Human Nature

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

What does the Church teach about Human nature? are we basically good, or basically evil?

[Pontifex]

Everthing that God has created is good. Evil, is the absence of good, like the decay on a tooth. (St. Thomas)

We believe that human nature is fallen. Although we are created good we now have concupiscence. (inclination to sin) All the while we are fundamentally good. This understanding was distorted when Luther basically said that we are like snow covered dung heaps, fundamentally bad and covered over with Jesus who is perfect. While we would agree that we are a people in need of redepmtion and salvation, we wouldn't exactly view it like Luther.