Is anger a sin?

There are accusations that “Christianity has frequently discounted anger describing it as part of our carnal nature and representative of human depravity” (Lester, 2003, p.2). It is a non-deniable reality that Christians generally tend to consider anger as a negative emotion. Even though Jesus himself has expressed his anger in public at different times; his followers experience a less explainable guilt feeling at the moments of anger. It will be interesting to understand the teachings of Catechism of the Catholic Church on this regard.

Wrath-A capital sin: Catechism of the Catholic Church (1993) enlists ‘wrath’ among its seven capital sins (no. 1866). Here two terminologies demand further explanations wrath and capital sin.

Wrath is “Forceful, often vindictive anger” (The Free Dictionary, 2000, para.1). Forceful and vindictive anger is immoral and it is a mortal sin according to Catechism of the Catholic Church. By the commandment, ‘You shall not kill’, our Lord asked for peace of heart and denounced murderous anger and hatred as immoral. If anger reaches the point of a deliberate desire to kill or seriously wound a neighbour, it is gravely against charity; it is a mortal sin. The Lord says, “Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1993, no. 2302). Therefore murderous, vindictive and revengeful anger is immoral and a mortal sin, since it seriously violates charity. ‘Capital sins’ are those which produce other sins. “They are called ‘capital’ because they engender other sins, other vices” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1993, no. 1866). The document gives an example from the Bible how vindictive or revengeful anger produces other sins. Cain’s forceful vindictive anger led to the murder of his brother Abel (Catechism

of the Catholic Church, 1993, no. 2259). Therefore, Catholic Church fi rmly teaches that the murderous, vindictive and revengeful anger is immoral and capital sin, since it produces other sins.

Anger-a principal passion: Catechism of the Catholic Church (1993) places anger among seven ‘principal passions’ in the life (no. 1772). “The term ‘passions’ refers to the affections or the feelings” (no. 1771). Passions are “natural components of the human psyche; they form the passageway and ensure the connection between the life of the senses and the life of the mind.  Our Lord called man’s heart the source from the passions spring” (no 1764). Hence, anger natural passion or emotion which springs out of human heart.

The document presents emotion as a neutral factor “By his emotions man intuits the good and suspects evil” (Catechism of the Catholic Church. 1993, no. 1771). Then, emotions are not completely negative. case of anger. “Anger is a desire for revenge. To desire vengeance in order to do evil to someone who should be punished is illicit; but it is praiseworthy to impose restitution to correct vices and maintain justice” (Catechism of the  atholic Church, 1993, no. 2302). Therefore, anger can be also a praiseworthy emotion In short, according to Catechism  of the Catholic Church anger natural and neutral  motion which intuit either good or evil. Anger is good when it helps one to correct vices and to maintain justice, but vindictive and revengeful anger is a capital sin, because it to other sins. To understand and to accept anger without a totally negative  moral
judgement seems to be the first towards integration of anger.

 – Fr.Jo Paul Kiriyanthan