Forum - New Sins

Vatican lists "new sins," including pollution
By Philip Pullella Posted Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:46am PDT

A faithful holds the cross during a mass at a Catholic church on the outskirts of Changzhi, Shanxi province December 23, 2007. The Vatican has told the faithful that they should be aware of 'new' sins such as causing environmental blight. (Stringer/Reuters)
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Thou shall not pollute the Earth. Thou shall beware genetic manipulation. Modern times bring with them modern sins. So the Vatican has told the faithful that they should be aware of "new" sins such as causing environmental blight.

The guidance came at the weekend when Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti, the Vatican's number two man in the sometimes murky area of sins and penance, spoke of modern evils.

Asked what he believed were today's "new sins," he told the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano that the greatest danger zone for the modern soul was the largely uncharted world of bioethics.

"(Within bioethics) there are areas where we absolutely must denounce some violations of the fundamental rights of human nature through experiments and genetic manipulation whose outcome is difficult to predict and control," he said.

The Vatican opposes stem cell research that involves destruction of embryos and has warned against the prospect of human cloning.

Girotti, in an interview headlined "New Forms of Social Sin," also listed "ecological" offences as modern evils.

In recent months, Pope Benedict has made several strong appeals for the protection of the environment, saying issues such as climate change had become gravely important for the entire human race.

Under Benedict and his predecessor John Paul, the Vatican has become progressively "green."

It has installed photovoltaic cells on buildings to produce electricity and hosted a scientific conference to discuss the ramifications of global warming and climate change, widely blamed on human use of fossil fuels.

Girotti, who is number two in the Vatican "Apostolic Penitentiary," which deals with matter of conscience, also listed drug trafficking and social and economic injustices as modern sins.

But Girotti also bemoaned that fewer and fewer Catholics go to confession at all.

He pointed to a study by Milan's Catholic University that showed that up to 60 percent of Catholic faithful in Italy stopped going to confession.

In the sacrament of Penance, Catholics confess their sins to a priest who absolves them in God's name.

But the same study by the Catholic University showed that 30 percent of Italian Catholics believed that there was no need for a priest to be God's intermediary and 20 percent felt uncomfortable talking about their sins to another person.

(Editing by Keith Weir)


Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Hi Paul,
I also heard about all of this on the world news in the evening. To be honest, I believe that anyone who supposedly sins can take it up with their God. Thanks for all this information and I hope you have a very good week ahead sweetie!
Take Care&Hugs,
12pleaseu

Same to you doll. I especially agree with the "their God" part.

Thanks Paul and oh yes, I surely believe in the"their God" part.
I hope you have a great time this week as always sweetie!
Hugs,
12pleaseu

I fully agree about polluting our Earth. In fact it is a sort of Don't kill commandment.

Yeah, kinda' like sucide.

I think the new commandments, or sins, are very timely and right! The "God" (actually the image of Him) can be our or their, but the Earth and the living Nature can't be "their" or "there". Nobody escapes to the Mars or the Moon if anything happens.

Hi Kotikkk,

Sweetie, When I post on here about anything; I try very hard to be honest and I always try very hard to be polite, understanding, courteus, loving, and peaceful towards everyone regardless of what we all do and or believe in. Darling, I do have personal beliefs as well and have values in life; but I don't think that I would have the right to tell someone else how to live or do things. That's why I had made the statement about their God because I try to stay away from causing problems for others. Usually when anyone in general in life has opinions about anything to do with controversial subjects like religion/beliefs, politics, and or anything like it; a lot of people get angry and upset. So, I try to find a peaceful and thoughtful way to put my comment in. I believe only in bringing peace to others no matter what. I'm sorry if it offended you in any way sweetie because it was not meant to offend you or anyone else at all. I wish you only all the blessings, love, and peace.
Take Care&Kisses,
12pleaseu

Hi to all,
Can someone please explain why I got points taken off for just being nice to someone? I try so very very very hard to be understanding, peaceful, and loving towards everyone on here. I am almost scared to post anything on forums anymore because people get angry or jealous and take points off. I don't do that to anyone at all because no matter how little or how much a person has to say; I respect their comments and go on with my life because I not only believe in peace; but I also live a life of peace. I love you all and may you all find it in your hearts to forgive me for any misunderstandings and hurts.
Love&Kisses,
12pleaseu