Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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PERMISSION

Authorization to act, especially to act in a way other than a particular law allows without the special permission. In philosophy, to permit is to foresee that something will occur and not intending it, yet also not preventing the occurrence although, absolutely speaking, one could have prevented that which is permitted. Thus, foreseeing certain evil effects resulting from a given action, one permits these effects for the sake of some other, equal or greater good.