Correcting Sin

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[BIBLEDRB]Ezekiel 33:8-9[/BIBLEDRB]

It’s a spiritual work of mercy to point out others sin and admonish them but are we always obligated to do so?

For example:
If your friends are joking around about the divinity of Christ are you obligated to tell them of their wrong, even if their non-believers?

If one of your parents blasphemes are we required to correct them?

I asked my confessor if I am always required to admonish sinners under pain of mortal sin and he said that by doing so I could be judging others.

Any answers are appreciated.
 
I am wondering this as well…and I am wondering about this teaching in relation with another teaching of Christ’s, about people not removing the beam in their own eyes before addressing the splinter in another’s eye. How to we balance these two teachings against each other?

I may start a new thread for this specific question…
 
Yes, admonishing the sinner is a spiritual work of mercy, but we are not responsible under pain of mortal sin to admonish every single sinner every time they sin. We are also not obligated to single-handedly feed every single person every single time they are hungry.

Prudence is necessary. We are all sinners. I certainly wouldn’t feel too good if everyone I encountered on a daily basis saw fit to remind me of my shortcomings each and every time I encountered them. Would you? That sounds like the path to despair, not conversion.

Yes, there are times where it is most certainly necessary, but we need to pray about whether a specific instance is really one of those times. First, we must ask if we really have all the facts. Second, we should ask if we are the best person to bring it up. And third, we should reflect on what the best way to bring it up would be.

I think that, most often, the best approach is to positively formulate the correct teaching in a general way rather than resort to finger pointing and finger wagging. Give the Holy Spirit room to draw the connections in their heart. Being confrontational about it may only serve to reinforce the immoral behavior.
 
Yes there can be an obligation to correct in terms of mortal sin…but not always. There can also be time when one should not (like when there is no hope for change etc)…one must be prudent (perhaps seeking advice from ones confessor).

While one needs to avoid the temptation to judge it can be a good thing to do.

These articles can be helpful:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=8262744&postcount=5

Pope Benedict XVI recently spoke on the subject: zenit.org/article-33346?l=english

(Since there are some out there in the forum who scruple about such things…I will add that one should not scruple either …one needs to be prudent and that there are some should not engage in “fraternally corrcection” due to such. Their confessor can guide them)
 
Joe_5859 said:
Yes, admonishing the sinner is a spiritual work of mercy, but we are not responsible under pain of mortal sin to admonish every single sinner every time they sin. We are also not obligated to single-handedly feed every single person every single time they are hungry.

Prudence is necessary. We are all sinners. I certainly wouldn’t feel too good if everyone I encountered on a daily basis saw fit to remind me of my shortcomings each and every time I encountered them. Would you? That sounds like the path to despair, not conversion.

Yes, there are times where it is most certainly necessary, but we need to pray about whether a specific instance is really one of those times. First, we must ask if we really have all the facts. Second, we should ask if we are the best person to bring it up. And third, we should reflect on what the best way to bring it up would be.

I think that, most often, the best approach is to positively formulate the correct teaching in a general way rather than resort to finger pointing and finger wagging. Give the Holy Spirit room to draw the connections in their heart. Being confrontational about it may only serve to reinforce the immoral behavior.
Click to expand...
Great answer!
 
If your parents are blasphemers maybe you can point it out. I dont know about your parents but with mine i wouldnt tell them in the heat of the moment when theyre angry. But when we do discuss religion I would impersonally say that this saying is blasphemous. Keeping in mind that i say this impersonally and my parents dont get offended.
 
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