--- title: "Justifying Sin: Everybody’s Doing It" description: In the wake of Divine Mercy Sunday, Kate Daneluk urges us all to take a little time to dig a little deeper and find the sins that we have been justifying. It takes some prayer and thought and a good d --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/04/07/justifying-sin-everybodys#) # Justifying Sin: Everybody’s Doing It Apr 7, 2016 3:00:12 PM  |  by [Kate Daneluk](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/kate-daneluk) , [via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ARezando.jpg) You are a busy mom. You go to Church. You try your best. You don’t commit any of the “big” sins, like murder or adultery. So, you go to Confession, maybe weekly, monthly or a couple times a year. And every Confession sounds the same: lost patience with my children, was grouchy to my husband, told a white lie, gossiped about a friend or co-worker, had impure thoughts about Channing Tatum, etc. Some of us have committed one of the “big” sins. Many times it isn’t a matter of trying to sin, but justifying it to ourselves. Check out former Planned Parenthood clinic director, Abby Johnson’s, [website](http://www.abbyjohnson.org/) for an amazing story of someone justifying evil and believing it to be good. When someone justifies abortion, an affair, pornography, etc., most of us find it incomprehensible. But, instead of judging others, let this be an opportunity to examine our own conscience more deeply. What sin are we justifying or refusing to acknowledge? Here is a simple example that has hit close to home. Almost all of us have likely committed intellectual theft. It is easy to do online and easy to justify. *I’m just using this photo for our family newsletter.* *This dinosaur illustration is just for a 4th grade Social Studies report.* *This CD is for the youth group.* *It’s OK to copy this music for the church.* Somehow, when it’s for kids or school or church, we don’t seem to believe the copyrights apply. We will pay to go to a movie, but not to give copyright royalties to people who have a career dedicated to composing music for Church liturgy. I used to do this, and then I met the people who depend on the sale of images, music and writing for their living. Then I became one of those people with Making Music Praying Twice. I have known many charitable, Christian men and women who work very hard to achieve good, holy lives who strangely assume that copying and printing copyrighted work is OK, especially if it’s for church use. Often, I’ve explained that there are people depending on royalties from CDs and music and books to feed their families. How much money do you think people make providing educational and religious materials? Do you think we should steal their work for “God”? Is God’s work not important enough for our own money? Most people immediately convert in their thinking when challenged with these questions and correct this practice. However, just a little thought and common sense is all it takes to realize that this is wrong. In this Year of Mercy, in the wake of Divine Mercy Sunday, let’s all take a little time to dig a little deeper and find the sins that we have been justifying. It takes some prayer and thought and a good deal of honesty and common sense. **What are some sins you’ve justified in the past or see others justifying? Let’s all help each other grow with the help of the Divine Mercy.** *Copyright 2016 Kate Daneluk* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F04%2F07%2Fjustifying-sin-everybodys%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F04%2F07%2Fjustifying-sin-everybodys%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F04%2F07%2Fjustifying-sin-everybodys%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Justifying%20Sin%3A%20Everybody%E2%80%99s%20Doing%20It) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F04%2F07%2Fjustifying-sin-everybodys%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F04%2F07%2Fjustifying-sin-everybodys%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![CatholicMom Logo](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/favicon-catholicmom.png) ### [Kate Daneluk](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/kate-daneluk) Kate Daneluk is a wife, mother of six, and co-founder of [ Making Music Praying Twice](http://www.makingmusicprayingtwice.com). With a background in music, theology and education, she contributes articles and resources to various publications. ## Related Blog Articles [ Little Christmas Around the World Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/01/05/little-christmas-around-world) [ Why Christmas Should Bother Everybody Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/12/14/christmas-bother-everybody) [ Avoiding Friendly Fire: Tips for Setting Boundaries When You Work From Home Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/02/11/avoiding-friendly-fire-tips-for-setting-boundaries-when-you-work-from-home) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.