Pope pushes paper packaging.......

..... pans putting purchases in plastic pouches!

An article in today's London Telegraph shares the words of Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti, a right hand of the Pope, who says flatly; "Recycle or go to Hell"!!!

"Failing to recycle plastic bags could find you spending eternity in Hell, the Vatican said after drawing up a list of seven deadly sins for our times.

Polluting the environment by failing to recycle is one of the new seven deadly sins
The "sins of yesteryear" - sloth, envy, gluttony, greed, lust, wrath and pride - have a "rather individualistic dimension", he told the Osservatore Romano, the official Vatican newspaper.
The new seven deadly, or mortal, sins are designed to make worshippers realise that their vices have an effect on others as well".

According to the good Msgr Girotti (separated at birth from Al Gorebot?) the hip, new deadly sins are 'social', rather than 'venal'! They include; genetic modification, human experimentation, polluting the environment, causing social injustice, causing poverty, becoming obscenely wealthy, and taking drugs!! Don't know if he means recreational drugs or includes those prescription drugs that keep us from reaching our Maker at am earlier date.

Fortunately, like the old "Top Seven", (sloth, gluttony, envy, et.al.) you can receive forgiveness if you confess and repent these sins. Keep in mind, the same old "eternal death" is the rather cold and uncharitable penalty for not repenting.

Once again, the Vatican comes through for their own flock -- but leaves us Protestants and those of other faiths facing an eternity in Hell. Not being Catholic, we don't go to confession --- ergo - our eternal future is looking pretty warm I guess.

Didn't see these listed in priority order with the original Seven -- Is gluttony (six Quarter Pounders) Okay as long as you carry them home in a paper sack? Is it alright to be envious and greedy as long as you don't take two aspirins when you get wrathful? Hopefully the good Monsignor will promulgate some Cliff Notes for us slow learners......

Here I thought I was too old to have to worry about sinnin'! Gonna have to learn those "Hail Mary's" after all I reckon...