Pope’s edict on climate change may anger deniers, U.S. churches
By John Vidal, Observer
He has been called the “superman pope”, and it would be hard to deny that Pope Francis has had a good December. Cited by President Obama as a key player in the thawing relations between the US and Cuba, the Argentinian pontiff followed that by lecturing his cardinals on the need to clean up Vatican politics. But can Francis achieve a feat that has so far eluded secular powers and inspire decisive action on climate change?
It looks as if he will give it a go. In 2015, the pope will issue a lengthy message on the subject to the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, give an address to the UN general assembly and call a summit of the world’s main religions.
The reason for such frenetic activity, says Bishop Marcelo Sorondo, chancellor of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences, is the pope’s wish to directly influence next year’s crucial UN climate meeting in Paris, when countries will try to conclude 20 years of fraught negotiations with a universal commitment to reduce emissions.
Oh, the irony.
Wow, the Pope, the leader of the Christian church which represents the most historical religious/congregational credibility, throws his considerable weight behind the folks who oppose the corporate take-over of our environment in favor of the preservation of our world.
And, some hours later, I’m only the second hereon to post a reply.
Having grown up in the Catholic Church, yet put in my figurative resignation notice in the mid-sixties, I’m not so much amazed at the lack of comment from the faithful regarding the Pope’s declaration as I am the lack of comment by those of us who have spent close to a lifetime opposing the Christian, not to mention its closely monitored papacy.
This is all good news, fostered largely by Pope Francis. I’ll never go back to the Catholic Church, but I know full well that the Church includes serious intellectuals among its numbers who would be happy to try and put it back on track.
For sure, there is irony here. But, whatever your religious beliefs, or mine, for whatever it’s worth, having a Catholic Pope make declarations representing good sense over doctrine is a huge step toward re-establishing credibility over doctrinaire to our philosophical discourse.
In other words, you ‘da man, Francis. Keep hangin’ in there, there’s a world to save here.
Great segment on 60 minutes regarding the pope. While I am not a Catholic I was impressed by his refreshing approach.
the red pill is kicking in for this guy. right on