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Sin Part 3: Catholic & Protestant Views on Sin

Updated: Jul 3, 2023


Video from Catholic Answers


Catholic & Protestant Views on Sin

"Karlo Broussard explains how the doctrine of Original Sin does not proclaim us guilty of Adam and Eve's sin, but simply deprives us of the gift of "God's supernatural life." He also lays out the Biblical basis for the Sacrament of Confession, citing Jesus' charge to the Apostles in John 20:23. Karlo Broussard, a native of Crowley, Louisiana, left a promising musical career to devote himself full-time to the work of Catholic apologetics. For more than a decade he has traveled the country teaching apologetics, biblical studies, theology, and philosophy. Karlo has published articles on a variety of subjects in Catholic Answers Magazine, is a regular guest on Catholic Answers Live, and is an active blogger at catholic.com. Karlo holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in theology from Catholic Distance University and the Augustine Institute, and is currently working on his masters in philosophy with Holy Apostles College and Seminary. He also worked for several years in an apprenticeship with nationally known author and theologian Fr. Robert J. Spitzer at the Magis Center of Reason and Faith. Karlo is one of the most dynamic and gifted Catholic speakers on the circuit today, communicating with precision of thought, a genuine love for God, and an enthusiasm that inspires." from video introduction.


"The fall of Adam and Eve brought the “four wounds” to human nature. These are enumerated by St Bede and others, especially St Thomas Aquinas (STh I-II q. 85, a. 3): Original sin (lack of sanctifying grace and original justice) Concupiscence (the eleven passions are no longer ordered perfectly to the soul’s intellect) Physical frailty and death Darkened intellect and ignorance The Catholic Faith holds that baptism washes away original sin, and infuses sanctifying grace and righteousness. This is the miracle of regeneration and justification. The other wounds three remain in Christians." from the article: Catholic Church vs. Protestant Reformers on Original Sin, Concupiscence, and Total Depravity (link)


As you can begin to see there are some major differences. On the one hand we have the Catholic interpretation that the original sin nature is washed away upon baptism, yet there remains a problem with willful sin, while Protestants believe that the sin nature remains after baptism. Sounds the same to me.

In part 3 we will look at the Calvinist view of Sin.


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