The Catholic Church teaches that all humans are born with original sin as a result of the fall of Adam and Eve. This means that all humans are born with the urge to sin and disobey God. Pope Paul VI consolidated the Catholic Church’s standpoint on original sin, stating that through Christ’s death on the cross, all are redeemed from original sin. The Church teaches that original sin can be removed and cleansed through baptism. This is why Catholics are baptised as infants.

Mary as the Immaculate Conception

The Catholic Church teaches that Mary, the mother of Christ, is the only human who is exempt from the doctrine of original sin. Mary is known as the immaculate conception – in other words, she was born free from original sin. This is unique to Mary and is why she was chosen to carry and give birth to the Son of God.