The All New and Improved Seven Deadly Sins

Timothy Kincaid

March 12th, 2008

Catholic theology differentiates between venal sins and deadly sins. Venal Sins, your regular old every-day sins may slow up your progress to Heaven, but Deadly Sins will doom you to eternal damnation unless absolved through confession.

As laid out by Pope Gregory some 1,400 years ago, the Seven Deadly Sins were determined to be:

lust
gluttony
greed
sloth
wrath
envy
pride

Well now the Catholic Church has decided that greed and wrath were maybe not so deadly after all. The new list of Seven Deadly Sins is:

genetic modification
carrying out experiments on humans
polluting the environment
causing social injustice
causing poverty
becoming obscenely wealthy
taking drugs

Wow, now that is interesting. They didn’t include voting for pro-gay politicians as a deadly sin; I’m surprised.

And I’m especially impressed with “taking drugs”. We know that at the time of Christ and the Disciples that stimulants were a part of the culture. But I guess Christ just forgot to mention it.

But, of course, everything is left to interpretation.

I’m sure the Holy Father doesn’t think that anti-gay policies cause social injustice. And I’m certain that the sin of becoming obscenely wealthy does not include the Church or her officers.

I miss the days when “sin” was something that stood between one’s own personal soul and one’s relationship with the divine. Now “sin” seems to be the failing that one finds in others, especially if it involves social policy.

UPDATE: Or is it a hoax?

So far, I can’t tell. Some newspapers are carrying the story at face value, but it really does seem to be too nutty to be true.

Jason D

March 12th, 2008

Hey, I noticed in the comments section of the website in the link above that someone said the whole “new deadly sins” thing is actually a big hoax.

Jim Burroway

March 12th, 2008

I’m convinced it’s a hoax, although I haven’t looked into it. Just on the surface it seems fishy. The Catholic church generally takes centuries to change anything, and they’d never touch anything that is so well-known and sacred as to be listed in just about every chatechism the world over.

It just doesn’t pass the smell test to me.

Emily K

March 12th, 2008

Plus, being “obscenely wealthy” would put the Church itself gravely into sin. I’ve been inside the Vatican. Talk about obscenely wealthy.

Ben in Oakland

March 12th, 2008

Techncally speaking, the pope does not own the golden plate he eats his dinner off of, the golden fork he uses to eat it, the ermine cape he wears despite all sound fashion sense, the artwork he peruses while dining, or the castle that encloses the whole thing.

He just gets unlimited usage during his tenure, same as every othr obscenely rich person in the owrld.

Timothy Kincaid

March 12th, 2008

So far, the media is treating this as at face value. Some Hawai’i congressman sent the Vatican a letter asking why torture wasn’t on the new list. It’s getting coverage in all the big papers.

I think we’re inclined to think it’s a hoax because, well, it seems like one. It is just bizzarro that the Vatican thinks that polluting will send your immortal soul to hell while subjegation of other or slavery (which is still going on) gets a free pass.

Erica B.

March 12th, 2008

Personally, it’s the “taking drugs” that pushes it over the edge from plausible to preposterous. Are they going to have grape juice instead of wine at Communion from now on? (Or does that not count since it apparently transforms into blood?) And “genetic modification” just seems too specific. And “obscenely wealthy” just isn’t elegant enough phrasing…

Keep an eye on Snopes to see what the verdict is, I guess!

Ephilei

March 12th, 2008

It’s not a hoax but it’s not a replacement of the 7 Deadly Sins. These are mainly the Vatican trying to do something to appear relevant and fun – like last year when the Pope wrote the 10 Commandments of traffic behavior.

Barry

March 12th, 2008

The list from the Bible:

Proverbs 6:16-19 (The Holy Bible, King James Version)
“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

1. A proud look
2. A lying tongue
3. Hands that shed innocent blood
4. An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations
5. Feet that be swift in running to mischief
6. A false witness that speaketh lies
7. He that soweth discord among brethren

Sean

March 12th, 2008

“I’m sure the Holy Father doesn’t think that anti-gay policies cause social injustice. And I’m certain that the sin of becoming obscenely wealthy does not include the Church or her officers”

I’m sure the Church will change its mind on homosexual unions as soon as they realize they can’t prevent it and they are losing members of the Chuch. Also, I’m sure in the new future a thealogian will post a nice paper concerning many of the ancient rites of the church that included queer individuals.

Also, as far as I know the Church is no where near obscenely wealthy. True, the church may have money but an article says the 2006 budget is as follows:

“The July 3 statement said the Vatican budget – technically the budget of the Holy See, including the offices of the Roman Curia and the nunciatures around the world – showed expenses of almost $307 million and income of just over $310 million.

The statement said 2,704 people, including 773 bishops and priests, 331 members of religious orders and 1,600 laypeople, are employed in the Holy See offices”

300 million dollars is a pitiful budget for an organization that serves over a billion people. It’s not like the Pope gets paid for his services. His family (or more likely his nearest relatives) may receive a small amount when he dies, but I’m sure CEOs of all but the smallest corperations would leave more assets.

I think you would be highly mistaken to believe that people go into the priesthood to be rich.

Most the objects in the vatican are priceless art and artifacts. It would be a major injustice for the pope to sell anything in all but the gravest of financial crisises. Not to remember that most things in the vatican are CENTURIES old. I think your statements are influenced by centuries of bashing that Catholics have recieved in America.

Sean

March 13th, 2008

I would also remind you that the sin about drugs was “Drug trafficking and consumption” not just taking drugs.

It seems that you forgot to put the part in about trafficking? Out of all the conservative churches, the Church seems to be the one of the few that has had the long held believe that God actually made you homosexual and you don’t have to change, you should just refrain from having pre-marital sex. (Somehow?)

