So, last Monday, the Vatican released a list of seven new sins, the “social sins.” This list includes stem-cell research, causing poverty, and being environmentally unfriendly. These new seven sins have been added onto the “deadly” list, which is rounded off by excessive wealth, contributing to the widening divide between rich and poor, drug abuse, and birth control.
Well, I’m about the farthest thing from Catholic, as I don’t believe in god, but for the most part, I’ve approved on their take on the original seven deadlies: Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Anger, Greed, and Sloth. I’ve approved in the sense that I think all of them are normal and natural, and sometimes even good, but they all can be very negative when taken to excess.
The deal with the new batch of seven sins is a little different; to me, they’re all black and white issues. Some of them, I totally support, while others, I’m totally against, and some I’m just neutral.
To start things off, I think that making birth control a deadly sin is completely outrageous and irresponsible for a mass leader to be telling their followers. Scientific advancements have made it possible for us to have some choice as to when we want to conceive, if at all, and I think it is ridiculous for there to be any moral implication on the matter.
The second sin is “morally dubious” experiments (stem cell research). Once again, I think this is crazy. For starters, I’m entirely pro-choice, but that is beside the point. Stem-cell research could help so many people get their lives back, and I am repulsed by anyone saying it is wrong if they are not in that person’s shoes.
Drug abuse is a new sin of which I have mixed feelings. Of course it is a bad thing, and the abuser does have control over their habit, but I think drug abuse is something that we should try to help rather than scorn.
Having it be a deadly sin to pollute the environment, now that’s something I can get behind.
The next three pretty much go hand in hand (in hand), so I’ll smush ‘em together: contributing to the widening divide between rich and poor, excessive wealth, and creating poverty. I don’t think it is a sin to be wealthy, and it’s hard to have much impact over the widening divide between rich and poor, but people should do what they can to help others. And obviously, creating poverty isn’t a good thing.
So, that wraps up the new list of deadly sins and my take on them. I hope you found this blog to be both informative and insightful.
Was the stem-cell research specified as embryonic, or did it cover all stem cell research? If it's the former, the ban is completely stupid, as they'd then be banning research on bone marrow transplants, which can be life-saving treatments for a number of diseases. Grrr.
~C
Check out the latest entry in the Between The Lines column!
Want the highest rated list to change? RATE those blogs, then!
Bishop Gianfranco Girotti states it as "carrying out morally debatable scientific experiments, or allowing genetic manipulations which alter DNA or compromise embryos." It's kind of vague, but it sounds like the former to me. Either way, I find it to be completely stupid, in your words.
Well, that's not quite as bad, though I still don't agree with it. Meh.
~C
Check out the latest entry in the Between The Lines column!
Want the highest rated list to change? RATE those blogs, then!
I went on birth control when I was 16 and not having sex. I believe birth control has great purposes for people like me who have bad cycles not just not wanting to get pregnant. I agree with you on this one this is a very dumb "deadly sin." I also believe stem cell research is a good thing not a bad thing. These seven deadly sins should not be sins I think we should just stick to the old ones let's not complicate this world even more.
Something people should know about:
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
I was raised Catholic, but it certainly doesn’t mean that I care what that dude has to say. Unfortunately, some people do put their faith in the infallibility of the Pope (which I really don’t understand, but that’s neither here nor there).
This new set of sins is so ridiculous that it’s almost amusing. Almost.
The Pope isn't excessively wealthy at all, right?
~*~
*~Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. -Plato~*
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/clkuryla
No contraception = More children than can be supported by a limited income = Poor Catholics become poorer = Increased gap between the rich and poor
(The prohibition of contraception results in more children being born than can be successfully supported by lower income families, so the low-income Catholics become even poorer. This poverty "increases the gap between the rich and poor" and is essentially "created" by the Church.)
Good job Vatican.
~*~ http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/clkuryla ~*~
That's a great observation and an interesting point. I wonder if any higher-ups would think of that fallacy in their list of sins...
Birth control is a deadly sin? BIRTH CONTROL?
Yeah, I think I'm going to keep blaming everything from teen pregnancy to AIDS on the Christians.
Catholics, Kiota, Catholics. The Protestants/Orthodox/other-non-Catholics generally could care less what the Pope and his bishops say.
~C
Check out the latest entry in the Between The Lines column!
Want the highest rated list to change? RATE those blogs, then!
*headdesk* Yeah, I realized my silly mistake as I was shutting down the computer.