Don’t MESS with the Pope!

Remember the Seven Deadly Sins: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride?

Well, you’d better not LITTER, ABUSE DRUGS, MANIPULATE GENETICS or MAKE A TON OF DOUGH because there are Seven NEW ones now according to the Vatican – and these have more of a “social” dimension to them. (Note: that makes 14 ways to screw up – it does NOT replace the old seven!)

The Vatican’s Chief Bishop of Sins, Gianfranco Girotti, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, told the Vatican’s official newspaper (L’Osservatore Romano) of the new transgressions.

“You offend God not only by stealing, taking the Lord’s name in vain or coveting your neighbor’s wife, but also by wrecking the environment, carrying out morally debatable scientific experiments or allowing genetic manipulations that alter DNA or harm embryos,” Girotti said.

You can read more about it here.

And on a serious note, it gives us all a lot to contemplate. That said, if the Vatican steals a page from the Texas anti-littering campaign, then I’m buying the first bumper sticker: DON’T MESS WITH THE POPE.