Timothy Kincaid

March 13th, 2008

Barry,

1. A proud look
2. A lying tongue
3. Hands that shed innocent blood
4. An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations
5. Feet that be swift in running to mischief
6. A false witness that speaketh lies
7. He that soweth discord among brethren

In other words, your average anti-gay activist.

Timothy Kincaid

March 13th, 2008

Sean,

I think the budget you are quoting is for the Vatican City, not for the Church. And let’s not pretend that the holdings of the Church in land, buildings, and other financial investments are not monstrously large.

The Church does a tremendous amount of good. And much of the continuance of Western Civilization can be credited to her name.

And I am not faulting the church for accumulating wealth. Nor am I suggesting that priests fulfill their vocation out of avarice. But let’s not pretend that the Roman Catholic Church as a whole is not one of the wealthiest institutions on the planet – and I’m not including art.

For the Church to say that the accumulation of obscene wealth is a mortal sin is indeed ironic. I’m sure they mean by individuals, not by God’s Church… which is what makes it funny.

As for “Drug trafficking and consumption”, please provide a link. The source I linked to just said “drug use”. Maybe it was lost in the interpretation. But in either case, including drug consumption as a mortal sin seems again to be missing the point.

These “mortal sins” seem more the declarations of an arrogant Pope than they do the carefully crafted result of a long process of introspection and the cumulation of the Church’s wisdom.

And taking such a cavalier attitude towards the faith of a billion people, such as randomly declaring polluting to be a mortal sin, does great disservice to all Catholics and to the greater body of Christians.

Or so I think.

werdna

March 13th, 2008

There’s a more detailed story here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3517050.ece

Re: drugs, this article says, “Bishop Girotti said that mortal sins also included taking or dealing in drugs…”

Suricou Raven

March 14th, 2008

Wrong, wrong, WRONG!

These are *additional* mortal sins, but they in no way replace the seven deadly sins – which are themselves no more than mortal sins of particually significence.

Michelle

March 14th, 2008

Check out a level-headed and humorous take from Sister Mary Martha.

gypsytwilight

April 12th, 2008

Not new mortal sins. The bishop in question was taken out of context. Thos are seven social sins (which have been around for a while). He was just saying that the church is goign to start focusing more on these sins because of the changes in the world AKA increased population density and globalization.

Leave A Comment

All comments reflect the opinions of commenters only. They are not necessarily those of anyone associated with Box Turtle Bulletin. Comments are subject to our Comments Policy.

(Required)
(Required, never shared)

PLEASE NOTE: All comments are subject to our Comments Policy.

 

Latest Posts

The Things You Learn from the Internet

"The Intel On This Wasn't 100 Percent"

From Fake News To Real Bullets: This Is The New Normal

NC Gov McCrory Throws In The Towel

Colorado Store Manager Verbally Attacks "Faggot That Voted For Hillary" In Front of 4-Year-Old Son

Associated Press Updates "Alt-Right" Usage Guide

A Challenge for Blue Bubble Democrats

Baptist Churches in Dallas, Austin Expelled Over LGBT-Affirming Stance

Featured Reports

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

In this original BTB Investigation, we unveil the tragic story of Kirk Murphy, a four-year-old boy who was treated for “cross-gender disturbance” in 1970 by a young grad student by the name of George Rekers. This story is a stark reminder that there are severe and damaging consequences when therapists try to ensure that boys will be boys.

Slouching Towards Kampala: Uganda’s Deadly Embrace of Hate

When we first reported on three American anti-gay activists traveling to Kampala for a three-day conference, we had no idea that it would be the first report of a long string of events leading to a proposal to institute the death penalty for LGBT people. But that is exactly what happened. In this report, we review our collection of more than 500 posts to tell the story of one nation’s embrace of hatred toward gay people. This report will be updated continuously as events continue to unfold. Check here for the latest updates.

Paul Cameron’s World

In 2005, the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote that “[Paul] Cameron’s ‘science’ echoes Nazi Germany.” What the SPLC didn”t know was Cameron doesn’t just “echo” Nazi Germany. He quoted extensively from one of the Final Solution’s architects. This puts his fascination with quarantines, mandatory tattoos, and extermination being a “plausible idea” in a whole new and deeply disturbing light.

From the Inside: Focus on the Family’s “Love Won Out”

On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.

Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Part 2: Parents Struggle With “No Exceptions”
Part 3: A Whole New Dialect
Part 4: It Depends On How The Meaning of the Word "Change" Changes
Part 5: A Candid Explanation For "Change"

The Heterosexual Agenda: Exposing The Myths

At last, the truth can now be told.

Using the same research methods employed by most anti-gay political pressure groups, we examine the statistics and the case studies that dispel many of the myths about heterosexuality. Download your copy today!

And don‘t miss our companion report, How To Write An Anti-Gay Tract In Fifteen Easy Steps.

Testing The Premise: Are Gays A Threat To Our Children?

Anti-gay activists often charge that gay men and women pose a threat to children. In this report, we explore the supposed connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse, the conclusions reached by the most knowledgeable professionals in the field, and how anti-gay activists continue to ignore their findings. This has tremendous consequences, not just for gay men and women, but more importantly for the safety of all our children.

Straight From The Source: What the “Dutch Study” Really Says About Gay Couples

Anti-gay activists often cite the “Dutch Study” to claim that gay unions last only about 1½ years and that the these men have an average of eight additional partners per year outside of their steady relationship. In this report, we will take you step by step into the study to see whether the claims are true.

The FRC’s Briefs Are Showing

Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council submitted an Amicus Brief to the Maryland Court of Appeals as that court prepared to consider the issue of gay marriage. We examine just one small section of that brief to reveal the junk science and fraudulent claims of the Family “Research” Council.

Daniel Fetty Doesn’t Count

Daniel FettyThe FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.