There’s nothing like a little smut to drive participation within the Catholic Church. Citing a decline in confessions over the past several years, the Vatican decided to open the doors to one of its most secretive tribunals, known for playing host to the confessions of sins so vile and despicable that only the Pope can grant absolution.
For two days, the “tribunal of conscience” was opened to the [Catholic] public, something that many of the Vatican’s prominent cardinals believe will reinvigorate faith amongst acting Catholics, and increase church attendance at the same time. Coincidentally, this reminds me of the old saying, ’sex sells.’
The Vatican’s number two man, cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, told reporters that “Today it seems as though the sense of sin has been forgotten.” That might have something to do with the ambiguity of sins, but who really knows.
Now, I don’t want to suggest that the hierarchy of Catholic sins is by any means downright silly, but you may be surprised to hear that things like spitting out the sacramental wine at communion—referred to as ‘defiling the Eucharist’—is considered a pope-worthy sin, but genocide is simply handled on the local level by any priest or bishop. Huh?
