Thou Salt Not
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into Hell".
And, just what is it that puts one at such risk?
Pride
Envy
Gluttony
Lust
Anger
Greed
Sloth
This list of seven is bad enough. Now, it seems, the list has been amended with seven "modern" mortal sins.
Environmental pollution
Genetic manipulation
Accumulating excessive wealth
Inflicting poverty
Drug trafficking and consumption
Morally debatable experiments
Violation of fundamental rights of human nature
And, just where did these new mortal sins come from? Did the Pope go unto the mountain and bring them back on a stone tablet? Did a laser printer, unattached to any computer, begin magically printing them out?
Nope.
A group of old men in funny looking habits -- the Apostolic Penitentiary -- sat around the Vatican and thunk them up for Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti to announce a couple of weeks ago. The idea, you understand, was to think up more reason for folks to partake of the Sacrament of Penance (go to confessions). Indeed, Pope Benedict the Hun added, "We are losing the notion of sin. If people do not confess regularly, they risk slowing their spiritual rhythm."
Huh?
Personally, I liked it better when God descended from the Heavens in a ball of fire and fury, and delivered the message Himself. Unfortunately, that hasn't actually happened in thousands of years, leaving poor Archbishop Girotti with the task at hand.
In the event that you may be wondering about things that didn't make the list, Girotti noted that abortion and paedophilia as two of the greatest sins of our times. The archbishop brushed off cases of sexual violence against minors committed by priests as "exaggerations by the mass media aimed at discrediting the Church".
Rrrright.
And, just what is it that puts one at such risk?
This list of seven is bad enough. Now, it seems, the list has been amended with seven "modern" mortal sins.
And, just where did these new mortal sins come from? Did the Pope go unto the mountain and bring them back on a stone tablet? Did a laser printer, unattached to any computer, begin magically printing them out?
Nope.
A group of old men in funny looking habits -- the Apostolic Penitentiary -- sat around the Vatican and thunk them up for Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti to announce a couple of weeks ago. The idea, you understand, was to think up more reason for folks to partake of the Sacrament of Penance (go to confessions). Indeed, Pope Benedict the Hun added, "We are losing the notion of sin. If people do not confess regularly, they risk slowing their spiritual rhythm."
Huh?
Personally, I liked it better when God descended from the Heavens in a ball of fire and fury, and delivered the message Himself. Unfortunately, that hasn't actually happened in thousands of years, leaving poor Archbishop Girotti with the task at hand.
In the event that you may be wondering about things that didn't make the list, Girotti noted that abortion and paedophilia as two of the greatest sins of our times. The archbishop brushed off cases of sexual violence against minors committed by priests as "exaggerations by the mass media aimed at discrediting the Church".
Rrrright.
The problem is the Popemobile burns fossil fuels, and therefore creates environmental pollution. I hear from an unconfirmed source that the Vatican is now working on a hydrogen car for its replacement. Soon the Popemobile will be running off of Holy Water!
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