Choice

I'm reading this from a book first published in 1985 and it's hard to believe that it was taken seriously:

...partly on Scripture and partly on the insight of modern psychology which holds that human beings have the capacity to make basic decisions that determine the whole orientation of their life.

People sin in thought, word, deed and omission. That is the capacity. That is our nature.

The idea that we can make a basic decision not to sin, not to be selfish, to love God and neighbor, apart from striving not to sin, not to be selfish, and to love God and neighbor is as much a lie as the one which Satan told to Eve in the Garden.

It is not only the decision not to sin, but the decision to repent, have a conversion of heart and make reparation for sin which is at the heart of the Catholic faith.

For people who accepted the false notion of "fundamental option" as legitimate Catholic teaching I pray that God has special mercy for them and wrath for those who promoted it.

Thomas Bokenkotter, (1992) Dynamic Catholicism New York: Doubleday