Vatican official: New sins on horizon

[Shibby]

ROME, Italy (CNN) -- Fifteen hundred years after the Roman Catholic Church introduced the original list of seven deadly sins, a Vatican official last week suggested an updated roster for a new age. Although it doesn't reflect a change in official doctrine, the expansion of sins brought on by technology and science aligns with Pope Benedict XVI's emphasis on communal rather than individual piety, observers say.

In an interview with L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican's official newspaper, Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti said priests must take into account "new sins which have appeared on the horizon of humanity as corollary to the unstoppable process of globalization."

In the 21st century, he said, "You offend God not only by stealing, blaspheming or coveting your neighbor's wife, but also by ruining the environment, carrying out morally debatable scientific experiments, or allowing genetic manipulations which alter DNA or compromise embryos." Video Watch what sin looks like in the 21st century »

The original deadly sins -- mortal sins that require absolution for the sinner to avoid hell -- are pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed and sloth. They have been vividly portrayed in literature such as Dante's "The Inferno" since the Middle Ages.

Girotti is second in command at the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Vatican body responsible for confessions and absolutions.

In his L'Osservatore interview, Girotti said pollution and genetic engineering, as well as drug dealing, abortion, pedophilia, social injustice and extreme wealth were now on record as mortal sins, those the Church deems most offensive to God and those that could land you a spot in hell without repentance. "In different times, in moments of history, cultural moments, technological moments, sins dress themselves up, so to speak, in a different way," the Rev. John Wauck from Rome's Pontifical University of the Holy Cross told CNN.

"The underlying sin tends to be the same -- a variation of a theme of selfishness, a lack of respect for others, of lying, cheating , stealing or killing," Wauck said.

In the modern age, people find new ways to commit the seven deadly sins.

"Our wrath has new outlets and we have new technology with which to deceive people or even kill people," Wauck said.

Technology is a blessing, he said, but it can also be a danger. Take pollution, for example. Wauck said it's a variation of the original mortal sin of gluttony or selfishness.

Protecting the environment comes from the Bible's book of Genesis, he said: God created the world and placed man in it to thrive and not destroy. But the population explosion and the production of extremely toxic materials make the stakes much higher.

"We're seeing now that the kinds of sin that have an impact not on particular individuals -- I stole my neighbor's property or I damaged his property -- but [rather] I polluted in a way that damaged the entire environment, which doesn't belong to me and doesn't belong to my neighbor either. It belongs to mankind and so it's a sin in a certain sense against all of us," Wauck said.

Pope Benedict XVI "wants every person to stop and think about their actions and how it affects not only their own soul but the community and the world at large," said CNN's Vatican correspondent, Delia Gallagher.

"I think he thinks that by doing so this, by making people reflect on what they are doing, in the long term that is what is going to create a better world."

Girotti last week delivered his decidedly modern revision of deadly sins at the end of a weeklong seminar for priests and deacons on the sacrament of confession.

In Catholic teachings, professing one's sins before a priest in confession is the only method of absolution. But Girotti told the audience of several hundred clergy that some worshippers believe priests have fallen out of touch.

He pointed to a 10-year-old study taken by the Catholic University of Milan, which found that 30 percent of worshippers in Italy didn't believe a priest was necessary to atone for one's sins. It also found that 10 percent thought priests were actually an impediment to forgiveness because they were so out of touch with the ills of modern-day Catholics.

The communal aspect of Catholic behavior is one of the hallmarks of Pope Benedict XVI's tenure. The pontiff has long warned against "dangerous individualism," a state that can cause "enormous difficulties for social cohesion." Addressing Girotti's confession refresher course, the pontiff lamented what he called "a certain disaffection" with the sacrament within his flock.

"Those who trust themselves in their own merits are, as it were, blinded by their own 'I' and their hearts harden in sin," he was quoted.

[Shibby]

I find this hilarious.

