Dear Vincent:

What you have been told by this person is in error. It is not a sin to have in one's acquaintance a non-Catholic. Such an idea is ridicules. If it were a mortal sin to associate with non-Catholic then how can we do apologetics or evangelize the non-believer?

If associating with non-Catholics runs the risk of losing one's Catholic Faith, that is, placing one in the near occasion of the sin of defecting from the Church, then one ought to avoid such associates. But, near occasion of sin is not in itself sin. Rather it is an imprudence.

As for heretics and schismatics St. Paul tells us in Titus 3:10-11, "As for a man who is factious (heretic, schismatic), after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned."

The advice to have nothing more to do with a heretic or schismatic is prudential, not a commandment. Prudence dictates that one should not hang around with such a person as their sin may influence us to follow suit. But, the primary reason for this shunning is not the protection of oneself, but to give the message to the heretic or schismatic that he has committed a sin so egregious that it places them outside the communion of the the Church (these sins invoke an automatic excommunication). By the shunning it is hoped that the heretic/schismatic will come to his senses and return to full communion with the Church.

Excommunication is mentioned by St.Paul in 1 Cor 5:5, "you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

The motivation of excommunication is to save the man's soul by letting him know that is actions warrant expulsion from the community. It is always hoped the man will repent and return to the faith.

Thus, shunning or excommunication is an act of love for the poor sinner who refuses to remain in the faith.

With all this said, if we still associate with heretics and schismatics or with immoral people who claim to be brothers in Christ (whom St. Paul says we ought to shun) we are being imprudent but are not sinning in-and-of-itself. We do need to ask ourselves why we maintain such relationships.

Where sin may come in, however, is when our association acts as a kind of approval of their sin. The Catechism states:

1868 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.

1869 Thus sin makes men accomplices of one another and causes concupiscence, violence, and injustice to reign among them.

Jesus associated with sinners, thus that mere act is not sin. But, when Jesus did associate with sinners he did so to influence them to the truth, thus He was not an accomplice to their sin.

If we do associate with heretics, schismatics, or immoral men, and there is no danger of us being seduced into their sin, then those men must know what our position. They must know that we consider them to be sinning and are not approving of their actions in any way. In this way our acquaintance with them may be a subtle influence for them to repent. In most cases, however, such sinners may not want to associate with us as they will feel judged by us (which we are judging their actions as Christ calls us to do, but we never judge the heart and soul).

Firm Purpose of Amendment: This is, and always has been, a requirement for a valid confession. Nothing has changed. But, this has nothing to do with the near occasion of sin. Near occasion of sin means that one is being imprudent and flying too close to the fire. It means that one is risking falling into sin. But, near occasion is not the sin itself.

Firm purpose of amendment is the promise to reform oneself as to not commit the sin again. Avoiding the near occasion of sin will help in this amendment, but failing to avoid the near occasion is not in itself a sin, it is foolishly imprudence.

Reading heretical or schismatic material is not sin. It is imprudent if one is not strong in their faith, but it is not sin in-and-of-itself. Of course an apologist or evangelist will need to read such material to prepare himself to debate and to discussion. There is no sin here.

I think your friend does not know the difference between sin and that which is imprudent. There are many things we can do that are not sin, but are foolish and imprudent. St. Paul makes this point:

(1 Cor 6:12) All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

 (1 Cor 10:23) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.



Here St. Paul is saying that while we may do some act that is not sin (thus it is lawful), that doing that act may not be in our best interest. It may not be expedient or healthy for us to do it, it may be a near occasion of sin that risks overcoming us (under the power), or it may not edify us (be spiritually healthy leading us closer to God). In other words there are things that are not sin, but are imprudent.

Imprudence in itself is not sin. Imprudence is personal, that is, it depends on the person. For example, I am rock solid in my faith. Reading such material or associating with such people does not cause a near occasion for me, nor does it influence me in any way to doubt my faith. If, however, a person is not so solid in the faith, prudence dictates that he stay away from such material and persons.

We do need to take pause concerning who we associate with and what material we read. Not only do we need to that the right motives but we must also be honest about our weakness. If association with a person will risk our faith or risk our falling into sin, then prudence dictates that we do not associate with such persons. But, the association in-and-of-itself is an act of imprudence, not an act of sin.

I hope this clears up the question.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary