That Pesky Original Sin

  Man, having been wounded in his nature by original sin, is subject to error and inclined to evil in exercising his freedom. (Catechism of the Catholic Church section 1714)
One of the many things that has gone out of fashion over the years (it was only whispered in some circles that we were taught that our perfect selves are stained by the deliberate disobedience of a couple running around in a garden) that we return to is the teaching on Original Sin, particularly during Lent.  
Why?
Years ago, while I was teaching Baptism Prep to a group of parents, many who admitted that they hadn't been inside a church since their wedding-- a grandmother called me out.
I was soft peddling Baptism to this group on the fringe of the church-- emphasizing community and family history and the long generations of their family, all our families, united under this big bosomy umbrella of love and kumbaya.
This grandmother raised her hand and asked  "what about Original Sin?"  I fumbled momentarily but I had my answer: we are now emphasizing community and loveydoveyness. She walked out.
I saw the back of her and I knew she was right.
We can couch all our faults and troubles and personality defects in terms of "it's all my parents fault" or the catch all basket of "society"-- eternal cries of the adolescent mind-- which is where more than one generation of baby boomers and Gen x, y 's and z's have been encouraged to wallow.
At some point we have to grow up and face facts.
We are sinners.
We are sinners with a positive attitude, assertiveness training and seekers of our very own specialness and empowerment.
Yeah for us!  But  ....            continue reading>

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