[Stonecold54]

lol...does anyone take religion that seriously except people in Rome? what a joke. bunch of whacks

[Timma]

I heard about this and was like wtf? It's so stupid it's funny.

[blm]

Originally Posted by Shibby

I find this hilarious.

If the current rules don't apply...bend them until they do

[redsquirrel]

I find it so amusing that the Catholic church- of all people- have the balls to make these "new sins". After all slew of charges brought against priests themselves. HA!

First of all, virtually every single person on this earth has committed all 7 deadly sins at one point or another..

Now, on the flip side, I do appreciate the undertones of his statement. We as a species, have totally destroyed this earth. It continues to deteriorate, and it's still not held to the highest standard. It's maybe 4th or 5th on the list of world leaders.

[mindstar]

you'd think that with their new enviromental message (cough cough bs cough) they'd allow birth control.

On another tanget, happy st patty's day, the catholic curch moved it to today for this year so it doens't fall within holy week. can't have the irish plastered for holy week...

[Shibby]

Originally Posted by blm

If the current rules don't apply...bend them until they do

This was my thoughts exactly. If we look at things logically we are not looking at the message the way it was intended. Because people use their brains so much now, they have to adapt their primitive beliefs developed by primitive people.

[Timma]

Originally Posted by mindstar

you'd think that with their new enviromental message (cough cough bs cough) they'd allow birth control.

On another tanget, happy st patty's day, the catholic curch moved it to today for this year so it doens't fall within holy week. can't have the irish plastered for holy week...

And the funny thing is alot of irish are very religious. Hell i'm gonna drink for St. Pattys Day and maybe have my own little parade and i'm not irish. Fuck the church.

[NewbieChris]

I knew I wasn't Catholic the day the Monsignor at my Church said, "If you believe in Birth Control you're not Catholic. If you believe in pre-marital sex, you're not Catholic...and if you believe in homosexuality, you're not Catholic." I turned to my Mom and said, you know what, he's right. I'm not Catholic.

[fog_hat1981]

I think if you take the theological doctrines out of religion none of them are really that bad ...

[FrankTheTank55]

I dont believe in god. But I went to church the other day because my niece was baptized. So they did a whole service and I had to sit though it. I felt like I was in a mental hospital. It was very hard not to leave but I didnt want to hear my wife bitch and moan. Its funny if someone dies from cancer they say "Well its in God's plan." If some is cured from cancer they say the same thing. They just make it all fit. Its a joke to me.

[ROCKETW19]

Originally Posted by NewbieChris

if you believe in homosexuality, you're not Catholic." I turned to my Mom and said, you know what, he's right. I'm not Catholic.

dammit I guess bouncers poll (pun intended) was right Chris your a fruit.

[redsquirrel]

Originally Posted by mindstar

you'd think that with their new enviromental message (cough cough bs cough) they'd allow birth control.

EXACTLY!!! Bah!! The Catholic church doesn't want married people to use birth control! I mean, that's why larger families were so common 40 years ago. In fact, it's even a sin to try any sort of rhythym method whatsoever in the Catholic religion. Meaning- if you don't want to get pregnant, and your wife knows when her fertile time is and you avoid sex, THAT's also considered "birth control" in the eyes of the Catholic church.

Now, the Catholic says there's an issue w/ overpopulation- yet they offer NO MEANS to control it!!!

[SonofBone]

Originally Posted by NewbieChris

I knew I wasn't Catholic the day the Monsignor at my Church said, "If you believe in Birth Control you're not Catholic. If you believe in pre-marital sex, you're not Catholic...and if you believe in homosexuality, you're not Catholic." I turned to my Mom and said, you know what, he's right. I'm not Catholic.

Which one of those 3 turned you?

Happy St. Patty's

[NewbieChris]

Originally Posted by SonofBone

Which one of those 3 turned you?

Happy St. Patty's

Well mostly it was that I know these thing actually happen, so yes I believe in them...However, it was not only his poor wording, but all three.