The Vatican has updated the list of the seven deadly sins! We are no longer to be concerned only with gluttony, lust, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. As if these weren’t more than enough! Oh, woe is I.
The new cardinal sins (those that require absolution from a priest to be forgiven — otherwise you’re lookin’ at a stint in Purgatory) are pollution, mind-damaging drug use, and genetic experimentation. Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti, the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, also made mention of the ever-widening gap between the haves and have-nots. “The poor are always becoming poorer and the rich ever more rich, feeding unsustainable social injustice….If yesterday sin had a rather individualistic dimension, today it has a weight, a resonance, that’s especially social, rather than individual.”
The church seems to be walking the walk here, at least where the Earth’s fate is concerned. During Pope Benedict’s papacy, Vatican engineers have developed plans for some Holy See buildings to use solar energy, including photovoltaic cells on the roof of the auditorium for pilgrims’ audiences with the pontiff.
As for fighting social injustice, one needs only visit the Vatican to sense that perhaps the church has a way to go on this one. I’ve heard suggestions in the past that the church sell some of its astounding collection of artwork to help the poor. The reply is that the art should be considered public wealth, equally available for all to see. A reasonable argument, especially if one has the resources to make it to the Vatican.
As for the billions in real estate owned by the church, reference is usually made to Jesus’ obvious love for the temple in Jerusalem as justification. The big beautiful churches, after all, were not built at great monetary cost, but through the dedication of thousands of laborers and through the prayers of the faithful. Again, a reasonable position. The Vatican, the artwork, and the great churches of Europe are part of human history and probably shouldn’t be sold off to collectors and developers for fast cash.
It’s not often that I find myself in agreement with the Catholic church. But I have to say, I think they are on the right track here.
Yeah, despite his training as a Nazi the current Pope is just doing such a great job for God. I mean he’s a real softy even compared to God himself, who wrote things like this…
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me,
Tony, sometimes I post for you and you alone. Hugs.
Thank you, Marie. I need them hugs right now.
Mmm. Yes, the Church that goes on and on about not being trendy suddenly tries to be cool. Not only that, the cardinal said something about the press ‘exaggerating’ the paedophilia scandal.
Maybe it just needs to shut the hell up and take responsibility for its issues.
I forget to put a glass bottle in the recycling box and I’m going to hell? Puh-leeze. This whole announcement cheapens the idea of mortal sin.
As for obscene wealth, just look at the personal wealth of cardinals and all the expensive clothing they wear and the obscenely expensive food they eat – the dinners, parties, hobnobbing, non-green travel. Look at members of religious orders with vows of poverty, who have credit cards and eat out/drink themselves silly all the time.
Spare me. You want to call obscene wealth a mortal sin? Remove the plank from your own eye before you remove the splinter from the world’s.
This was an utter farce – like so many of the Catholic Church’s pronouncements.
I’ll listen when they start acting like adults and REALLY taking responsibility for their actions and the trouble they’re in.
Irim, I agree with you. Can you imagine a church leader saying that the paedophilia (you must be a Brit!) scandal has been exaggerated? As though there is an acceptable number of victims and the Church is being unfairly maligned?
Good Lord.
Yo Marie & Irim,
Remember these guys & gals are really just human. Keep your eye on the Lord & not so much on what the local guys do. People put tooooooo much on the local guy & then the trouble can start. He is human! The word now that is where the difference is. Within the heart – out of the heart then mouth spills what lies there in. Or skip the talk but watch & see what is done. Sad we all are not perfect, hmmmm is there anyone perfect? Nope, so there you be! Still do not give up, do good and may you be surprised by many.
George
your favoright neocon, retired army combat officer, Texican
Good News! The long awaited Messiah has arrived. He is not a single man, but a nation of millions. He is “The United States of American”.
Here is the proof. The OT says that the name of the messiah is Yeshua. If I rearranged the letters in Yeshua, I get “Hey USA”. Ok, that is not enough proof for you. So G-d comes up with another unjumbled word that says the same thing. “Yeah Us”
The Jews have been right all along. Jesus is not the messiah. Jesus is not returning either.
Even though the Roman Catholic Church made up a story, G-d is very fond of Pope Benedict 16. The pope gets a “Get out of hell for free” card and goes straight to Heaven.
G-d only mentions his love for Pope Benedict. The destination of other Popes is unknown.