Pope on sexual sins

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Here is the link:


As an American young adult male I find this disturbing. The sin most people go to hell for is light? How clear is it today that most people (including Catholics) live the “I’m not a killer, mean, envious person, so I’m a good moral person” cliche.
This is ambiguous at best. He contradicts Fatima with this statement. I truly hope more young people have the courage to speak up about this. Most of us are guilty of the sin of omission as well. This is probably the most overlooked sin in the Church. Has to be. Especially among the youth. This isn’t exclusive to the US either. I love the Pope and I pray for him, but this is bad. As a young man who struggles with purity ( as all men do ) this is disheartening. What he should have said was: The sins of the flesh can be mortal sins if given the three circumstances (which we know what they are), however we need to pray and go to confession as often as possible, as well as sin no more. with the graces of the Eucharist and daily prayer/mass. THAT’S what he should have said.
 
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Honestly, my experiences in Confession concerning this - how confessors respond to me - are far closer to what Pope Francis has said than what typically appears in the innumerable CAF threads on masturbation. I think it is wrong to characterize what the Pope said as “bad.”
 
A thought-provoking article. (I read it all.) As I compare the Pope’s actual words to those of the commentator, I notice a difference. I think the commentator is, to some extent, misapplying or taking out of context the Pope’s statements. Of course the commentator is correct that sexual morality is important. The Pope has not contradicted that, but is broadening our view to include other aspects of morality. It is easy, and dare I say even fashionable, to focus too narrowly on sins of the flesh, to our spiritual detriment.

By “fashionable,” I mean in the fashion of our time and culture – or perhaps every time and culture. Look in the media and entertainment. Sex is a popular obsession. (Not the only one. Power and wealth are up there too.) Could it be that by fixing all our moral and spiritual attention on sexual sins, we are holding them too close, and giving them more power over us?

Could it be that if we gave more attention to our spiritual growth, our relationship with Jesus Christ, and our charity toward others, we might better resist and sooner overcome sexual temptation? It’s something to consider.
 
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“The Screwtape Letters” by Anglican CS Lewis is a masterpiece. It is a series of letters of advice by a senior devil to an apprentice, assigned to his first human. He doesn’t minimize the sins of the flesh, but he focuses heavily on “The World”, on the sin of Pride.
In terms of winning souls for Hell, “murder is no better than cards if cards will do the trick”.
Pope Francis, like C. S. Lewis, focuses on the relationship with God, and how the action affects that.
 
polorun215 said:
Here is the link:

https://www.catalunyareligio.cat/ca...mmit-abuse-francis-sins-below-belt-are-232944

As an American young adult male I find this disturbing. The sin most people go to hell for is light? How clear is it today that most people (including Catholics) live the “I’m not a killer, mean, envious person, so I’m a good moral person” cliche.
This is ambiguous at best. He contradicts Fatima with this statement. I truly hope more young people have the courage to speak up about this. Most of us are guilty of the sin of omission as well. This is probably the most overlooked sin in the Church. Has to be. Especially among the youth. This isn’t exclusive to the US either. I love the Pope and I pray for him, but this is bad. As a young man who struggles with purity ( as all men do ) this is disheartening. What he should have said was: The sins of the flesh can be mortal sins if given the three circumstances (which we know what they are), however we need to pray and go to confession as often as possible, as well as sin no more. with the graces of the Eucharist and daily prayer/mass. THAT’S what he should have said.
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What he “should have said” is what God is calling him to say, which we can assume is what he in fact said.
Now, we can look for journalistic bias and translation issues and take those into account.
But the Pope’s observation that morality should be in proper focus, and integrate all aspects of the person, is spot on.

As you struggle with your sexuality, at the end of the day you will find a mirror and confront yourself honestly. And realize that pride is the most dangerous sin that leads to disorder and death. Pride keeps you from getting on your knees and listening to others who can help you. Pride keeps your from admitting your deficiencies and your dependence on others. Others like the Pope, who are wiser than we are.
 
When I see articles in which the Holy Father is referred to as Jorge Mario Bergoglio or just Bergoglio alarm bells begin to ring .
 
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Three of the seven deadly sins form a group, sharing the characteristic that they indicate over-attachment to things that are not evil in themselves, but are to be enjoyed in moderation.

• Avarice: over-attachment to money, wealth, material possessions in general
• Lust: over-attachment to sex
• Gluttony: over-attachment to eating and drinking

Pope Francis’ statement seems to be in full accordance with traditional Catholic teaching.
 
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BoomBoomMancini said:
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polorun215:
He contradicts Fatima with this statement.
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Even if he does, there’s no issue. Fátima is private revelation. You can take it or leave it.
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He doesn’t really contradict Fatima. That private revelation shined a light on one dark area that needed attention. The Pope, with more authority for us, is shining a light on other areas. But I’m still devoted to OLF.
 
