Vatican dusts down deadly sin list to include environmental pollution

The Pope's right hand man and head of the Apostolic Penitentiary has outlined seven new deadly sins which include environmental pollution, causing social injustice and genetic modification.

Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti told the Osservatore Romano, the official Vatican newspaper that sloth, envy, gluttony, greed, lust, wrath and pride were the "sins of yesteryear" and convey a "rather individualistic dimension".

The new list of seven deadly sins, by contrast, is aimed at encouraging worshippers to account for the impact their vices have on others.

Polluting of the environment, genetic modification, carrying out experiments on humans, causing social injustice, causing poverty, becoming obscenely wealthy and taking drugs all constitute mortal sins, according to Girotti.

"The sins of today have a social resonance as well as an individual one," said Girotti. "In effect, it is more important than ever to pay attention to your sins."

Girotti said the new sins were intended "as a corollary of the unstoppable process of globalisation".

"You offend God not only by stealing, blaspheming or coveting your neighbour's wife, but also by ruining the environment, carrying out morally debatable scientific experiments, or allowing genetic manipulations [that] alter DNA or compromise embryos," said Girotti.

Mortal sins are a very serious business, according to Roman Catholic doctrine. They represent a "grave violation of God's law" leading to "eternal death" if unrepented by the act of confession.

Meanwhile, in the US the politically influential Southern Baptist church, an often staunch critic of climate change science and green campaigners, has signalled that it could shift its stance on the environment after a group of 40 leading figures within the church issued a declaration claiming that it had been "too timid" in its response to climate change and as a result is seen around the world as being "uncaring, reckless and ill-informed".

The developments further underline the growing moral pressure being placed on billions of consumers worldwide to embrace greener and more sustainable lifestyles.