Pollution one of seven deadly sins for new Millennium
Though I’ve gone down a different path, a part of me will forever remain that devout little Catholic girl, slipping out of her first round at the confessional, answering the father’s remindful “Thank You” with a “You’re Welcome” … and spending the next three weeks sure she was going to burn over it.
Best Priest Ever? Fr. John Fitzgerald
Worst Ever? We’ll leave that to the masses. (heh. Get it? “Masses”?)
Anyway, God has spoken people! Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti says our Lord and Savior feel/s that polluting the Earth is one of seven abominable sins, updated for the 21st Century. The new list appeared yesterday in the Vatican’s newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, and hopes to address the trend of people not caring whether or not they’re doing “the right” thing.
Along with drug dealing and abortion, the Church officially considers pollution a one-way ticket to Hell.
I don’t think any of the priests here are paid enough to afford their own car (zing!) – though when I was a kid, a 90-something Monsignor took me for a spin on his brand new motorcycle – but many practitioners of Catholicism do drive. So, how can we help save your soul?
1. Look to public transportation. Many churches already have a bus or buddy system to help you get back and forth. If a system isn’t already in place at your church, offer to start one.
2. Trade-in your gas guzzler for an environmentally-sensible car. It doesn’t have to be new, and it doesn’t have to be a hybrid. Even a Charger would be a step-up from a Hummer, for instance.
3. Practice driving methods that conserve fuel. No need to start hypermiling just yet, but there are common sense ways to conserve on gas that anyone can safely try.
4. Offset your other choices with carbon credits.
Obviously, the Church and I have our disagreements, which is why I no longer consider myself a Catholic. I have to hand it to the Vatican on this issue however. It’s time they highlighted the spiritual risk of destroying the planet, and prompted people to work against it.
Hillary, When the “path” you are on turns into a dead end; hopefully you will have still have the sense God gave you, and return to the Church. rip
It’s too bad that people like rip make Christians look bad.
Hil, How do I make Christianity look bad? I am not mocking the Lord or His Church. rip
No one was, but some people are too insecure in their beliefs to realize a different choice as anything less than an attack.
Dear Hilary, No one was? The address in my web browser reads “god-lord-and-their-pal-jesus”. That, Hilary, is mocking. Even a little respect for the beliefs of Fr. Fitzgerald would have used capital letters. Apparently you took offense at my criticism of your “path”. I would’nt call you insecure about it, you just sound that way. I’m sure Fr. Fitzgerald would be amused, as I am, because: you have not actually “chosen a path”, as if you looked at a map of Eternity, you have merely wandered from “The Way” you were instructed as a child. 2008 will come and go and years from now you won’t remember much from these times but you will remember these words: A few short years ago you were Baptized into the Mystical Body of Christ, you were given some knowledge of The Way, The Truth and The Life. You were chosen by God to receive this gift of Faith. You did not choose to be a child of God, He chose you. You will go down many paths, but it will not change your destiny. You are His. Always will be. So goodbye and good luck with your crusade to change the world ( I’m on your side). Respectfully Yours, Rip Romex
I did title that originally, as the whole post was intended to be light-hearted, but definitely something I would share with my whole family (the majority of whom are still Catholic). I changed it a full day ago to prevent that from happening. I guess you missed that in your pursuit of what is good and right. ;)
Have a good one, Rip! I’d really love you to stick around and comment on some of the other, driving related posts. You’re a spark plug, and I think we’d have some really good discussions.