A question about culpability

[PhilliesFan]

If a Catholic is raised in a nominally catholic family, and attends parish catechism courses that have a focus on how to be good citizens and doesn’t provide an adequate instruction in catechism, is the child/now adult culpable for his/her sins?

It seems that the pastor and catechists bear some of the share for not forming this person correctly, but on some level should the catechist bear some level or culpability or not?

We know God will judge this person fairly, but I am wondering who is culpable for this person’s sins? Would he/she be damned to hell for not really knowing what the Catholic faith is all about?

 

[Cristiano]

James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly”

 

[Corki]

If a Catholic is raised in a nominally catholic family, and attends parish catechism courses that have a focus on how to be good citizens and doesn’t provide an adequate instruction in catechism, is the child/now adult culpable for his/her sins?

It seems that the pastor and catechists bear some of the share for not forming this person correctly, but on some level should the catechist bear some level or culpability or not?

We know God will judge this person fairly, but I am wondering who is culpable for this person’s sins? Would he/she be damned to hell for not really knowing what the Catholic faith is all about?

There is certainly reduced culpabilty if one is never taught the faith. That’s the whole concept of invincible ignorance. However, there is also vincible ingnorance. If that person became an adult and is still attending Mass, it is unlikely that he/she did not realize that there are some big holes in his/her catholic education. If he/she does nothing to educate him/herself, the culpabilty rises.

It’s not really that the prior priests and catechists share responsibilty for **this person’s **sins. But they were not fullfilling thier duty (neither were the parents) and that’s gravely wrong itself.

 

[thistle]

If a Catholic is raised in a nominally catholic family, and attends parish catechism courses that have a focus on how to be good citizens and doesn’t provide an adequate instruction in catechism, is the child/now adult culpable for his/her sins?

It seems that the pastor and catechists bear some of the share for not forming this person correctly, but on some level should the catechist bear some level or culpability or not?

We know God will judge this person fairly, but I am wondering who is culpable for this person’s sins? Would he/she be damned to hell for not really knowing what the Catholic faith is all about?

However, that does not get such a Catholic off the hook. It is the responsibility of every Catholic to learn the teachings of the Church. While vincible ignorance can reduce culpability, any Catholic who does not learn the teachings of the Church through laziness or refusal to do so will be held accountable for sins committed (even though at the time they did not know a sin was of grave matter).
In short, ignorance is not bliss for a Catholic.