Social Sin

Social sin describes the institutional structures, laws, and cultural conditions that are contrary to divine goodness and human dignity. It is the social manifestation and consequence of accumulated personal sins (CCC 1869).

Rooted in Personal Sin

The Church teaches that strictly speaking, all sin is personal. However, individual sins can give rise to "structures of sin"—unjust systems (like institutional racism, economic exploitation, or abortion regimes) that condition society and make it harder to do good and easier to do evil (CCC 1869).