Not so fast

Earlier this week, some media sources reported that the Vatican had issued revisions to it's list of 'the seven deadly sins' and thus were providing more fodder for confessions.

• See Vatican puts new spin on the definition of sin, in the Globe and Mail (March 11, 2008)

In reality, the story is based on an interview conducted by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano with Bishop Gianfranco Girotti, regent of the tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Vatican office that is responsible for matters pertaining to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, among others.

The issues discussed in this interview are personal reflections on the part of Bishop Girotti and not official edicts of the Apostolic Penitentiary. L'Osservatore asked him to comment on new forms of social sins in the age of globalization, and he offered a few suggestions of modern-day thinking as it might apply to the rhelm of one's personal responsibility for care of the earth.

• Check out the commentary on this issue published by the Episcopal Conference of England and Wales in the on-line magazine ZENIT (March 12, 2008)

Stewardship of creation seems to be all the rage these days. Even young children are being sensitized to the fact that if we don't take care of the earth, we will have to deal with the ravages of global warming and other major climate changes. From recycling to eco-friendly tourism, the trend is going green, so why should it be so surprising that some of the officials of the Church should be thinking along the same lines?

Perhaps as we prepare for the approaching celebrations of Holy Week and Easter, it might do us all good to consider how we conciously or unconciously contribute to the desensitization of human thought, especially as it pertains to issues such as the environment.