Proof positive that the Vatican has no immediate shortage of nitwits. The Register reports:
A senior member of the Vatican is upgrading a handful of lesser celestial bugaboos into what now will effectively destroy the grace of God within the heart of the sinner.
The Vatican's newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, interviewed senior cleric Gianfranco Girotti, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary (basically, the bureau of sin and absolution), who listed drug trafficking, pollution, social injustice and genetic manipulation as the new bleeding edge of mortal sins.
"If yesterday, sin had a rather individualistic dimension, today it has a weight, a resonance, that's especially social, rather than individual," the Associated Press translates from Girotti. . .
Girotti abominated "certain violations of the fundamental rights of human nature through experiments and genetic manipulations". He also added drugs to God's peeves, which Girotti said "weaken the mind and obscure intelligence". The Holy Trinity is also reportedly unhappy about pollution, and the widening social and economic differences between the rich and poor.
The snarky tone of the Register report may be puerile, but the implied opprobrium is well deserved. The man is a theological idiot, and I sincerely hope Benedict smacks him down very smartly. The idea that sin is no longer an "individual" matter but a "social" one undermines the entire foundation of the Christian concept of salvation, namely the uniqueness of each immortal soul and its absolute primacy in all moral considerations. He's one step away from utilitarianism, and that's a slippery theological slope. For instance, if pollution is a mortal sin, how about overpopulation? When do we get to start weeding out the useless eaters for the greater good?
It's getting a little icky out there isn't it? This idiot is playing fast and loose with the nature of God and our relationship with God. I'm just not impressed. The stupid seems to be seeping out of every pore. Not just Catholic pores either. Archbishop of Stupid thinks Islamic Law is okay by him. Baptists jumping on the Global Warming Bandwagon. Just not impressive.
Posted by: Ana | March 11, 2008 at 09:31 AM
God needs to do something.
He's got too many asshat's speaking "in his name."
A little old school smiting is in order.
Posted by: iamnot | March 11, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Useless Eaters would be a hell of a name for a band, especially since Rootless Cosmopolitans is already taken.
Seems to me this guy may be right about God objecting to poverty and such (Jesus was mainly focused on issues like workplace safety and the minimum wage, wasn't he, right?), but he might be better off leaving the implementation details to people who've spent more time studying economics than studying theology. IIRC the Church has made bad moves before with that kind of mission creep (*cough*Galileo*cough*).
Posted by: HA HA HA | March 11, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Should we take steps to alleviate chastity and obedience now, too?
Posted by: HA HA HA | March 11, 2008 at 11:08 AM
This is a deeply troubling move on a variety of levels. As HA HA HA points out, it would be better left to those who studied economics. One, in particular, already touched on the matter. I do however get some pleasure thinking that Karl Marx must be spinning in his grave to have the Holy Mother Church espousing his way of thinking.
What will the ramifications of a Communist Church be?
And does this also signify the Church is going to begin to return to its vow of poverty and lose some of the trappings of excess and start to return the loot it has been hording for the last two millenia?
Posted by: prairie biker | March 11, 2008 at 11:37 AM
We're educating them to think for themselves as fast as we can!!
Posted by: Ana | March 11, 2008 at 12:10 PM
The problem with the poverty focus isn't that poverty is good -- it isn't. It's just that it's too impersonal to be tied to any individual's moral actions. Greed and lack of charity are sins, but "the fact that there's poverty" and "we're all guilty" sounds like more of a cop out than a useful approach. (i.e.,If everybody's responsible, then nobody's responsible.)
Posted by: gail | March 11, 2008 at 12:41 PM
"Should we take steps to alleviate chastity and obedience now, too?"
Volunteers are now lining up . . .
Posted by: gail | March 11, 2008 at 12:43 PM