Bishop expounds on the new 'deadly sins'

1.Citation:
Kaitlin Monroig
CNN.com
March 13, 2008
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/03/13/new.sins/

2.Summary:
This article is about Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti the head of the apolistic penitentiary proposing an expansion of the classic seven deadly sins. The more recently appointed Pope Benedict XVI also believes in this because of the growing acceptance of sin. The originals are listed as gluttony, pride, envy, sloth, greed, wrath, and lust. Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti and many others feel that times have changed since these rules were made. Now with the growing technology and corrupt society, people are losing sight of their values and moral beliefs. They believe with the changing times, the deadly sins must also change. He expands the sins to pollution and genetic engineering, as well as drug dealing, abortion, pedophilia, social injustice and extreme wealth. He believes that if these were written sins that people would respect it and therefore stop committing them. Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti pointed out a ten year old study that shows how people are beginning to disconnect themselves from the church in that 30% of worshipers in Italy didn't believe they needed a priest to forgive them of their sins and 10% believed they were of no help at all because they weren't up to date on the rapidly developing society. Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti leaves off with a statement saying, "Those who trust themselves in their own merits are, as it were, blinded by their own 'I' and their hearts harden in sin," which means people with no path to follow twists their actions until finally they justify it with a faulty reasoning. This is exactly what they want to end.

3.Reactions:
A) This article definitely relates to the theme cultural, religious, and intellectual developments, because here the head of the roman catholic religion is literally changing and expanding the religion and its fundamentals because of changing times. This could also relate to cultural developments because the culture and society is changing and acceptance of certain acts is overwhelmingly growing so the religion must change with it.
B)There is definitely a lot of past history on the topic because the original deadly sins were created hundreds of years ago, but the expansion of them is recent. The original seven deadly sins were found in the bible and therefore respected because of the possible damnation that would come with it. The seven deadly sins were later turned into a popular artistic inspiration, but still were followed. However, times are not like they used to be and therefore call for more of a strict hand on its followers.
C)The author of the article is a woman named Jennifer Eccleston who is an American television journalist, but is now an international CNN correspondent based in Italy.
D)Eccleston works for CNN who is a trustworthy news network and must give the facts and not twist them for credibility. Though it is possible she is a catholic woman herself because she seems to support the Vatican official because she quotes him on numerous occasions, but no one from the other end of the opposition is mentioned.
E)A normal catholic worshiper living daily life is not included in the article and does not state their opinion. I would like to hear their opinion because since he would be a normal person his reaction to the change could represent many others and include everyone's response.
F)I believe that the expansion of the deadly sins is a great idea because society has grew into something corrupt and taking advantage of God's forgiveness. I think that many people already knew that the sins added were very cruel, but now that they are listed as "deadly" maybe people will take it into account of their severity.