Environment Sin

The number 7 is a magic number in many societies, including Western Society. This magic translates to a mystical representation of good and evil in sets of seven.

The Seven Mortal Sins that have been recognized by the Catholic Church up to the 21st century are those of Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Wrath, and Sloth. Books, films, essays, and poetry have been written about each as a topic and about all seven together.

The venal sins are larger in number, but supposedly lesser in magnitude. However, some individuals and some denominations and entire faith communities globally believe that sin is sin and any sin is equal in its immorality, whether it be lying, impure thoughts, or murder. This is for each individual to decide independently.

In the 21st Century, the Catholic Church has added additional recognized Mortal Sins to match the lifestyle of the global economy. Interestingly, one or two have to do with Nature and the respect shown to the earth and the universe by indigenous peoples around our planet and across the seven seas, including the new plastic continent of discarded bags and other plastic refuse that has collected in the Pacific Ocean.

For the 21st century, the Catholic Church is has adopted Seven New Mortal Sins for a total of 14, or two times the original seven.

Msgr. Gianfranco Girotti is the leader of the Vatican group known as the Apostolic Penitentiary, which is a watchdog group concerned with such aspects of the faith as sin, rules, and doctrine.

Reverend Girotti named seven new Mortal Sins, for a total of 14, the first three being:

• Ruining the environment,
• Carrying out morally questionable science, especially with human subjects
• Making genetic manipulations to DNA or embryos (human, but perhaps also animal).

In terms of large events and daily life, the Three Mortal Sins of the 21^st Century are

• Wastefulness and creating too much trash; failure to recycle
• Pollution
• Weather manipulation, especially that which could increase chemicals in the atmosphere
• Space Trash - debris dumped by space vehicles and space stations into the atmosphere (add particulates to the atmposhere, even if they burn up on re-entry)
• Leading animals and plants to extinction
• Stem cell research on embryos
• Any stem cell research except that where the genetic matter comes itself from the patient being treated.
• Gene splicing
• Genetically modified foods
• Genetic warfare within chemical warfare methods
• Planning a "Super Race" (probably sperm banks as well)
• Cloning (we eat cloned corn already, since the late 1980s)
• Discovering genetic manipulation possible in outer space that is not possible under gravitational forces, as is possible with certain chemicals that create useful medications
• Other

It is uncertain what impact the classification as a mortal sin will have on enivronmental pollution and waste, as well as on the rest of the issues covered by the Seven New Sins. It is, however, also uncertain how waste and pollution could ever be morally correct.

In addition, the recreational or therapeutic use of illegal substances, along with drug trafficking comprise a new Mortal Sin. We can see that this harms the human body at times and can lead to the harm of or death of self and others. Under the influence of these substances, some individuals may also harm the environment.

Social and Economic Injustices and creating poverty make up three additional new Mortal Sins that include amassing Excessive Wealth that may also cause others to become poor. Such wealth can also lead to corrupt power, genetic manipulation, environmental harm (especially waste), and all of the other Mortal Sins, old and new.