
The Catholic Church differentiates between mortal and venial sins. Mortal sins are those that destroy sanctifying grace and entail eternal punishment, while venial sins weaken charity and entail temporary punishment. The Catechism of the Catholic Church does not provide a full list of sins, but it does list certain offences against the Ten Commandments that constitute grave matters. Some of the worst sins in the Catholic Church include blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, abortion, desecration of the Holy Eucharist, and violence against the Pope. Other mortal sins include contraception, masturbation, pornography, immodesty, homosexual acts, chronic failure to catechize one's children, missing Sunday Mass without a good reason, denying workers a fair wage, and receiving Holy Communion with mortal sins on one's heart.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Mortal sins | Abortion, throwing away the Eucharist, taking or retaining the Eucharist for sacrilegious purposes, using physical violence against the Pope, absolving an accomplice in sin, violating the seal of confession, procuring a completed abortion, murder, idolatry, heresy, atheism, euthanasia, suicide, manslaughter, marital infidelity, pornography, fornication, prostitution, rape, theft, robbery, taking advantage of the poor, blasphemy, desecration of the Holy Eucharist |
Venial sins | Breaking a commandment out of ignorance or weakness |
What You'll Learn
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
> There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.
The sin is considered unforgivable not because of its seriousness but because the sinner chooses to remain separated from God, rejecting the very nature of forgiveness and reconciliation that is central to the Christian faith. This understanding is supported by quotes from the Bible, such as Mark 3:28-29, and the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas, who identified four possible forms of pride that contribute to this blasphemy.
In summary, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a grave sin in the Catholic Church because it represents a willful rejection of God's forgiveness and a turning away from the path of salvation. This sin highlights the importance of repentance, confession, and a sincere desire to amend one's ways in the eyes of the Catholic Church.
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Abortion
The Catholic Church holds that procured abortion is a mortal sin against the Fifth Commandment ("Thou shalt not kill"). It is considered an intrinsic evil and a crime against human life, dignity, and freedom, as it is seen as the murder (direct intentional killing) of an unborn person. The Church also teaches that procured abortion cannot be justified, legalized, participated in, cooperated with, or procured—partially or fully—by any means or for any reason.
The Church's position on abortion is not a recent development. According to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities, the Church has condemned procured abortion as immoral since the 1st century. Early Christian writings rejecting abortion include the Didache, the Epistle of Barnabas, the Apocalypse of Peter, and the works of early writers such as Tertullian, Athenagoras of Athens, Clement of Alexandria, and Basil of Caesarea.
While the Church's official position on abortion is clear and unwavering, it is important to note that many Catholics hold views that differ from this stance. In some Western countries, a majority of Catholics support abortion rights under certain circumstances or disagree with the Church's absolute opposition to abortion.
The Church recognizes the complexity and challenges surrounding abortion and offers forgiveness to women who have had abortions. Pope John Paul II, in his Encyclical Evangelium Vitae, wrote a special message to women who have had abortions, acknowledging the difficult circumstances and factors that may have influenced their decision. He extended an invitation to seek healing and reconciliation through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, assuring them of God's mercy and forgiveness.
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Violence against the Pope
The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church and the successor of St. Peter, who is considered the first Pope by the Catholic tradition. Throughout history, several Popes have suffered violent deaths, including martyrdom, war, and alleged murder. For example, Pope John XII is believed to have been murdered by a jealous husband, and Pope John Paul II was the target of an attempted assassination.
The Catholic Church considers violence against women to be "almost satanic," as stated by Pope Francis. He has emphasised the importance of addressing this issue through a joint effort of public institutions and social actors, including law enforcement and prevention measures.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to the seven deadly sins as "capital sins," which engender other sins and vices. These sins are pride, avarice or greed, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth. While there is no specific ranking for these sins, pride is often considered the worst due to its self-centered nature.
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Homosexual acts
The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual acts are "acts of grave depravity" and "intrinsically disordered". Homosexuality is regarded as a "grave sin against chastity" and an "expression of the vice of lust".
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that:
> "Basing itself on sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved."
The Church's teachings on homosexuality are rooted in its interpretation of the Bible. Several passages in the Bible are cited as the basis for its stance, including:
- Genesis 19:1-11 — The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, which has been interpreted as punishment for the homosexual behaviour of its people.
- Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 — "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination... if a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them."
- Romans 1:18-32 — "For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error."
- I Corinthians 6:9 — "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
The Church's interpretation of these passages, however, is disputed by some theologians and historians, who argue that the Bible does not clearly prohibit homosexuality. They claim that the passages in question have been mistranslated, miscontextualized, or misinterpreted to support modern social prejudices against homosexuality.
The Church's teachings on homosexuality have evolved over time, influenced by papal interventions and theologians, including the early Church Fathers. In recent years, there have been calls from within the Church for greater support for LGBTQ individuals and for a re-evaluation of the Church's stance on homosexuality. Pope Francis, for instance, has expressed support for civil unions for same-sex couples and has publicly denounced sodomy laws.
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Missing Sunday Mass
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin" (No. 2181). This is because the Mass is considered the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. It is a time when disciples of Jesus gather to worship and mark the day of Christ's resurrection. During the Mass, the events of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday are remembered, and these events form the core of the Christian faith. Additionally, the Mass is the specific way that Jesus asked the apostles to keep his memory alive, and receiving Communion during the Mass unites Christians intimately with Christ and strengthens them to live according to his teachings.
The Mass is also significant because it provides an opportunity for Catholics to receive abundant graces. Firstly, they are nourished by the Word of God, which contains eternal truths revealed under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Secondly, if they are in a state of grace, they can receive the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, where they believe that Jesus is truly present and that they receive his body, blood, soul, and divinity. The Holy Eucharist is considered a precious gift that unites Catholics intimately with the Lord and with each other as a Church.
Therefore, missing Sunday Mass is considered a grave sin because it involves disobeying the Church's precept to attend Mass and receive Communion at least once a year during the Easter season. This precept is based on the Third Commandment, which states, "Keep Holy the Sabbath." For Christians, this has been observed as Sunday, the day of the Resurrection. By deliberately missing Mass, one is choosing to put other priorities before God and rejecting the invitation to intimately unite with Jesus through the Eucharist.
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Frequently asked questions
The seven deadly sins, also known as "capital sins", are pride, avarice or greed, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth. These sins are considered the most dangerous as they lead to other vices and sins.
Mortal sins are those that cut Catholics off from God's grace and must be resolved through confession. Examples include worshipping false gods, abortion, euthanasia, suicide, murder, marital infidelity, pornography, and stealing.
According to Scripture, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is considered the worst sin as it is a refusal of God's mercy and a rejection of His gift of the paschal mystery. This sin is said to be unforgivable.
Yes, the Catholic Church differentiates between mortal and venial sins. Mortal sins are considered more serious as they sever the relationship with God and require confession for forgiveness. Venial sins are minor offenses that can be atoned for without confession.