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Earlier this week, the Roman Catholic Church issued a modern addendum to the original seven deadly sins. The list, published in the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, includes polluting, genetic engineering, being obscenely rich, drug dealing, abortion, pedophilia and causing social injustice.
The Vatican has gradually moved towards an environmental stance both under current Pope Benedict and his predecessor John Paul. Vatican buildings feature photovoltaic solar panels and the Church has hosted conferences on global warming. However, the Church’s inclusion of pollution as one of the most serious mortal sins represents a huge step. The message is clear: pollute the earth, go to hell.
Pope Gregory the Great composed the original list of deadly sins in the 6th century - lust, gluttony, avarice, sloth, anger, envy and pride. The Vatican’s new list reflects its increasing focus on interpersonal relationships as well as global stewardship. As Bishop Gianfranco Girotti explained, “Whereas sin in the past was thought of as being an individual matter, it now has “social resonance. 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,” he said.
In a strange, yet telling confluence of events, Southern Baptist leaders also had an about-face on their position on global warming this week. Rev. Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and two former presidents signed “A Southern Baptist Declaration on the Environment and Climate Change.”
In the past, the Southern Baptists adopted a skeptical view of global warming. The new declaration reverses this position: “Our cautious response to these issues in the face of mounting evidence may be seen by the world as uncaring, reckless and ill-informed.”
“I learned that God reveals himself through Scripture and in general through his creation, and when we destroy God’s creation, it’s similar to ripping pages from the Bible,” said Jonathan Merritt, spokesman for the Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative.
Southern Baptists, traditionally both a politically and religiously conservative lot, represent the second largest denomination in the United States behind the Roman Catholics. As environmentalism takes on the tone of an ethical/religious obligation, true changes in behavior are sure to follow.
Although neither the Catholics nor the Southern Baptists explicitly target vehicle travel, can recommendations for a partial carectomy be far behind? Autos represent one of the world’s top sources of greenhouse gas pollution (the EPA recently pinned 27% of US greenhouse gases to transportation) and are clearly mucking-up god’s creation.
Sources: The Daily Telegraph, Reuters, NY Times.
Photos via flickr by Ben McLeod & thomasbrandt
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