Sin of omission?

[Koopa]

Is it really a sin of omission not to tell someone when they are sinning? Because I’m in high school and if I went around telling everyone who cusses to stop… well, that would be very improbable. Even just with my friends it would be a chore, although I do try with them.

Does telling people when they sin apply only to “brethren,” as in Christians, or only to friends, or to everyone?

 

[cheeto1]

Gosh I hope someone answers this…I’m going to confession
in one hour and I’ve never confessed a “sin of omission”
before. I’m not sure what to say…

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Being evangelistic and ‘preaching The Gospel’ asks common sense and that we use the best available means. I am on an adult campus as an adult student where we have many young people as well. I don’t swear or cuss and most if they swear or cuss in my presence will apologize, since they have realized of their own accord that I don’t swear or cuss. If I were to ‘tell others off’ for swearing in front of me or for swearing in the first place, then I am sure I would be the most avoided person on campus and there would be no one to preach The Gospel to in the first place. I would become a figure of scorn and ridicule and not a person to imitate in any way. I would alienate people. Sometimes the best way of speaking is to be silent and to speak by way of example…or as St. Francis said “preach The Gospel and with words only if you must”. If I am in a group perchance where there is much swearing and cussing, I simply move away from that group.

The other point is that to sin a person must knowingly and willingly consent to something that they believe to be sinful…and most on my campus, and many people that I know simply do not believe that swearing or cussing is in any way sinful and since they are not at all religious, rather to the contrary, I would not be able to convince them it was sinful.

The above are all my assessments and quite personal assessments for one situation in which I find myself involved…and the above may well vary as a situation changes.

But do speak to Father about your quandry in Confession and be guided by his advice.

Blessings…Barb

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Gosh I hope someone answers this…I’m going to confession
in one hour and I’ve never confessed a “sin of omission”
before. I’m not sure what to say…

It is quite ok to go to Confession unsure if we have committed a sin or not - although I think you have probably been to Confession by now. For the sake of the point you have raised however, it is quite ok to say to Father “Father I have something on my mind, but dont know if it is sinful or not”…Father will then lead the way and discern and give you advice and tell you whether or not it is sinful and under what circumstances it could be sinful. It is also quite ok to say in Confession “Father, I can’t understand what you mean, could you explain further for me please”

…or raise matters along the lines of the above. Confession is also the place to receive spiritual advice and instruction…information.

Blessings…Barb

 

[Awake]

Is it really a sin of omission not to tell someone when they are sinning? Because I’m in high school and if I went around telling everyone who cusses to stop… well, that would be very improbable. Even just with my friends it would be a chore, although I do try with them.

Does telling people when they sin apply only to “brethren,” as in Christians, or only to friends, or to everyone?

High school students cuss because they know it’s wrong.

It is appropriate to tell somebody when they are sinning if they don’t know that they are sinning. Otherwise, you would just be acting self-righteous.

 

[Mini_gerbel]

Is it really a sin of omission not to tell someone when they are sinning? Because I’m in high school and if I went around telling everyone who cusses to stop… well, that would be very improbable. Even just with my friends it would be a chore, although I do try with them.

Does telling people when they sin apply only to “brethren,” as in Christians, or only to friends, or to everyone?

hey, only some cussing is a sin. This is what people on here and my priest told me.

If it insults someone or if its the F word its a sin or if its perverted.

If you cuss in front of people who you know wouldnt like it, its a sin as well. Best just to keep the stuff out of vocabulary.

 

[MarieVeronica]

Being evangelistic and ‘preaching The Gospel’ asks common sense and that we use the best available means. I am on an adult campus as an adult student where we have many young people as well. I don’t swear or cuss and most if they swear or cuss in my presence will apologize, since they have realized of their own accord that I don’t swear or cuss. If I were to ‘tell others off’ for swearing in front of me or for swearing in the first place, then I am sure I would be the most avoided person on campus and there would be no one to preach The Gospel to in the first place. I would become a figure of scorn and ridicule and not a person to imitate in any way. I would alienate people. Sometimes the best way of speaking is to be silent and to speak by way of example…or as St. Francis said “preach The Gospel and with words only if you must”. If I am in a group perchance where there is much swearing and cussing, I simply move away from that group.

The other point is that to sin a person must knowingly and willingly consent to something that they believe to be sinful…and most on my campus, and many people that I know simply do not believe that swearing or cussing is in any way sinful and since they are not at all religious, rather to the contrary, I would not be able to convince them it was sinful.

The above are all my assessments and quite personal assessments for one situation in which I find myself involved…and the above may well vary as a situation changes.

But do speak to Father about your quandry in Confession and be guided by his advice.

Blessings…Barb

Wonderful answer, Barb! This has helped me (i.e., your scrupulous friend ) greatly. God bless you.

MV