Categories and Types of Error
I have categorized 101 sins and errors so as to present them in a logical order. I have separated the errors of Catholicism into four general categories. The first two categories include errors that tend to minimize the nature and work of God. The second two categories include errors that tend to maximize the nature and worth of Man. The categories are:
1) Errors that leave unfinished what God has finished,
2) Errors that make physical that which is spiritual,
3) Errors that make mediate that which is immediate, and
4) Errors that make meritorious that which is gracious.
Perhaps a word concerning category 3 is in order. A Catholic relative, in a moment of honesty, shared a spiritual insight with me. She told me, “You know, I feel I have a good relationship with God the Father, and understand the Holy Spirit, but I just don’t feel close to Jesus.” That evening, while pondering what she said, it occurred to me that her lack of intimacy with Jesus was the natural outflow of a religious system that places multiple mediators between the Catholic and Jesus. Whereas the Bible says that there is only one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, Catholicism places six mediators in between. These “six degrees of separation” (the Sacraments, Mary, the Pope, the Priest, the Saints, and the Church) naturally leads to a lack of intimacy with the Savior.
Now, after breaking the errors into the four categories, I have further delineated them according to three types or levels of sin:
1) “Sins of being” (root sins),
2) “Sins of having” (branch sins), and
3) “Sins of doing” (fruit sins).
The “sins of being,” or ontological errors, are the causes of the “sins of having.” The “sins of doing,” in turn, are the conducts which flow from the sins of being and having.
Here is an example: The Catholic Church teaches that the Word of God includes not only the Scriptures, but also a second body of truth which is not written. This truth has been “passed down” through an unbroken line of Apostolic Successors. The Catholic Church calls this “Tradition.” God’s Word is unfinished, since the ongoing revelation known as Tradition exists as part of God’s Word. The root error of Tradition leads to the (unbiblical) tradition of having a celibate priesthood. Then this “offshoot” from the root of Tradition (mandatory celibacy) in turn leads to sins of conduct. The young men who are required to make a vow to forever remain celibate may not have the god-given gift of celibacy. Not surprisingly, this has led to all forms of sexual dysfunction in the priesthood, such as homosexuality and pedophilia.
The existence of Tradition leads to the having of celibacy which leads to the doing of homosexual sins such as pedophilia.
