Inducement to Sin

INDUCEMENT TO SIN. - He induces to sin who by word, by example, and by cooperation incites his neighbor or encourages him to commit sinful actions.

By word one induces to sin by imposing or advising evil or by encouraging its commission. Here what is involved is positive moral cooperation, which goes by the name of mandate, of counsel, of incitement, and which creates the so-called solidary obligation for the restitution of what has been wrongfully taken or for the reparation of the damages caused to one's neighbor.

By example one induces to sin when by less upright words or deeds one offers one's neighbor an occasion of sin; that is, one gives him scandal. The scandal given can be: a) direct, when something is said or done with the precise purpose of inducing one's neighbor to sin, either to ruin him spiritually (direct formal) or for one's own advantage (direct non-formal); b) indirect, when by one's own less upright word or deed, even without aiming to induce to sin, one foresees that one's neighbor will take occasion to commit evil.

By cooperation one participates through positive acts in another's sin. And one participates either formally, when one contributes to another's external evil action, sharing also the evil intention; or only materially, when one lends only the external act. Participation moreover can be proximate, if the contribution made is by its nature injurious to the law; or remote, if the neighbor abuses a contribution that is in itself good or indifferent in order to transgress the law.

For the morality of these acts, see also: COOPERAZIONE, La c. al male o al peccato; MANDATO; SCANDALO.