation where a person is threatened, reducing their responsibility for their actions.

Inordinate attachment

An excessive concern for social status that affects responsibility.

Bad habits

Impediments to freedom that hinder good actions.

Virtues

Good habits that increase our freedom and help us use it well.

Sin

Failure to love and a violation of God's law.

Sins of commission

Thoughts, words, or deeds that violate God's law.

Sins of omission

Things we fail to do that we should, such as helping someone in need.

Definition of Sin (CCC 1849)

An offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; a failure in genuine love for God and neighbor.

Sin as an offense against God (CCC 1850)

A revolt against God through the will to become 'like gods,' turning hearts away from God's love.

Personal Sin

Sin that we personally and freely commit, turning us away from God and his love.

Freedom and Law

The relationship between moral freedom and adherence to divine law.

Growing in Freedom

The idea that doing good increases one's freedom.

Failure to love

The essence of sin, as it represents a lack of love for God and others.

Evil we do

Actions that violate God's law, categorized as sins of commission.

Good we do not do

Actions we fail to take that we should, categorized as sins of omission.

CCC 1733

A reference indicating that the more one does what is good, the freer one becomes.

Turning away from God

The act of sinning, which distances us from divine love.

Jesus as the standard

The concept that Jesus represents the ultimate goal and standard for moral behavior.

Pervasive attachment

An unhealthy fixation on certain goods that can lead to sin.

Human solidarity

The interconnectedness of humanity that can be wounded by sin.

Sin

Love of oneself even to contempt of God.

Personal Sin

Sin that we personally and freely commit - any free and deliberate act, word, thought, or desire that turns us away from God and his love.

Deliberate

We know what we're doing and we choose to do it.

Freedom

The power rooted in reason and will to perform deliberate actions on one's own responsibility.

Sin of Commission

Something bad we do.

Sin of Omission

A good thing we don't do but should.

Degrees of Sin

Two degrees of sin - mortal is more serious and venial is less serious.

Mortal Sin

A grave violation of God's law that destroys a person's relationship with Him.

Effects of Mortal Sin

Lose sanctifying grace and friendship with God.

State of Hell

State of eternal separation from God.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

We receive forgiveness of mortal sin and the restoration of sanctifying grace through this sacrament.

Grave Matter

The sinful act must be serious (Examples: taking the Lord's name in vain, willfully missing Mass on Sunday, gossip that ruins someone's reputation, willfully viewing pornography, fornication, murder, adultery, abortion, sexually perverse or violent acts, and defrauding the poor).

Full Knowledge

We must know that what we are doing is seriously wrong, that it will separate us from God.

Deliberate Consent

We must freely choose to do it.

Venial Sin

Failure to follow the moral law in less serious matters or when we disobey God's law in something grave, but without full knowledge and/or complete consent.

Consequences of Venial Sin

Damages, but does not destroy, our relationship with God.

Habitual Venial Sins

Venial sins which become a habit can easily lead us to commit mortal sin.

Eucharist

Forgives venial sin.

Stealing Milk Duds

Not grave matter; this is a venial sin.

Lying Under Oath

While grave matter, does not have deliberate consent; this is a venial sin.

Abortion

While grave matter, does not have full knowledge; this is a venial sin.