What is the doctrine of original sin?

We, Catholics, believe that the doctrine of original sin is fundamental to understanding the human condition. According to this doctrine, we are all born in a state of deprivation of original holiness and justice, as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It is not a sin that each person commits individually, but something inherited by all of us—a stain on our human nature. Genesis 3:1-19 narrates this disobedience that affected all humanity.

For us, original sin is not a personal fault but a condition that makes us inclined toward evil. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that although our nature is wounded by this sin, it has not been totally destroyed. We still have freedom and responsibility but face an internal struggle, a tendency to sin called concupiscence. This impulse toward evil is present in each of us, as St. Paul describes in Romans 7:15-23, where he talks about the struggle between wanting to do good and ending up doing evil.

The doctrine of original sin is crucial because it reveals our need for salvation. Without it, the mission of Christ would not make sense. He came into the world to redeem humanity, to free us from this inherited condition. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus offered us a path of reconciliation with God. Romans 5:12-21 discusses how sin entered the world through one man, Adam, but how salvation came through one man, Christ.

We, Catholics, also understand that baptism is essential in this process. Baptism purifies us from original sin and gives us new life in Christ. Jesus Himself said, "No one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit" (Jn 3:5). This sacrament is the first step toward a life of grace and holiness. Without it, we remain bound to the condition of the children of Adam, distant from divine life.