[verity]

I used condoning in the sense of overlooking or disregarding an "offense" without protest as opposed to advocating an "offense" i.e. encouraging it.

As you point out guilty is guilty. However, it seems that condoning would be a lesser offense than advocating. In a religious context, is condoning abortion a venial sin while advocating abortion a mortal sin?

I would wager that there are different answers even within the clergy.

[xzins]

I guess I see condoning and advocating on a continuum. At some point of public behavior or expression, the condoning becomes advocating.