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If you think about it, Jesus spent most of his time criticizing the prideful, not those who are in sexual sin. He did call out the lustful but it seems His biggest priority was calling out those with pride
 
Le_Crouton said:
His biggest priority was calling out those with pride
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And this is also the message of Fátima regarding sins against chastity. There is no conflict between what Pope Francis says and Fátima. I found an excellent explanation written by a religious:
NOTES
  1. "More souls go to Hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other
    reason. " Sr Lucia, the last living Fatima seer, said this refers primarily to sins against
    chastity, also called sins of impurity. The reason for this statement is not because sins
    against chastity are the most grievous sins, but the most common and, as Sr Lucia stated,
    "because of conscience, " since sins of impurity are less likely to be repented of than other
    sins. Why? 1) because the sense of injustice committed, which is the primary stimulus to
    repent of one’s sins, is not strongly felt when engaging in them, with the exception of
    adultery; 2) there is a greater sense of shame when committing certain impure acts and
    hence greater difficulty confessing them in the sacrament of confession, or even repenting
    of them in one’s heart; 3) sexual activity of all kinds is presented by our post-Christian —
    even anti-Christian — popular culture as natural and good, and sexual abstinence is even
    taught to be unhealthy. The sixth commandment, relating to chastity, has always been
    called “the difficult commandment.” Today, with pornography everywhere and women and
    girls dressing more immodestly than ever, it can almost be called “the impossible
    commandment.” However, Jesus assures us: “What is impossible with men is possible with
    God.” (Lk 18:27) We may add that all who invoke the Blessed Virgin Mary for help in
    overcoming sins of impurity, will receive the grace to do so, as she herself has revealed to
    St Bridget of Sweden and various other saints. And those who strive to live chaste lives
    know from experience, when sins of impurity are humbly repented of and confessed, a
    great burden is removed from our consciences, and we experience that peace of soul that
    the world and carnal indulgence cannot give.
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Pride is the root of all sin. Objectively speaking, sexual sins are what most people struggle with in our current society. The break up of the family and contraception/abortion is all rooted in pride. (I’m pretty sure most people who truly follow the Church’s sexual teachings easily avoid those other areas of grave sin, don’t you think?). I’m pin pointing the specific category of sin. All of the comments so far have downplayed sexual sin. I’m not saying other sins are not grave in matter, I’m asking the question as to why would he say such a thing? It’s clouded in confusion, is it not? He’s good at condemning “walls” and telling us not to be in gangs/mobs, but pretty much does his best to avoid the topics of sexuality. We have been in a downward sexual revolution spiral for 50 years.
 
It’s good to forgive!! I’m just saying, where is the “Go and sin no more” part? Being in the state of grace, we are called to admonish sins! This is true mercy! Someone in habitual sin is NOT going to “want” to hear that and automatically do mental gymnastics in order to continue sinning. Satan is one sly dude.
 
Be careful on what you take from Fatima

If you read what the Blessed Mother told the children in the apparitions, are not what Lucia and others say she said long after the apparitions ended.

Fatima doesn’t trump Church doctrine in these cases.

Jim
 
Rob2 said:
When I see articles in which the Holy Father is referred to as Jorge Mario Bergoglio or just Bergoglio alarm bells begin to ring .
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Yep. And a second set of alarm bells goes off for me when commenters on said articles claim to know which sins send the most people to Hell.
 
polorun215 said:
Pride is the root of all sin. Objectively speaking, sexual sins are what most people struggle with in our current society. The break up of the family and contraception/abortion is all rooted in pride. (I’m pretty sure most people who truly follow the Church’s sexual teachings easily avoid those other areas of grave sin, don’t you think?). I’m pin pointing the specific category of sin. All of the comments so far have downplayed sexual sin. I’m not saying other sins are not grave in matter, I’m asking the question as to why would he say such a thing? It’s clouded in confusion, is it not? He’s good at condemning “walls” and telling us not to be in gangs/mobs, but pretty much does his best to avoid the topics of sexuality. We have been in a downward sexual revolution spiral for 50 years.
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No one is downplaying anything. We are looking at the human person in full context, and getting to the core issue. This is what any good pastoral counselor would do. and the Pope is a pastor.

When a nail goes in crooked, you don’t continue beating it with a hammer, you pull it out and evaluate what the heck is going wrong. And if needed you start fresh.

And if the whole thing is beyond you, admit you need other people, and listen.
 
I am aware of this, but boy Fatima makes a lot of sense doesn’t it? Looking at our world now. What sin do you think most people are in hell for, I’m curious.
 
polorun215 said:
I am aware of this, but boy Fatima makes a lot of sense doesn’t it? Looking at our world now. What sin do you think most people are in hell for, I’m curious.
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People go to hell because they make a choice. That choice involves the whole person. You will it, in opposition to God’s will.
The subject matter of your various vices is what it is, but the end of the day you must choose them, and that ill-will is the root of the problem.
 
Sin has always been the same. Nothing different now then in the Middle Ages.
 
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