--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have…" description: "\"“Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them: by participating directly and vo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/catholic-church-73464_catholic_sin-is-a-personal-act-moreover-we-have-a_2582045.jpg" --- # Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility… ![“Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them: by participating directly and voluntarily in them; by ordering, advising, praising, or approving them; by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so…” quote by Catholic Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/catholic-church-73464_catholic_sin-is-a-personal-act-moreover-we-have-a_2582045.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/catholic-church-73464_catholic_sin-is-a-personal-act-moreover-we-have-a_2582045.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/catholic-church-73464_catholic_sin-is-a-personal-act-moreover-we-have-a_2582045.jpg) > ““Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them: by participating directly and voluntarily in them; by ordering, advising, praising, or approving them; by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so; by protecting evil-doers. \[1868\]”” [Catholic Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catholic-church/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individuals are accountable for personal sins, but also share responsibility for collective wrongdoing when they enable or conceal it. **In simple terms:** People must own both personal and shared sins. Key Takeaway Act responsibly and speak out against injustice. Themes ethics collective responsibility morality Mood serious thoughtful Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace whistleblowing - community activism - political voting Key Concepts complicity obedience social justice Questions to Reflect On - When have you enabled wrongdoing? - How can you intervene responsibly? A Different Perspective Complex moral dilemmas can blur personal vs. collective guilt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Catholicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholicism/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Responsibility Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-sins-1786606/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sin Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-personal-1287370/) [Sinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinner/) [Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins/) [Sins Committed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins-committed-807930/) ## Related quotes > [“We all sin, of course, but the unwillingness to take any responsibility for our sins implies a more deeply damaged spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-j-chaput/we-all-sin-of-course-but-the-unwillingness-to-take-any-responsibility/) [Charles J. Chaput](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-j-chaput/) > [We tend to speak of sin in very personal and individual terms. Jeremiah does not downplay that, but he also sees how a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-j-h-wright/we-tend-to-speak-of-sin-in-very-personal-and-individual-terms/) [Christopher J. H. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-j-h-wright/) > [“One of the most amazing commentaries on the fallen human nature to be found in all the Word of God is right here in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hitchcock/one-of-the-most-amazing-commentaries-on-the-fallen-human-nature-to-be/) [Mark Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hitchcock/) > [“He has borne with thousands of foul and abominable sins which you have committed against Him, yet even they have not been enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santa-teresa-de-jes-s/he-has-borne-with-thousands-of-foul-and-abominable-sins-which-you/) [Santa Teresa de Jesús](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santa-teresa-de-jes-s/) > [“The chief sources of sin are seven: Pride, Covetousness, Lust, Anger, Gluttony, Envy, and Sloth; and they are commonly called capital sins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plenary-councils-of-baltimore/the-chief-sources-of-sin-are-seven-pride-covetousness-lust-anger/) [Plenary Councils of Baltimore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plenary-councils-of-baltimore/) > [Teach the ignorant as much as you can; society is culpable in not providing a free education for all and it must answer for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/teach-the-ignorant-as-much-as-you-can-society-is-culpable-in-not/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“The only way to avoid eternal punishment for sins we never committed from this all-loving God is to accept his son—who is actually himself—as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-boghossian/the-only-way-to-avoid-eternal-punishment-for-sins-we-never-committed/) [Peter Boghossian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-boghossian/) > [If the soul is left in darkness, sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/if-the-soul-is-left-in-darkness-sins-will-be-committed-the-guilty-one/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [O admirable Mother of God! How many sins have I committed for which thou hast obtained pardon for me, and how many others would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eudes/o-admirable-mother-of-god-how-many-sins-have-i-committed-for-which/) [John Eudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eudes/) > [All sins are committed in secrecy. The moment we realize that God witnesses even our thoughts, we shall be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/all-sins-are-committed-in-secrecy-the-moment-we-realize-that-god/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [How immense to us appear the sins we have not committed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-curchod/how-immense-to-us-appear-the-sins-we-have-not-committed/) [Suzanne Curchod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-curchod/) > [“Never REJECT yourself due to the sins you have committed. REGRET will do nothing; REPENT and do something!