What Is Original Sin and Why Must It Be Forgiven?

It's a question many of us have asked: if we weren't around to eat the forbidden fruit, why do we need to be forgiven for original sin? The Catholic Church has a profound answer, one that distinguishes between the personal sin of Adam and Eve and the fallen state we all inherit. The Church teaches that we cannot be guilty of another's personal sin. That would be metaphysically and scripturally absurd. Instead, Adam and Eve alone committed the personal act of original sin. What we inherit is not their action, but a state of being—a "sin" by analogy, not a personal sin. This inherited condition represents a real and proper sin that must be addressed, even though it's in its own unique category.

This distinction is crucial. When the Church calls original sin a "sin," it is not using the term in the same way we talk about personal sins like lying or stealing. Original sin is not an act we commit, but a fallen state of human nature we receive through propagation. As the Catechism puts it, "The whole human race is in Adam 'as one body of one man.'" We are all implicated in his sin, just as we are all implicated in Christ's righteousness. This is why original sin is called a sin "contracted" and not "committed." It's a mysterious reality that our human nature was deprived of its original holiness and justice, and it's this very deprivation that is transmitted to us.

Another key distinction to make is between original sin and concupiscence. While original sin is a true sin—a state of being that must be cleansed by baptism—concupiscence is something else entirely. It's the inclination or tendency toward sin that remains even after we're baptized and original sin is remitted. The Council of Trent clarifies that concupiscence is not "truly and properly sin" in those who have been reborn. St. Paul calls it "sin that dwells in me" because it stems from sin and inclines us to it, but it's not a sin in and of itself. Therefore, concupiscence doesn't need to be forgiven, but rather healed.

In summary, original sin is a "true and proper sin," but for us, it's a state of being, not a personal act. Because it is a real sin, it must be cleansed through baptism. Concupiscence, on the other hand, is a consequence of the Fall—a proclivity toward sin—but it is not a sin itself. It does not require forgiveness, but it will be fully healed at the resurrection of the body. Understanding these distinctions helps us grasp the profound mystery of how Adam's one act could have such a lasting impact on all of humanity, and how Christ's redemptive act provides the ultimate healing.