A clarification on Pres. Duterte’s erroneous interpretation of Catholic teaching regarding Original Sin and temptation of Adam and Eve​ by the devil

The doctrine of Original Sin is in some sense the reverse side of the doctrine of Redemption (Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 389).

In His friendship, God created man in His Image and established humanity’s first parents, Adam and Eve (Genesis 2-3). This friendship included Sanctifying grace - the gift of holiness and eternal life.

Adam, however, liberally chose to live separately from God by having faith instead in the knowledge of good and evil – the desire to be like gods.  He rejected God through disobedience and lost this friendship for himself and us. This loss is original sin (Genesis 3:22ff; Catechism of the Catholic Church CC 396-399).

Without original sin, there would be no need for a Savior.

The doctrine of original sin cannot be proven by natural reason but can be easily perceived by its indicators: the need for police, the collapse of great civilizations, suicide, suffering, political upheavals, wars, to name a few. People have always and will always kill each other in mass quantity. The more advanced, civilized cultures merely execute war more efficiently. War is not exclusively reserved for nations. Street gangs, families or a single terrorist can rage war. But war is exclusively a human endeavor. Even though man is intelligent and capable of doing great works, war quickly reminds us of humanity’s fallen state - a state sometimes appearing to be beneath animals.

Let’s expound more how sin is being inherited in the sense of interconnectivity. As noticed, although everybody is responsible for her/his owns actions due to human free will, everybody’s deeds still affect other people and vice versa. For example, if someone drives while under the influence of an alcohol, her/his action can deprive someone else of their life. If children see their parents stealing, then they will have a tendency to choose to steal as a result of their parent’s example and so on. Now, everyone would be pretentious if she/he would claim that in her/his entire life, he/she had never been become insignificant towards her/his neighbors (loved ones/colleagues/friends/classmates)

Hence, original sin is not due to our action, so it is not our personal fault (Catechism of Catholic Church Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 405). But as a result of human interconnectivity and Adam as the father of the human race, we still inherit the state of Adam's sin - "a human nature deprived of original holiness and justice" (Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 404). This disharmony between human free will and human interconnectivity is a consequence of original sin.

The phrase "Original Sin" may not be found in the Bible; however, the doctrine is present. King David refers to it in Psalm 51:5:  For I know my transgressions; my sin is always before me.

Job declares in poetic fashion: Man born of woman is short-lived and full of trouble….. Can anyone make the unclean clean? No one can (Job 14:1 & 4)

Both of these passages imply that humans’ sinfulness is inherited from our parents, even though there is no mention of Adam's sin.

Also, another clearest revelation on original sin can be found in the Epistles of St. Paul, as St. Paul writes: In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all. For just as through the disobedience of one person the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will be made righteous (Romans 5:18-19)

Adam's original disobedience made us all sinners, while Christ's obedience on the Cross saves us from our sins, as St. Paul affirms: Therefore, just as through one person sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all, inasmuch as all sinned (Romans 5:12).  Thus, "we were by nature children of wrath," as St. re-echoes (Ephesians 2:3)

In brief, the symptoms of original sin reveal our need for God. Original sin is the loss of original holiness and justice brought by Adam's sin. Consequently, man (Adam) is separated from God and also other men (his descendants). Human has a wounded nature predisposed towards evil. A renunciation of this fact can only lead to grave mistakes in education, politics, social action and morals (Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 407), as evident in the video.

Video Reference: https://www.facebook.com/rapplerdotcom/videos/2113298298690942/