Discussion Starter

In the new magazine Preach - Enlivening The Pastoral Art   (Published in the US by World Library Publications), there is an interesting article titled 'One on One'

with the subheading

' Are We Preaching Enough About Sin? '

Dick Sparks CSP Ph D (a Paulist priest ordained in 1978, currently divides his time between speaking and lecturing on the ethics workshop circuit, and serving as pastor of Holy Spirit Parish, the campus ministry community for the University of California at Berkeley), gives an emphatic 'yes' to that question.

" I don't think preaching about sin itself is the way to achieve that (a profound sense of our own frailty, imperfection and need for redemption.) I think people feel beaten down enough by the Church and by life, stress, busyness, the economy, foreign affairs and potential terrorism."

"If the old adage 'where sin abounds, grace abounds more' is true , then I believe we should emphasis the blessing of being graced more than the depravity of being sinful. Sin-talk, partly because of past overly negative experiences, tends to call us not to grace, but to a kind of guilt laden, works-righteous treadmill."   

Dick Sparks

On the other hand Dawn M Nothwehr OSF Ph D (Professor of Ethics at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago Illiniois , and prior to holding this position was teaching Theology at Quincy University , Quincy Illinois ) says 'no we are not!'

'"Preachers can and must denounce sin while also announcing the Good News. To fail to name the power of sin in opposition to grace is to fail to acknowledge that we make choices by which we reflexively incorporate ourselves into the distorted economy of relations that sin effects. To name the grace without naming the sin is to risk dispensing cheap grace. The pablum of relativism and cheap grace does not properly nourish and nurture the adult Christian."

Dawn M Nothwehr

Which side of the fence are you standing on? 

Have your say at NCP DISCUSSIONS