Blaspheming the Holy Spirit

[meltzerboy]

I’ve read that, according to Catholicism, blaspheming the Holy Spirit is an unpardonable mortal sin. I have several questions attached to this. First, is it true according to Church teaching? Second, why is it true (because doing so makes repentance for other sins impossible?)? Third, is this the ONLY unpardonable sin? What about blaspheming Jesus or G-d, the Father? And how about genocide? Fourth, are there gradations regarding the severity of mortal sins (I know venial sins are less severe)? Fifth, is this notion based on Scripture (New Testament, or possibly Old Testament), on Church dogma and doctrine, or both? And sixth, do Protestants and Orthodox also believe this, or only Roman Catholics? A lot of questions here, and I appreciate any information you may have.

 

[thistle]

I’ve read that, according to Catholicism, blaspheming the Holy Spirit is an unpardonable mortal sin. I have several questions attached to this. First, is it true according to Church teaching? Second, why is it true (because doing so makes repentance for other sins impossible?)? Third, is this the ONLY unpardonable sin? What about blaspheming Jesus or G-d, the Father? And how about genocide? Fourth, are there gradations regarding the severity of mortal sins (I know venial sins are less severe)? Fifth, is this notion based on Scripture (New Testament, or possibly Old Testament), on Church dogma and doctrine, or both? And sixth, do Protestants and Orthodox also believe this, or only Roman Catholics? A lot of questions here, and I appreciate any information you may have.

The Church teaching:

CCC 1864 “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” 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.

 

[jbarbaretta]

I’ve read that, according to Catholicism, blaspheming the Holy Spirit is an unpardonable mortal sin. I have several questions attached to this. First, is it true according to Church teaching? Second, why is it true (because doing so makes repentance for other sins impossible?)? Third, is this the ONLY unpardonable sin? What about blaspheming Jesus or G-d, the Father? And how about genocide? Fourth, are there gradations regarding the severity of mortal sins (I know venial sins are less severe)? Fifth, is this notion based on Scripture (New Testament, or possibly Old Testament), on Church dogma and doctrine, or both? And sixth, do Protestants and Orthodox also believe this, or only Roman Catholics? A lot of questions here, and I appreciate any information you may have.

The statement regarding Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is from the New Testament. Jesus states in Matthew 12:31-32:

Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

There are comparable statements in Mark and Luke, as well.
SO,

1. Yes it is true according to Catholic teaching.
2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church in para 1864 states:

“Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” 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.

1. It is the only one I am aware of. Jesus explicitly states that " whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven". I assume that would apply to G_d, the Father as well. Since it is the refusal to accept G_d’s mercy that is the blasphemy. Anything short of that is forgivable, if one but asks.
2. A mortal sin breaks all relationship with G_d. As such, it is about as severe as it gets. A venial sin, damages that relationship, but a relationship remains. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states (para 1854-8)

IV. THE GRAVITY OF SIN: MORTAL AND VENIAL SIN

1854 Sins are rightly evaluated according to their gravity. The distinction between mortal and venial sin, already evident in Scripture, became part of the tradition of the Church. It is corroborated by human experience.

1855 Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him.

Venial sin allows charity to subsist, even though it offends and wounds it.

1856 Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us - that is, charity - necessitates a new initiative of God’s mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation:
…
1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."131

1858 Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, …

1. It is based on New Testament (Matthew 12:31, Mark 3:29, Luke 12:10), but much of New Testament is related to Old Testament (think typology). Also, Jesus often quotes or paraphrases the Old Testament. However, I am not aware of a specific correlation.
2. Yes, as scripture accepted by protestants and Orthodox Churches, it is believed by all groups (although some may have slightly different takes on the meaning - I’ve seen some Protestants who wanted a definition of the sin so that they might not accidentally commit this sin and be doomed forever.)

 

[coco2]

Seriously, who would not accept the Lord’s forgiveness and salvation? I never could understand the meaning of this.

 

[jbarbaretta]

Seriously, who would not accept the Lord’s forgiveness and salvation? I never could understand the meaning of this.

I have heard more than one priest describe going to a death bed and having the dying person refuse last rites, communion, and confession because of their unwillingness to accept forgiveness.

 

[meltzerboy]

The statement regarding Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is from the New Testament. Jesus states in Matthew 12:31-32:

There are comparable statements in Mark and Luke, as well.
SO,

1. Yes it is true according to Catholic teaching.
2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church in para 1864 states:
3. It is the only one I am aware of. Jesus explicitly states that " whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven". I assume that would apply to G_d, the Father as well. Since it is the refusal to accept G_d’s mercy that is the blasphemy. Anything short of that is forgivable, if one but asks.
4. A mortal sin breaks all relationship with G_d. As such, it is about as severe as it gets. A venial sin, damages that relationship, but a relationship remains. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states (para 1854-8)
5. It is based on New Testament (Matthew 12:31, Mark 3:29, Luke 12:10), but much of New Testament is related to Old Testament (think typology). Also, Jesus often quotes or paraphrases the Old Testament. However, I am not aware of a specific correlation.
6. Yes, as scripture accepted by protestants and Orthodox Churches, it is believed by all groups (although some may have slightly different takes on the meaning - I’ve seen some Protestants who wanted a definition of the sin so that they might not accidentally commit this sin and be doomed forever.)

Thank you for this thorough explanation.

 

[meltzerboy]

The Church teaching:

CCC 1864 “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” 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.

Thank you for this reference.