All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri Is Attraction a Sin? St. John Paul II Answers
Feb 24, 2026
A look at sudden sparks of attraction and what they reveal about the human heart. Discussion of St. John Paul II’s Love and Responsibility as a guide for navigating desire. A breakdown of sensual versus sentimental attraction and how sexual qualities point to the whole person. A warning about reducing others to objects and the call to channel attraction toward appreciation and dignity.
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Coffee Shop Spark Illustrates Common Attraction
- Edward Sri describes a man in a coffee shop captivated by a woman's looks and warm personality, illustrating a common spontaneous attraction.
- The scene shows attractions can combine sensual (looks) and sentimental (charm) pulls that happen without planning.
Sexual Values Are Distinct From Personal Dignity
- John Paul II distinguishes personal value from sexual value, meaning every person has dignity plus sexual qualities like physical beauty and personality.
- Those sexual values are meant to draw attention quickly and lead one toward the concrete person who possesses them.
Two Kinds Of Attraction Sensual And Sentimental
- JP2 breaks sexual value into two kinds: physical qualities that spark sensual attraction and psychological qualities that spark sentimental/emotional attraction.
- Both are normal and serve to orient us toward the person, not to replace knowledge of their inner worth.
