When do children start to sin?

[Casilda]

Unfortunately, there are children (mostly in the 7-15 range) who posess enough understanding that what they are doing is deeply wrong and do it knowing full well. This is pretty rare though. It is possible to a child to have a complete lack of empathy.

Reminds me of a character played by Macaulay Culkin in ‘The Good Son’. Psychopaths start out young.

 

[TK421]

Canon Law:

Can. 97 §1 A person who has completed the eighteenth year of age, has attained majority; below this age, a person is a minor.

§2 A minor who has not completed the seventh year of age is called an infant and is considered incapable of personal responsibility; on completion of the seventh year, however, the minor is presumed to have the use of reason.

Again, this is prudential and used for ‘legal’ purposes. Canon law has no authority in matters of either physical sciences or revelation. This could just as easily be revised to say a person isn’t an adult until they’re age 45, or age 12.

 

[Allegra]

It’s rare, but I’ve seen kids as young as 1st grade intentionally do things to cause problems and even pain to other for no reason other than to see if they can get away with it.

 

[phil19034]

Canon Law:

Can. 97 §1 A person who has completed the eighteenth year of age, has attained majority; below this age, a person is a minor.

§2 A minor who has not completed the seventh year of age is called an infant and is considered incapable of personal responsibility; on completion of the seventh year, however, the minor is presumed to have the use of reason.

Note: this really has to do with infant baptism vs the RCIC (Rite of Christian Initation for Children)