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/never-reject-yourself-due-to-the-sins-you-have-committed-regret-will/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“As long as the sins we have committed are not recognized, confessed to the Lord and abandoned, they will continue to be a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barnabe-assohoto-and-samuel-ngewa/as-long-as-the-sins-we-have-committed-are-not-recognized-confessed-to/) [Barnabe Assohoto and Samuel Ngewa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barnabe-assohoto-and-samuel-ngewa/) > [“Lord, this man before me is known to you. Beckett's soul is littered with sins that he committed to protect Blake and me. "…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/lord-this-man-before-me-is-known-to-you-beckett-s-soul-is-littered/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [Women have a special corner of their hearts for sins they have never committed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/women-have-a-special-corner-of-their-hearts-for-sins-they-have-never/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) ## More by Catholic Church > [“1862 ...although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catholic-church/1862-although-we-can-judge-that-an-act-is-in-itself-a-grave-offense/) [Catholic Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catholic-church/) > [“1877. The vocation of humanity is to show forth the image of God and to be transformed into the image of the Father's only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catholic-church/1877-the-vocation-of-humanity-is-to-show-forth-the-image-of-god-and/) [Catholic Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catholic-church/) > [“1883. ...The teaching of the Church has elaborated the principle of subsidiarity, according to which "a community of a higher order should not interfere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catholic-church/1883-the-teaching-of-the-church-has-elaborated-the-principle-of/) [Catholic Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catholic-church/) [Explore all 4 Catholic Church quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catholic-church/) ## More Catholic quotes > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [ The young man \[Turgot\] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecclesiastical-career-was-placed/) [Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [I'm the daughter of a Kenyan Catholic father and a Mauritian Hindu mother, and I have a Jewish husband who was born in South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suella-braverman/i-m-the-daughter-of-a-kenyan-catholic-father-and-a-mauritian-hindu/) [Suella Braverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suella-braverman/) > [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. We won the state championship my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-reason-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-school-was-because-they-had/) [Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/) > [I grew up with a religious background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-caruso/i-grew-up-with-a-religious-background/) [Alex Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-caruso/) > [ Girded with faith and the performance of good works, let us follow in his \[Jesus\] paths by the guidance of the Gospel. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-of-nursia/girded-with-faith-and-the-performance-of-good-works-let-us-follow-in/) [Benedict of Nursia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-of-nursia/) > [“Even at the tender age of twelve, when I knelt in front of the bishop for my confirmation, I had the sneaking suspicion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-edwards/even-at-the-tender-age-of-twelve-when-i-knelt-in-front-of-the-bishop/) [Megan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-edwards/) > [Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-and-don-t-worry/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [My grandmother was a minister as well, which was not that common in the 1930s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/my-grandmother-was-a-minister-as-well-which-was-not-that-common-in/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [My grandmother made sure that I went to church every Sunday. And she'd come over and pick us boys up, and we would go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/my-grandmother-made-sure-that-i-went-to-church-every-sunday-and-she-d/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [I think being raised within a Mexican Catholic family made magical realism a very natural part of who I am as a person and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-olivas/i-think-being-raised-within-a-mexican-catholic-family-made-magical/) [Daniel Olivas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-olivas/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [You can never completely get it - being a Christian - but I think I really got it when my first son was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/you-can-never-completely-get-it-being-a-christian-but-i-think-i/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) [Browse all 4,027 Catholic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them: by participating directly and voluntarily in them; by ordering, advising, praising, or approving them; by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so; by protecting evil-doers. [1868]”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Catholic Church" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catholic-church/sin-is-a-personal-act-moreover-we-have-a-responsibility-for-the-sins/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Catholic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catholic-church/sin-is-a-personal-act-moreover-we-have-a-responsibility-for-the-sins/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/catholic-church-73464_catholic_sin-is-a-personal-act-moreover-we-have-a_2582045.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/catholic-church-73464_catholic_sin-is-a-personal-act-moreover-we-have-a_2582045.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/catholic-church-73464_catholic_sin-is-a-personal-act-moreover-we-have-a_2582045.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate…” — Catholic Church", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Catholic Church", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catholic-church/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Sin is a personal act. Moreover,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catholic-church/sin-is-a-personal-act-moreover-we-have-a-responsibility-for-the-sins/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catholic-church/sin-is-a-personal-act-moreover-we-have-a-responsibility-for-the-sins/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```