Sinful Curiosity is the Root of Many Sins

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 05-19-20 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[Salvation]

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Phil 4:8).

[Salvation]

Monsignor Pope Ping!

[ealgeone]

Sinful curiosity is also at the root of a lot of lust and immodesty. A man may be happily married, but when he sees a woman walk past on the sidewalk he may temporarily push that to the back of his mind. Part of his problem is lust. And in that lustful mindset, he reduces the woman—a person—to her curves and other physical attributes. But another aspect of his struggle is the sinfully curious question “I wonder what she’d be like?”

What the Msgr leaves out is at this point the man has committed adultery. He's as guilty with this thought as he would be if he were to engage in the physical act itself.

[olepap]

...at this point the man has committed adultery. He's as guilty with this thought as he would be if he were to engage in the physical act itself

That's taking it way too far. Adultery is the physical act of sex with a woman not your wife. We all have sexual thoughts, this is designed in by God.

[Luircin]

That’s taking it way too far. Adultery is the physical act of sex with a woman not your wife. We all have sexual thoughts, this is designed in by God.

***

Jesus says differently.

“But I say to you, That whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

[Dr. Talon]

To add to the Scripture quotation, which is true and applies here, the man may find the woman attractive. That is out of his control, and not inherently sinful. However, to ask oneself a question like that is an act of the will - it is a choice, and in that, he has sinned gravely in his heart. It is about what we do with those feelings that is sinful - in thought, word, or deed.

Likewise, fleeting thoughts of this nature can come involuntarily - that is not a sin. At best, it is a temptation. It is a sin when one decides to hold on to, or to stoke such thoughts. Then, one is choosing to entertain adultery (or another sin) in the heart.

So, yes, you are right that our sexuality is good and from God. That means that our feelings are good in themselves. However, we are also subject to the effects of original sin. Therefore, our sexuality can be twisted and turn sinful. So, we have to direct and guide it with our reason (aided by God’s necessary grace) to what is good.

[Campion]

Not quite true. It's the same sin, but there's a difference in the gravity of the objective guilt between thinking about the act and actually committing it. There are gradations of "thinking about it," as well -- between a slightly willed momentary toying with the idea, and a decisive fixation of the will "I'm going to do this ..." -- which matter, too.

Somebody toys briefly with the idea of stealing a pencil, while somebody else commits armed robbery of a bank and gets away with $200,000 in cash. Both of them are committing the sin of "stealing," but it's ridiculous to suggest that the objective guilt of both acts is the same.

Otherwise you end up with morally ridiculous situations, like equating what Adolph Eichmann did with me getting angry at someone who cuts me off in traffic. Both are sins against the commandment "Thou shalt not kill".

[ealgeone]

27“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; 28but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28 NASB

Roman Catholic theology is leading you astray on this issue.

In the passage above Jesus does not make any allowance for your positions.

He makes it clear our thought life, in this case about adultery, is equal to the actual physical act itself.

It is either sin or it is not.

Jesus says it is.

This is where the Roman Catholic false doctrine of mortal and venial sins leads the Roman Catholic astray.

I've had too many conversations with your fellow Roman Catholics, and probably you as well, on this issue to know Rome views the thinking about adultery as being different than the physical act.

I agree the earthly consequences are different. If you lust after another woman (or dude if you are a gal), your spouse may never know.

However, God knows and that's what really matters.

Our thought about adultery, or stealing, or murder, etc....even for a moment condemns us.

It's these thoughts we're sometimes not even aware of that condemn us. It shows how utterly impossible it is to be "good enough" to get into Heaven on our own merits.

As I've said before, IF I were a Roman Catholic I'd never let the priest out of my sight. I'd be confessing every hour on the hour....just to be sure.

Fortunately, Christianity teaches something different than Roman Catholicism.

We we profess our faith in Christ He wipes away all of our sins. He nails them to the cross.

13When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 NASB

[Bratch]

Sinful Curiosity is the Root of Many Sins

The Monsignor needs to talk to our kittens.

[cloudmountain]

Not quite true. It's the same sin, but there's a difference in the gravity of the objective guilt between thinking about the act and actually committing it. There are gradations of "thinking about it," as well -- between a slightly willed momentary toying with the idea, and a decisive fixation of the will "I'm going to do this ..." -- which matter, too. Somebody toys briefly with the idea of stealing a pencil, while somebody else commits armed robbery of a bank and gets away with $200,000 in cash. Both of them are committing the sin of "stealing," but it's ridiculous to suggest that the objective guilt of both acts is the same. Otherwise you end up with morally ridiculous situations, like equating what Adolph Eichmann did with me getting angry at someone who cuts me off in traffic. Both are sins against the commandment "Thou shalt not kill".

I'm with you. But there are many folks here who believe that sin is sin and that there is no difference between venial and mortal sin.
The example I gave was: murdering people and stealing your brother's cookies. To them, they are both the same. Bible quotes spilled out from them all over the page.
They made NO sense. Non-Catholics are free to interpret the Bible as they see fit.

For sure they are NOT Catholics.

They haven't the authority of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Living Magisterium--

https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s1c2a2.htm

[Luircin]

No such thing as venial sin.

While Scripture certainly notes that there are some sins that are worse than others, such as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, ALL sin is worthy of damnation.

[ealgeone]

But there are many folks here who believe that sin is sin and that there is no difference between venial and mortal sin.

You mean like this....

27“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; 28but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28 NASB

[cloudmountain]

No.

[cloudmountain]

No such thing as venial sin. While Scripture certainly notes that there are some sins that are worse than others, such as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, ALL sin is worthy of damnation.

I already made my comment. You don't need me to add towhat I've already written.

[ealgeone]

If you cannot see the clear meaning of that passage I cannot help you.

[Luircin]

And yet you choose to reply anyways.

Besides, you’re not arguing with me, you’re arguing with what God has written.

If you don’t like that, then take it up with the author.

[Luircin]

In summary, people REALLY don’t like it when their sins are pointed out and condemned.

Not even in general terms.

They don’t even like being reminded.

I made an enemy for life when I pointed out that someone saying, “I’m not so bad; I haven’t actually killed people, so I must be fine in God’s sight, yes?” is still under God’s condemnation.

He threw a FIT and started spreading outright lies saying that I told people that all veterans are going to Hell, then after that spent over a year trying to financially and psychologically ruin me while also trying to get me excommunicated.

[ealgeone]

In summary, people REALLY don’t like it when their sins are pointed out and condemned. Not even in general terms. They don’t even like being reminded.

No they don't.

Roman Catholics like to dismiss the thought life as being a part of the sin nature.

[Salvation]

Like the non-Catholic kittens who seem to perpetually crash Catholic threads?

[ealgeone]

Like the non-Catholic kittens who seem to perpetually crash Catholic threads?

You have one of your very own Roman Catholics who daily posts numerous articles against your pope. Daily he posts almost without fail.

And yet, not once do you ever say anything negative to him.

And you have the audacity to cry about non-Roman Catholics??

As I told you before, I never want to hear you cry about "Roman Catholic" bashing.

Your fellow Roman Catholic does far, far more "bashing" than any non-Roman Catholic I've seen on these threads.