When reading church teaching on sin, I tend to walk a parallel path, acknowledging the principles but interpreting them a different way. Many women do this, because feminine spirituality tends to be different and complementary to the masculine model. Our gender differences are shaped by our biological roles. For a man, sin usually affects personal Read more
When I read the church fathers’ teaching about sin, I acknowledge the principles but interpret them a different way. Many women do this because feminine spirituality tends to be a little different, although complementary to the male model. Our spiritual paths are shaped by our biological roles. Most men achieve spiritual growth through information and structure. Read more
Classically, both in the world and in our churches, we have seen despair as the ultimate, unforgivable sin. The simple notion was that neither God, nor anyone else, can save you if you simply give up, despair, make yourself impossible to reach. Most often in the popular mind this was applied to suicide. To die Read more
Lent is a good time to examine our consciences regarding greed in all its forms: In faith, love, forgiveness, time, abilities, and finances. Greed can distort reality, manipulate truth, coerce sinful actions, and compromise virtue and a desire to follow the ways of God. This weekend, the Lenten journey continues but lightens up with “Rejoice Read more
Environmental destruction is a sin. In what can be called a very drastic and radical departure from traditional Catholic concepts of “sin,” “charity” and good deeds, Pope Francis has actually called the act of destroying environment a “sin.” This is perhaps the first time a leader of an Abrahamic religion has spoken so much about Read more
An African archbishop has said there are worse sins than priests who have promised to be celibate having sex. Archbishop Peter Akwasi Sarpong, who is Archbishop emeritus of Kumasi archdiocese in Ghana, was responding to people accusing priests of having sex. “Of course it is against their vows and it is inimical to the growth Read more
Augustine was not the only saint to have ‘once been a great sinner’. Beyond the hagiographies many lived lives of great scandal. When Catholics discuss saints who were once great sinners, the first one that comes to mind is St Augustine of Hippo. And for good reason: as a teenager Augustine abandoned the Catholic faith Read more
A retired US bishop has advised Catholics to abstain from doing yoga, as it could be an occasion of serious sin. Comments from Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, who used to lead the diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, were published last week on a US blog for women. “ … The practice of yoga, if it does not begin Read more
“Teach your children that it is not possible to be Christian outside the Church, and it is not possible to follow Christ outside the Church, as the Church is our mother, and lets us grow in the love of Jesus Christ” (Pope Francis, 11 January 2015). It must then follow that the Catholic Church is the true Read more