Concupiscence and Sin

[meltzerboy2]

Does the Church teach that concupiscence is sin. I ask because I know that, on the one hand, immoral sexual behavior (such as adultery, homosexual behavior, and so on) is regarded as sinful whereas, for example, being homosexual, while considered disordered, is not per se sinful. At the same time, however, Jesus said (I believe) words to the effect that adultery is not confined to behavior but begins in the heart. So my question is which is it: is only the behavior of adultery, homosexuality, etc. thought to be sinful, or are homosexual desires (which, I would think, all gay people must have) and adulterous desires, that is, concupiscence per se sinful? Thank you for clarifying.

 

[LittleFlower378]

The concupiscence itself is not sinful but giving into temptation is sinful. So even if someone were to have a temptation to want to be a homosexual, and give into that temptation and say yes to it, that in itself would be a sin.

CCC 405
405 Although it is proper to each individual, original sin does not have the character of a personal fault in any of Adam’s descendants. It is a deprivation of original holiness and justice, but human nature has not been totally corrupted: it is wounded in the natural powers proper to it, subject to ignorance, suffering and the dominion of death, and inclined to sin - an inclination to evil that is called concupiscence". Baptism, by imparting the life of Christ’s grace, erases original sin and turns a man back towards God, but the consequences for nature, weakened and inclined to evil, persist in man and summon him to spiritual battle.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It’s usually understood for any sin of lust that the temptation may pop up in your mind because of how we are made. If we immediately “get rid” of the thought and turn our minds to something else, it is not a sin. It’s just a temptation that we fought off.

However, if we dwell on the thought and begin to welcome it, fantasize etc we have committed “lust in our heart”.

 

[alphonsus1]

I agree with this. Awesome advice. If we immediately throw it off, there is no consent and no sin, objectively or actual.

However, in most cases, we have the existence of at least some consent and knowledge. Whether we have sufficient consent and knowledge to be a mortal sin is judged by God. It could be hard to be culpable of lust. Or very easy.

But with all the uncertainty regarding how God will judge, as St. Alphonsus says, what folly is it to leave your salvation to a “perhaps.” Flee! Flee! Flee!