The Catholic Church has a nuanced view of pride, distinguishing between sinful pride and healthy self-respect or dignity. Here’s an overview:
Catholic Teaching on Pride
✝️ 1. Pride as a Sin (Capital Vice)
- Definition: In Catholic moral theology, pride is considered the chief of the Seven Deadly Sins. It’s understood as an inordinate love of self — placing oneself above others or even above God.
- Biblical Roots:
- Lucifer’s fall (Isaiah 14:12–15) is traditionally seen as the result of pride.
- Adam and Eve’s disobedience (Genesis 3) is also attributed to pride — the desire to “be like God” without God.
- Consequences: Pride leads to other sins — envy, anger, disobedience, and a refusal to accept help or correction.
❗ Examples of sinful pride:
- Believing one is morally superior to others.
- Rejecting God’s grace or Church teaching because one thinks they know better.
- Refusing to admit fault or ask for forgiveness.
🕊️ 2. Proper Pride / Dignity
The Church does not condemn all forms of pride. There is such a thing as healthy self-respect, often called Christian dignity or proper self-esteem:
- You are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) — your life has infinite value.
- Acknowledging your gifts or accomplishments with gratitude to God is not sinful pride.
- Standing up for your dignity or resisting injustice is considered virtuous.
St. Paul says, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 1:31
🛐 Humility: The Antidote to Pride
- Humility is the virtue that opposes sinful pride.
- It’s not self-hatred, but seeing yourself truthfully: as a beloved creature of God who is dependent on His grace.
- Saints like St. Augustine and St. Teresa of Ávila emphasized humility as the foundation of holiness.
🌈 Pride in Cultural Contexts (e.g., LGBTQ+ Pride)
When people ask about “pride” today, it’s often in the context of movements like LGBTQ+ Pride. The Catholic Church:
- Teaches that all people, including LGBTQ+ individuals, must be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect (Catechism §2358).
- Does not endorse pride as self-celebration in opposition to Church teaching, especially if it includes rejection of the moral teachings on sexuality.
The Church distinguishes respect for persons from endorsement of lifestyles or actions it considers sinful.
✨ Summary
| Type of Pride | View | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sinful Pride | Condemned | Exalts self over God/others |
| Healthy Self-Respect | Encouraged | Gratitude-based, grounded in God |
| Cultural/Ideological Pride (e.g., LGBTQ+) | Mixed | People are respected; behavior not always affirmed |
If you’d like, I can show you what the Catechism, the saints, or Popes have said directly on pride or humility.