Leonardo"s Notebook by Mattheus Mei

I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.

Monday, March 10, 2008

More than just 7, Vatican official says

Well MSM outlets are reporting rather tongue-and-cheek on a 'supposed' expansion of the list of deadly (i.e. mortal) sins. The old guard as enumerated by Pope Gregory in the 6th century and made famous by Dante in the 13th include: Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Anger, Greed, and Sloth. For interesting details on each, see Gashwin's series of Lenten Reflections on the Seven Deadlies follow the link.


The new list if it can be called such is an expansion that transfers some emphasis away from personal sins to corporate sins - those sins commited by groups of people. Included are drug pushing, polluting (the environment), unbridled manipulation of biologies, and opulency to name a few.


Bishop Girotti, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, is quoted by the Times UK as saying:

"You offend God not only by stealing, blaspheming or coveting your neighbour’s
wife, but also by ruining the environment, carrying out morally debatable scientific experiments, or allowing genetic manipulations which alter DNA or compromise embryos..."

CNN picked up the story and quotes another Vatican priest saying:

Father Antonio Pelayo, a Spanish priest and Vatican expert noted that it is time for both sinners and confessors to get over their obsession with sex and think about other ways humans hurt each other in the world in which they live.
"There are many other sins that are perhaps much more grave that don't have anything to do with sex - that have to do with life, that have to do with the environment, that have to do with justice..."

I suppose I can't help but role my eyes over the more conservative aspects of the blogosphere who get upset and begin immediately chiding when the MSM does mention these things in sensationalistic or tongue and cheek manner.

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