Is it a sin to break up friendships?

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Is it a sin if I broke up with my friend? Or cause my friend to break up with another one?
 
You are free to pick and choose your friends.
You are free to end a friendship any time you like.

Hopefully you pick your friends wisely, that they are trustworthy and have good character. That you genuinely like each other and have things in common. That you can count on them to help you in times of trouble and you do the same for them.

If you have decided to end a friendship, it should be for a good reason (betrayal, etc) and not for something petty like they’re not very popular and you’re a social climber.
And when you do end the friendship, be kind and not cruel. Don’t run them down behind their back, etc.

But you are still free to end any friendship any time you like.

As to ending other people’s friendships–do you have authority over either friend? I.e. Are you the parent of one of them and the other one is a bad influence?
 
Depends on the motivation for causing the breakup one way or another.

Was it to harm the person emotionally, or get revenge in some way ?

Only you can discern what the reason is.

Speak to your confessor about it.

Jim
 
Friendships can naturally fizzle out over time, and that’s perfectly OK. You can just choose not to hang out anymore.
 
Well I sin is doing something god doesn’t want you to do…

Can you tell the difference?
 
I would say breaking off a friendship is generally not a sin. However, as in many things, your motivation for doing so may shed some light on the issue. Sometimes we break off friendships because they are not healthy for us.

But let’s say that I break off a friendship because that friend is not cool to another group of people that I am trying to impress. So I hurt a lifelong friend because he’s a geek, or has a birth defect, or he’s just not as good-looking as this group I want to be part of - he’s holding me back. Could that be a sin?

Now, your second question is more troubling. I cause a friend to breakup with another friend. Again, I would have to question your motivation. Did you cause the break-up because you believed in your heart that your friend was better off without that friendship?
That friendship was going to lead to drugs or illicit activity that you thought would harm your friend - than your motives are good. You want to break up that friendship because you are jealous of it. I would suggest that may very well be a sin if your motives are not in the interest of your friend. (but because that is subjective, you must inspect your own motives and feelings about it)
 
We are to love our enemies, to do good to those who despitefully use us, never to return evil for evil instead return good for evil. Can’t see how causing friendships to “break up” meets these commands.
 
KnightTemplar said:
The question is will you all flag this one too or will you just cry and write about it in your diary?
Click to expand...
Was able to read the post that was flagged. Don’t really disagree with the underlying thought of breaking friendships with those who abuse you or are in some way a threat. I just think you could have phrased things a bit more “diplomatically?”
 
If you’re ending a friendship honestly and not telling lies about the person, manipulating them for your personal gain, or backstabbing them to others, but just deciding you would like to go your separate way and tell the friend that and wish them the best and leave, that’s not a sin.

A friend is a friend, not your parent and not your spouse. You do not have any duty to stay friends with people. There is no commandment about “Honor your friends” and you do not vow friendship till death do you part.
 
I think some friendships simply don’t transition well as you grow and go through life changes. Sometimes you have to let go.
 
This is such a good question. I never like to end friendships but there comes a time you must part ways
 
I agree, such a good question. and one that i struggle with constantly myself. I have had many fallen friendships in recent years and often felt guilt, questioning whether my choice to bow out was sinful and/or in line with the teachings of Jesus. Was I being too judgmental? Was I supposed to stick around and try to help them? Lead by example? Was I too reactive? Did I let them bait me into being the worst version of myself? etc, etc. I always end up blaming myself, which isn’t good and possibly even more sinful than walking away from the friendship to begin with. smh
 
Wow, what an excellent way to put it! Thank you for that piece of insight.
 
I’m very particular about my friendships now.
I don’t have time - for any sort of negativity - whatsoever -
They have to be Catholic - if they’re to be close friends.
Time is truly something precious -
try not to squander it away with people who lie - or may have other similar bad traits - that you just may emulate.
Yes, birds of a feather flock together.
You hang out with two faced unbelievers -
Don’t expect to grow naturally and healthy.
A tree is known by its fruits ( or by ones friends )
 
Not really. I speak directly and tell things like they are. Sorry I didn’t use baby nice talk
 
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