How can we deal with those who refrain from big sins but tolerate lesser sins?

St. Basil the Great answers, “First of all, it is necessary to understand that this distinction has no basis in the New Testament. One proclamation was offered for all sins when the Lord

1448 Mike Aquilina, The Way of the Fathers: Praying with the Early Christians (Our Sunday Visitor, 2000): Article 426.

1449 St. Basil of Caesarea, “In Time of Famine and Drought” 3, in On Social Justice (PP 38:77–78).

says: ‘Whosoever commits sin is a slave of sin’ (John 8:34) … If we are able to speak of a small sin and great sin freely, then this is an unacceptable testimony. The argument here is that the great sin is the one which seizes the person under its authority, while the small one does not reach the upper authority. Such as gladiators, the strongest is the winner, while the weak is the one who is defeated by whoever is greater than him.”¹⁴⁵⁰