Source: PEW Research Center
Pope Francis has publicly urged Catholics to receive the sacrament of penance and reconciliation, or confession, reminding them that “we are all sinners” and the shame associated with sin is “a grace” that prepares them for God’s forgiveness.
Despite the pontiff’s entreaties, only about four-in-ten U.S. Catholics (43%) say they go to confession at least once a year and 28% say they never go, according to Pew Research Center’s most recent survey of U.S. Catholics.
And yet, this lukewarm embrace of confession does not reflect a disbelief in sin: Roughly nine-in-ten U.S. Catholics (89%) do believe that some actions are offensive to God. Indeed, most American adults (78%) believe the same, including 91% of Protestants. At the same time, however, many American Catholics do not agree with church teachings on what constitutes sinful behavior in several areas.
For instance, the recent Pew Research survey finds that U.S. Catholics are divided on homosexual behavior, with 44% saying it is sinful and 39% saying it is not – a figure that rises to 51% among Catholic adults under age 30. And majorities of Catholics say that living with a romantic partner outside marriage (54%) and getting a divorce (61%) are notsinful. About half (49%) say remarrying after a divorce without first obtaining an annulment is not a sin.
In addition, fully two-thirds of U.S. Catholics (66%) say using artificial birth control is not a sin. Even 57% of the most devout Catholics – those who report attending Mass at least weekly – say using contraceptives is not wrong.
Those who attend Mass weekly or more are divided over the sinfulness of cohabitation (46% say it is sinful, 45% say it is not). But these Catholics also are more likely to agree with church teachings when it comes to abortion and engaging in homosexual behavior: 73% and 59%, respectively, say these are sins. Indeed, a majority of all Catholics, regardless of whether they attend Mass regularly, say abortion is sinful (57%).
The pope has challenged Catholics to consider how their lifestyles harm the environment and how they can help the poor, but he may have some convincing to do during his U.S. visit this week. According to the latest Pew Research study of U.S. Catholics, 42% say buying luxury goods without giving to the poor is not sinful. And even larger shares say living in a house much larger than needed (73%) and using energy without considering its impact on the environment (61%) are not sins.
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Categories: Americas, Catholic Church, Catholicism, CHRISTIANITY
Sin has many names and many forms: Some may see it as impurity of soul, a moral offense, an ungodly or unholy deed. The concept of sin varies among different belief systems but they all believe in the presence of sin.
Anything that is against a commandment of God is a sin.
From Islamic perspective, all humans are born pure and innocent, without a tarnish of sin on their souls. An act of sin is perpetrated when a person is able to make the distinction between what is right and what is wrong as prescribed by God, and he/she intentionally chooses to go against the will of God.
According to the Holy Qur’an, “Surely, We have created man in the best of creative plans. (95:5) God has granted ability to each and every one of us to overcome our shortcomings and weaknesses. To have certainty and complete faith in the existence of God, to have full knowledge of His powers and to realize one’s accountability to Him in the Hereafter, are the main factors that help us to retain our righteousness and piety. Once the heart becomes fully drenched in the Greatness and Glory of God, no one dares to break His Law.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing on him)said “All deeds are determined by intentions alone; a person receives (as a consequence of) what he really intends.” This means that the spiritual reward or punishment does not depend on the apparent nature of an act; if the intention is evil, regardless how good an action may appear it would still be in the category of sins. God sees what is in the hearts. In the Holy Quran, it is repeatedly stated that God knows what men reveal and what they conceal. He is well aware of what is in the depths of their hearts (11:6).