Forgive Me Father For I Have Sinned
Not sure how we missed out on writing about this when it was in the news a week and a half ago (though I have an idea that Spitzer coverage may have over shadowed it a bit in the US), but Pope Benedict XVI’s people have announced that they felt there needed to be some updates to what is considered sinning in the modern age we live in:
“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.”
While there have not been any official changes to Catholic Doctrine, the new cardinal sins on the list include Drug Dealing, Abortion, Pedophilia, Genetic Engineering and Excessive Wealth.
While it is nice to see that the priests are making an effort to update doctrine and get back in touch with their followers I am not exactly sure that this is the right way.
Also, doesn’t Pedophilia fall into the same category as Lust? Excessive Wealth a form of Greed? And if they are saying Excessive Wealth is a sin, shouldn’t they be giving up a few coins themselves? Maybe get rid of a few child-touching-priests? Oh, right, the 7 Deadly Sins (and this new updated list) can be absolved through confession to the proper officials (priests) and the proper penance.
So, what do we think, is Excessive Wealth as bad as Pedophilia? Is Genetic Engineering on par with Sloth?
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26. March 2008 at :
I must beg the indulgence of the Christians to make this comment, for I am not a Christian but please look at the Book of Luke:
20] Thou knowest the commandments: Thou shalt not kill: Thou shalt not commit adultery: Thou shalt not steal: Thou shalt not bear false witness: Honour thy father and mother.
[21] Who said: All these things have I kept from my youth.
[22] Which when Jesus had heard, he said to him: Yet one thing is wanting to thee: sell all whatever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
[23] He having heard these things, became sorrowful; for he was very rich.
[24] And Jesus seeing him become sorrowful, said: How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God.
[25] For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
[26] And they that heard it, said: Who then can be saved?
[27] He said to them: The things that are impossible with men, are possible with God.
It is obvious from this that in Christianity from the very beginning there has been a suspicion of those who possess great wealth. In the quotes above the rich man is told to give all he owns to the poor. Later on the custom of tithing came to the fore, but how many people today actually tithe? How many believe that to have too much money is a sin?
To feel that if you are rich there is an obligation to help the poor is hardly a common sentiment. What the Pope has done is to reiterate what Jesus said according to Luke, but apply it only to those with excessive wealth. Surely, there is a happy medium that can be reached, between providing for yourself and your family and accumulating excessive wealth.
I am sure that his holiness is not referring to Bill Gates and his wife Melinda when he speaks of such a sin, but what of those who earn insane amounts of money and live only for themselves. Sure they give as much as their accountants say will reduce their tax bite, but they really don’t give anything. I think that the Pope is showing such people that they MUST give to help the poor or commit a cardinal sin. Is it so bad to remind people of what the entire society thinks is just Ok, living for yourself alone.
I don’t think anything need be said about drug dealing as a cardinal sin. Abortion is not a new prohibition.
But look if you will at the other ones; pedophilia is precisely the sin that was committed by so many in the Church and now it has been made a Cardinal Sin so that it is clear to all that it will not be allowed to happen again with protection for the perpetrators. This one is aimed specifically at the Church itself.
I think we can cut the Pope a little slack here, speaking strictly as a non practitioner of Christianity.
26. March 2008 at :
I believe the Mormons still take part in tithing.
I’ll refrain from further commenting about the Catholic church… Though can you be excessively wealthy without being greedy? If the answer is yes, aren’t those excessively wealthy (but not greedy) folks already giving money to charity? And if the answer is no, you can’t be excessively wealthy without being greedy, well Excessive Wealth as a sin is just redundant.
26. March 2008 at :
If you need any more evidence that all of this is bullsh*t, see Mr. Carlin’s explanation