Deadly sins updated; avoid recycling, go to hell

London, Mar 10 (UNI) The Vatican has drawn up a new list of seven deadly sins for our times, and polluting the environment by failing to recycle is one of them.

Failing to recycle plastic bags could find one spending eternity in Hell, the Vatican said.

The seven sins were announced by Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti, a close ally of the Pope and the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, one of the Roman Curia's main court.

He said genetic modification, carrying out experiments on humans, polluting the environment, causing social injustice, causing poverty, becoming obscenely wealthy and taking drugs were the seven mortal or deadly sins.

''The sins of yesteryear-- sloth, envy, gluttony, greed, lust, wrath and pride-- have a rather individualistic dimension,'' the Daily Telegraph quoted him as telling the Osservatore Romano, the official Vatican newspaper.

The new seven deadly sins were designed to make worshippers realise that their vices have an effect on others as well, Mgr Girotti said.

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

According to Roman Catholic doctrine, mortal sins are a ''grave violation of God's law'' and bring about ''eternal death'' if unrepented by the act of confession.

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