Bishops Seek A New Belief In Sin (Press, 21 October 1983)

The Roman Catholic Church is currently grappling with the concept of sin, as highlighted by an ongoing month-long bishops' synod in Rome that began earlier this month and is set to conclude on 25 October 1983. Over 200 bishops are participating in the synod, which focuses on "reconciliation and penance in the mission of the Church." This theme aligns with Pope John Paul II's continuous emphasis since his election five years ago on the Church's mission of saving souls, which he has stated becomes increasingly difficult if there is a lack of awareness of sin. Pope John Paul II has expressed deep concern about what he considers a diminishing sense of sin in the modern world, calling it "the most frightening of all the evils which afflict the world today." He has critiqued contemporary perspectives that trivialise sin as merely a social aberration requiring therapeutic intervention, or that attribute it solely to social injustices while exonerating individual accountability. The decline in the observance of the sacrament of penance, specifically confession, illustrates this issue within the Church. Statistics from France indicate a shocking drop in regular confession among Catholics; only 1 per cent attend at least once a month, down from 23 per cent in 1952. Moreover, the percentage of Catholics who have never confessed has risen from 54 per cent in 1952 to 69 per cent in 1983. This retreat from confession correlates with widespread rejection of the Church's teachings on sexuality, particularly the stance against artificial contraception, remarriage after divorce, and, for some, homosexual relationships. Many Catholics either avoid confession due to fear of challenging questions or justify taking communion without confession by claiming to follow their individual conscience. One proposal to help bring lapsed Catholics back to the sacraments is the introduction of general absolution, which would serve as a substitute for personal confession. However, the Pope has been resistant to this idea, allowing general absolution only in exceptional cases, such as in missionary areas with limited access to priests. He has called for more personal confessions, expressing preference for frequent and fervent individual interactions during this sacrament. Within the synod, various bishops are challenging traditional views on sin. French bishops advocate for a redefinition of sin to encompass grave acts like terrorism and torture, while Cardinal Jaime Sin from the Philippines contends that the Church should engage in denouncement of injustices as part of its mission of reconciliation. He argues that addressing injustices must lead to conversion, and thus reconciliation within the community. Additionally, a Canadian archbishop spoke about the necessity of reconciling gender dynamics within the Church, calling for men to acknowledge their historical domination of Church institutions. While the Pope is present at the synod, he is not directly participating in the discussions. Based on his previous stances, it appears unlikely that he will alter his views in response to the calls for significant sacramental changes from some members of the church hierarchy.

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