1. Chapter Five:
Sin and Morality

2. What is Sin? An offense against God;
A failure to respond to God’s love;
Wounding and violating our nature as God’s children;
An injury to the entire human community.

3. Where Can We Find Sin in Scripture?
Two Images:
Missing the Mark (The Failure to Love)
Hardness of Heart (The Failure to Be Human)
Original Sin and Grace
The Book of Genesis presents original sin as part of the human condition.
We are all born into a sinful human condition.
We are subject to error and have a tendency to do the wrong thing in our idea of freedom.
Salvation and redemption comes through Jesus and the Passion, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension.
“The Word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God.” (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 457)

4. Mortal and Venial Sin
Mortal Sin (“deadly”): A complete rejection and breakdown in our relationship with God.
Sin of commission: Doing something wrong.
Sin of omission: Not doing something we should do.
Three criteria for a mortal sin
A. “Grave” or Important Matter
B. Full Knowledge
C. Acting Deliberately
Venial Sin: Weakening our relationship with God.

5. Seven Capital (Deadly) Sins
Pride/Vanity/Arrogance
Envy/Desire
Wrath /Anger/Rage
Sloth/Laziness
Avarice /Greed/Covetousness
Gluttony/Excess/Overconsumption
Lust

6. What is Social Sin? “Structures of sin resulting from personal sin.”
“Any formal set of relationships which result in the oppression of groups of people, while enabling other groups of people to benefit from the oppression, even without those benefiting fully knowing or fully consenting to the oppression.” (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1869)

7. Social Sin
Sinful Social Structures: Resulting in an unjust distribution of power, benefits and privileges.
“Red lining”, “Glass ceilings” or “Quotas”
Social Behavior
Drinking and driving: Who is liable?
Bartender?
Parents hosting the party?
The individual?
Societal values
Excessive individualism and the “me first” attitude
Technology