Author Topic: Is there "institutional sin" according to St. Thomas? (Read 1025 times)

Geremia · « **on:** September 13, 2015, 05:15:35 PM »

Are there such things as "institutional" or "corporate sin"—e.g., sins of a nation, sins of a company, etc., either in a literal or figurative sense—according to St. Thomas?

The TFP article «In Legalizing Same-Sex “Marriage” U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Natural Law and Provokes God’s Wrath» says (my emphasis):

Quote

As in its unjust Roe v. Wade decision, which imposed legal procured abortion on America, so too now, and abusing its authority, the U.S. Supreme Court has consummated a collective sin of the nation, which will draw God’s justice and chastisement upon us, because the sins of nations are punished in this life, not in the next. In His justice, God rewards or chastises nations in this life for the good or evil they do, because unlike individuals they are incapable of being rewarded or chastised in eternity.^[22]

22: This is the underlying thesis expressed throughout Saint Augustine’s famous City of God. ^↑

Where exactly is this "underlying thesis expressed throughout Saint Augustine’s famous City of God"?

thank you

RomanCatholic1953 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 13, 2015, 07:33:45 PM »

I saw in one docuмent issued by the American Catholic Bishops referring to
abortion as an "Institutional Sin". In no way, the Bishops condoned
abortion. However, there was no advice to Catholics, not even a
rosary crusade to repeal these unjust acts of the judiciary. No
strong language against abortion.
Because so many Bishops were and are in the pockets of the judges,
and politicians responsible for legalized abortions.

PG · « **Reply #2 on:** September 13, 2015, 09:34:58 PM »

Read Luke 11:31-32 and Matthew 12:41-42. Our Lord speaks about how "the men of nineva"(plural) will judge this generation(plural) for their sins.

Cera · « **Reply #3 on:** September 14, 2015, 06:23:28 PM »

Quote from: RomanCatholic1953

I saw in one docuмent issued by the American Catholic Bishops referring to
abortion as an "Institutional Sin". In no way, the Bishops condoned
abortion. However, there was no advice to Catholics, not even a
rosary crusade to repeal these unjust acts of the judiciary. No
strong language against abortion.
Because so many Bishops were and are in the pockets of the judges,
and politicians responsible for legalized abortions.

While the Bishops did not actively promote abortion, they did so passively by their failure to act. In much the same way, they helped elect the Obanation by failing to condemn his support for killing babies and infants. They even went so far as to say a Catholic could, in good conscience, vote for BO as long as they were not voting for him solely because he supports baby killing. I think we all know that murder of the innocent is one of the sins that calls out to God for justice.

Geremia · « **Reply #4 on:** October 11, 2015, 09:40:35 PM »

This question also seems related to the Church's teaching that civil society (or the State?) is a "perfect society". Is it?