Dear Catholic Exchange:
During a book study at our parish, it was brought up that many people never sin in the biblical sense of the word, and sin and evil are two different things. One person can do evil things, but if that person does not have a relationship with God, he/she is not sinning against Him. I brought up original sin, and was told that it has a different definition than sin. What does the Church teach?
Ms. Reagan
Dear Ms. Reagan,
Peace in Christ!
You were on the right track with original sin. The fact that we can make distinctions between sin and evil does not make them “two different things” — exclusive of each other. All sin is evil and an offense against God.
Sin can be defined (as it is in the glossary of the Catechism, based on no. 1849) as “An offense against God as well as a fault against reason, truth, and right conscience. Sin is a deliberate thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the eternal law of God.” Thus, a pious relationship with God is not necessary for sin to take place. The eternal law exists apart from a relationship with God, and a person can transgress that eternal law. Furthermore “no one is deemed to be ignorant of the principles of the moral law, which are written in the conscience of every man” (no. 1860).
Pope John Paul II referred to the “mystery of evil” at work in the world, as did Pope Paul VI. They often cited 2 Thessalonians 2:7, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work.” This mystery encompasses both sin and evil (cf. Catechism, no. 385).
Please see two transcripts of General Audiences given by John Paul II in 1986. He gives an introductory catechesis about the mystery of iniquity in terms of original sin and redemption.
John Paul II, General Audience, December 10, 1986
General Audience – December 17, 1986
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