Turns out the original seven deadly sins were just the tip of the iceberg. In a globalized era, says the Vatican, we have to consider that sin isn’t only individual, but societal. According to the updated list just released at a seminar hosted by the Apostolic Penitentiary (fun name, no?), these sins include new vices such as violating others’ fundamental human rights, inflicting poverty, accumulating excessive wealth and environmental pollution.
That’s not to say that the original sins aren’t still relevant. As the Papal University’s Father Gerald O’Collins notes, “One of the original deadly sins is sloth–disengagement and not getting involved….People collaborate simply by doing nothing.”
Should make for some interesting conversational fodder when Benedict XVI arrives at the White House this April.
