Your gift counts double until 5/31: $27,385 to go in our Easter Campaign. Please help now!

Dictionary

A modern dictionary of Catholic terms, both common and obscure. Find accurate definitions of words and phrases.

Search:

Or browse the dictionary by selecting a letter!
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

FORMAL EVIL

A bad human act, done with knowledge that it is morally wrong, and with consent to performing it because of some advantage to the one who does it.

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

Click here to advertise on CatholicCulture.org
Think with the Catholic Leaders: Subscribe to Catholic Culture Insights Newsletter
Donate to Support this Site: Your contribution will be put to good work.
Tour the CatholicCulture.org Site
Shop Amazon to Raise Money for Catholic Culture
» Year of Faith - Overview & Resources
» Visit the Easter Workshop
» Visit the Ordinary Time Workshop
Click here to advertise on CatholicCulture.org

Recent Catholic Commentary

The Mystery of the Spirit 5 hours ago
Against a Facile Assurance of Salvation, the Need for Mystery 7 hours ago
Making Sense of Society: The Ebook 12 hours ago
An exorcism? No, a blessing. You'd think reporters would know the difference. 14 hours ago
Learning from the sick, and from the death of a child May 17

Top Catholic News

Most Important Stories of the Last 30 Days
Pope strongly supports call for reform in religious life CWN - May 8