Discussion about sin in proclaiming and catechism

Abstract

In a situation when the “feeling of sin” has been disappearing, which is even unconsciously supported by some ideas and actions in the Church, the author points out the dubiousness of some recent emphases in talks about sin to contemporary man. Using the biblical, and accordingly, renewed theological vision of sin, especially in recent church documents, the author points out some new stresses in the speech about sin in proclaiming and catechism. Following this line, “speech” is of basic importance, essentially determined by the cognition of Christianity as Good News and by Christ’s offer of “life in fullness”. The nonresponse to that call and rejection of Christ’s invitation to conversion and to new life, brings man to a deadlock, and moreover, to total destruction of his human nature. It will be necessary, in proclaiming and catechism, in accordance with new evangelization, to “proceed from the positive” and in this respect to insist on enthusiasm for the fundamental “option for Christ”, will have less and less space. At it, it will be also necessary to take care of the “law of gradualism”, i.e. about such a “speech about sin” that will be adequate to the individual’s age and life situation, taking account of some delicacies of contemporary man, beginning from children and the youth.