SOCIAL SIN
Personal Sin – root of social sin
• Sins like pride, selfishness, greed, etc, come to
infect habitual patterns of human interaction
SIN as social
Each individual’s sin
in some way affect
others
There are sins located in
social structures,
situations and groups
Some sins
by their
very matter
constitute a
direct attack
on one’s
neighbor
SIN – A social reality
Moral/Ethical
Physical
Spiritual
Political
Economic
Cultural
Family
Nation
Region
World
Human Person as
individual/as member of
society
Presuppositions
• The phenomenon of
interdependence.
• The fact that social structures
are created by human beings
Types of Social Sin
• Structures which
systematically
oppress human
dignity, violate
human rights, stifle
human freedom, and
impose gross
inequality between
the rich and the
poor.
Types of Social Sin
Situations which
promote or
facilitate greed
and human
selfishness
Types of Social Sin
• The complicity of persons who do not take
responsibility for evil being done or who silently
allow injustice or oppression to happen
Vatican List of Seven Social Sins
• Bioethical violations such as birth control
• Morally dubious experiments such as
stem cell research
• Drug abuse
• Polluting the environment
• Contributing to widening divide between
rich and poor
• Excessive wealth
• Creating Poverty
Gandhi’s Seven Deadly Social
Sins
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Politics without principles
Wealth without work
Pleasure without conscience
Knowledge without character
Commerce without morality
Science without humanity
Worship without sacrifice
Background of Social Sin
Background of Social Sin
Background of Social Sin
• Ecclesial – Human existence is social
and linking sin with structures.
Conversion to Social Justice
•Conversion of the Feet
•Conversion of the Head
•Conversion of the Heart