Some Catholics do not understand that the normal way to receive grace from God is through the sacraments. Of course, God is not bound by any one or any thing, but He has given us the Church for our sanctification.
Another common fallacy is that one can gain merit while in mortal sin. This false idea clouds the thinking of many Catholics I have met recently.
The CCC reminds us that sin "... results in perverse inclinations which cloud conscience and corrupt the concrete judgment of good and evil." The more one sins, the less discernment one has to judge good and evil.
If one is living in sin, such as taking part in an invalid marriage, or fornication, or homosexual relations, one's knowledge of good and evil becomes dimmed.
If one is not baptized, that person has a much harder time understanding the nature of grace, sin, and even natural law.
Grace builds upon grace. If one turns towards grace and cooperates with this gift, God responds generously.
What we saw in Ireland two weeks ago and what we shall witness here will corporate or social sin.
The CCC notes, "Thus sin makes men accomplices of one another and causes concupiscence, violence, and injustice to reign among them. Sins give rise to social situations and institutions that are contrary to the divine goodness. "Structures of sin" are the expression and effect of personal sins. They lead their victims to do evil in their turn. In an analogous sense, they constitute a "social sin."
Persecution always accompanies corporate or social sin because the culture turns against goodness and truth. Sin does not like to look at itself in the mirror. Sinners who have freely chosen a life of sin do not want to recognize goodness, God's Law, Christ's call.
They want to surround themselves with sinners so that their sin becomes acceptable. Such is the push for ssm, as well as the passing of the abortion law so many years ago. Sin creates more sin, and an atmosphere of tolerance.
We should be disgusted with sin. We should be righteously angry with laws which protect gross sins.
When we look in the mirror, what do we see-truth, goodness, beauty in the Lord, or deceit, evil, ugliness?
Our nation will be looking in the mirror soon. I am afraid of the new image of America which will be seen.
