{{Merge to|Invincible ignorance (Catholic theology)|discuss=Talk:Invincible ignorance (Catholic theology)#Proposed merge of Invincible error into Invincible ignorance (Catholic theology)|date=January 2023}}
An '''invincible error''' is, in [[Catholic moral theology]], a normally [[Christian views on sin|sinful action]] which is not considered sinful because it was committed through blameless ignorance that one's actions were harmful or otherwise prohibited.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Error |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05525a.htm |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref>
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In the stated philosophy, a sin occurs when a person knowingly commits an evil act, meaning that they must know both:
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*that they are committing the act
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*that the act is evil
If a person is ignorant of one of these two facts, then the type of ignorance becomes important. If the person is intentionally or willfully ignorant, this is known as ''[[vincible ignorance]]'', and the act is still considered a sin. If, however, the person is unintentionally ignorant of one of these two key facts, then they are considered [[Invincible ignorance (Catholic theology)|''invincibly ignorant'']], and have committed an invincible error.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mortimer |first=R G |url=http://www.katapi.org.uk/MoralTH/Contents-Ch1.htm |title=The Elements of Moral Theology |publisher=Adam & Charles Black |year=1947 |chapter=V: CONSCIENCE |chapter-url=http://www.katapi.org.uk/MoralTH/Ch5.htm}}</ref>
