Whether passive scandal may happen even to the perfect?
Objections
❌ Objection 1 : It would seem that passive scandal may happen even to the perfect. For Christ was supremely perfect: and yet He said to Peter (Mt. 16:23): "Thou art a scandal to Me." Much more therefore can other perfect men suffer scandal.
❌ Objection 2 : Further, scandal denotes an obstacle which is put in a person's spiritual way. Now even perfect men can be hindered in their progress along the spiritual way, according to 1 Thess. 2:18: "We would have come to you, I Paul indeed, once and again; but Satan hath hindered us." Therefore even perfect men can suffer scandal.
❌ Objection 3 : Further, even perfect men are liable to venial sins, according to 1 Jn. 1:8: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves." Now passive scandal is not always a mortal sin, but is sometimes venial, as stated above (Article [4]). Therefore passive scandal may be found in perfect men.