Why the Church Is Not “Relaxed About Sin” — And Why It Matters Today

A provocative column in The Spectator recently claimed that “the Catholic Church has always been remarkably relaxed about sin.” At first glance, it sounds like a clever barb — but what happens when you take a step back and actually look at what Catholic teaching says about sin, conscience, and the dignity of the human person?

In our latest featured article from Catholic Unscripted, “Remarkably Relaxed About Sin? Assisted Suicide and the Catholic Church,” Dr Anthony McCarthy pushes back against this claim and explores why the Church takes sin very seriously — especially in the context of today’s debate over assisted suicide.

This piece unpacks what it really means to take sin seriously — not as a moralistic pastime, but as a commitment to the salvation of souls and the dignity of every human life. It reminds us that Catholic moral teaching isn’t about paperwork or guilt-tripping. It’s about the profound conviction that wrongdoing harms the soul and that redemption through repentance and grace matters deeply.

Whether you’re wrestling with cultural chatter about morality, or trying to understand how the Church responds to some of the most challenging ethical questions of our day, this article explains it with clarity and depth. It’s a must-read for anyone who cares about the life of the mind and the life of the spirit.

👉 Read the full piece HERE