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Rome defines new deadly sins to tackle contemporary ills

by Ed Beavan

A list of seven new deadly sins issued this week by the Vatican has been described as a “useful reminder” for Anglicans.

Dr Philip Giddings, the chairman of the Church of England’s Mission and Public Affairs Council, said that the principle underlying the new list could be helpful for Christians in addressing the questions of social and corporate responsibility.

The 21st-century list was released by the Vatican in its official newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano. It condemns genetic manipulation, drug abuse, “morally debatable scientific experiments”, environmental pollution, the violation of human rights, causing poverty, and accumulating excessive wealth.

The sins were unveiled by Bishop Gianfranco Girotti in Rome at the end of a week-long seminar for priests, which was aimed at boosting sacramental confession. A recent survey suggested that 60 per cent of Italian Roman Catholics no longer go to confession.

Bishop Girotti, who is head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, which oversees confessions and indulgences, called for priests to take these new sins into account, as they highlighted the “unstoppable process of globalisation”, in which sin is no longer merely individualistic, but has “social resonance”.

He said: “You offend God not only by stealing, blaspheming, or coveting your neighbour’s wife, but also by ruining the environment, carrying out morally debatable experiments, or allowing genetic manipulations which alter DNA or compromise embryos.”

Dr Giddings said that he felt uncomfortable with the notion of deadly sins, but: “I do think it’s particularly important that we focus on social and corporate responsibility as Christians, and the stewardship of God’s world.

“I don’t think it matters that it is from the Roman Catholic Church. We have the five marks of mission, but this gives a useful focus of attention, and reminds us of the dangers of excessive individualism. Clearly the Anglican position on some of these issues would be different, and there would be a number of opinions.”

But, the Revd George Curry, chairman of the Church Society, said that one sin was conspicuous by its absence. “As far as I can see, this list does not talk about the sin of unbelief, which is the one sin Jesus Christ describes as unforgivable. That’s the issue that needs to be addressed, as it is our biggest problem, and we need to get in a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. I’m not sure what Rome hopes to achieve by the publication of this list.”

Results of a survey released this week suggest that 87 per cent of Americans believe in the concept of sin. The poll, carried out by the Arizona-based Ellison Research, reports that 81 per cent of the 1000 people questioned would describe adultery as sinful, while only 74 per cent regard racism as a sin. A total of 52 per cent of those surveyed said that they believed homosexual activity was sinful.



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