Religion News: Vatican updates thou-shalt-not list
Catholic Church identifies 'new sins'
In olden days, the deadly sins included lust, gluttony and greed. Now, the Catholic Church says pollution, mind-damaging drugs and genetic experiments are on its updated thou-shalt-not list.
In the Vatican's latest update on how God's law is being violated in today's world, Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti, the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, was asked by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano what, in his opinion, are the "new sins."
He cited "violations of the basic rights of human nature" through genetic manipulation, drugs that "weaken the mind and cloud intelligence," and the imbalance between the rich and the poor.
"If yesterday sin had a rather individualistic dimension, today it has a weight, a resonance, that's especially social, rather than individual," said Girotti, whose office deals with matters of conscience and grants absolution. - The Associated Press
Get to Know … Gene Robinson
The Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson is the ninth bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Robinson was elected bishop in 2003 and entered office on March 7, 2004. Prior to becoming bishop, he served as assistant to the retiring New Hampshire bishop.
Robinson is the first openly gay, noncelibate priest to be ordained to the historical episcopate. His consecration jolted the 77 million-member global church, already divided over biblical interpretation, the ordination of women and the blessing of same-sex unions.
Leaders of the U.S. Episcopal Church were told recently that Robinson will not be allowed to attend the Anglican Communion's Lambeth Conference in England, a once-a-decade worldwide Anglican church meeting this summer.
Robinson said he had been offered instead a chance to appear for media interviews at an exhibition that accompanies the Lambeth Conference. - Wikipedia, Reuters
Survey Says
An extensive new survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life details the religious affiliation of the American public and explores the shifts taking place in the U.S. religious landscape. Over the next few weeks, we'll feature some results of the poll.
People who are unaffiliated with any particular religion (16.1 percent) exhibit internal diversity. Although one-quarter of this group consists of those who describe themselves as either atheist or agnostic (1.6 percent and 2.4 percent of the adult population overall, respectively), the majority of the unaffiliated population (12.1 percent of the adult population overall) is made up of people who simply describe their religion as "nothing in particular."
Good Book?
"MySpace to Sacred Space: God for a New Generation," by Christian Piatt and Amy Piatt. The Piatts believe church leaders have a responsibility to stay tuned in to the values and vernacular employed by the younger generations.
"MySpace to Sacred Space" combines first-hand accounts with case studies from people within and outside the church, as well as findings from surveys of young adults and their views on spirituality, religion and modern cultural values. It examines church models that seemed destined for success, yet failed, while also considering ministries that some may not consider legitimate church structures, yet they are reaching people and changing lives forever. - amazon.com
Quote of Note
"We believe our current denominational resolutions and engagement with these [environmental] issues have often been too timid. Our cautious response to these issues in the face of mounting evidence may be seen by the world as uncaring, reckless and ill-informed. We can do better."
A group of Southern Baptist leaders said their denomination has been "too timid" on environmental issues and has a biblical duty to stop global warming. "A Southern Baptist Declaration on the Environment and Climate Change" shows a growing urgency about climate change even within groups that once dismissed claims of an overheating planet as a liberal ruse. The conservative denomination has 16.3 million members and is the largest Protestant group in the U.S.
The Word
Guru: Literally "one who dispels darkness" or one who is "heavy" with the weight of vast knowledge. A revered spiritual teacher who guides students towards enlightenment. It is a term commonly used in Eastern religions. It is also used to refer in a secular sense to refer to an expert in some field, like an "economic guru." -- Religioustolerance.org
Religion Around the World
Religious makeup of Ireland (2002 census)
Roman Catholic: 88.4 percent
Church of Ireland: 3 percent
Other Christian: 1.6 percent
Other: 1.5 percent
Unspecified: 2 percent
None: 3.5 percent - CIA Factbook GateHouse News Service