Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Revised catechism includes sins of '90s Date: Mon, 16 Nov 92 17:03:26 EST Message-ID: \SE A \SS (WS) \HD Revised catechism includes sins of '90s \SH List hits DWIs, tax cheats, gene fixes \BY Philip Pullella \CR REUTERS NEWS AGENCY \DT VATICAN CITY VATICAN CITY - Thou shalt not evade taxes, thou shalt not fiddle with the company books, thou shalt not engage in genetic manipulation, thou shalt not drive while drunk. These are some of the modern applications of the Ten Commandments found in the Roman Catholic Church's new "Universal Catechism," to be published in France today ahead of its ceremonial release in Rome next month. Pope John Paul II, speaking at his weekly audience yesterday, called the new catechism an "event of historic importance" for the world's estimated 960 million Roman Catholics. The catechism, or book of religious instruction, is the church's first since the turn of the century and the most extensive since that issued in 1566 following the Council of Trent. It took more than seven years to prepare. Based on the Ten Commandments, the Apostles Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the sacraments and the teachings of the 1962-1965 Second Vatican Council and of recent popes, it seeks to codify the faith and serve as a guideline for its teaching worldwide. The catechism restates traditional sins such as killing, adultery and idolatry, but also brings the church up to date with temptations of the modern world. Leaked excerpts of the 426-page book have been published in Italy and France, where the French edition will be released first because the Vatican has not completed other translations. The catechism, which breaks no substantial new ground on doctrine or dogma and is primarily aimed at religion teachers, was to have remained secret until all translations were ready. The catechism, which was formally approved by the pope last June, says tax evasion is a sin. So are business fraud, falsifying checks, fraudulent accounting, corporate embezzlement, bribery and corruption. Catholics should avoid astrologers and fortune tellers and should not take part in seances. Amulets and talismen are out. When the last catechism was published, Henry Ford was just beginning to produce the "Model T" automobile. Now, the new catechism specifically includes drunken driving as a sin. Drug abuse and trafficking are other modern sins included. Taking its lead from the Second Vatican Council, the catechism urges Catholics to respect what is good and positive in other religions. Like the council did, it also repudiates the idea of collective Jewish guilt for the death of Christ. It justifies armed resistance to repression by political powers if the oppression is "severe and prolonged" and if no other solution can be found. In a reference to nuclear and chemical weapons, it says an act of war that causes the indiscriminate destruction of entire areas "is a crime against God and against man himself." The catechism says it is morally permissible for soldiers to disobey orders that would lead to genocide. On moral and sexual issues, it restates condemnations of sex outside marriage, divorce, abortion and contraception. Homosexuality, suicide and prostitution are still condemned but are treated with more compassion than in the old catechism. Homosexuals are urged to live in chastity, but the catechism condemns unjust discrimination against them. Prostitution and suicide remain sins, but the new catechism acknowledges that people may be driven to them by desperation or particularly cruel social circumstances. In the scientific area, it says life-support equipment could be withdrawn from terminally ill people in certain cases to allow a natural death. But "active" euthanasia is prohibited. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM