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"Bless me father, for I have sinned. It has been six months since my last confession"
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Confess your sins and be forgiven, my son.
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"Between 1968 and 1988, I poured between 60 and 100 gallons of used crankcase oil into the storm drain."
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And are you truly remorseful, my son?
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"I guess so. Catechism didn't cover this. Is this a mortal or venial sin?"
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We're still sorting that out. For your penance, work for the EPA as an unpaid intern for one summer. Go forth and sin no more..."
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And as absurd as my previous comment may have been to SpirituTuo, there is good reason to ask this. Given just how important this topic is to Francis and the fact that he found it necessary to point out how those who do not "preserve the environment" will be "called to judgment one day", it sure sounds like he considers it a mortal sin.
Now THAT is absurd.