Green Catholicism

Not a St Patrick's Day sort of 'green', but 'green' as in environmentally friendly. I came across some info on the web that led me to this story on Zenit, which has a number of related articles in the sidebar. I had heard bits and pieces about Pope Benedict and the curia talking up for care of the environment, but after perusing the Zenit articles I can see that it's more than that. Looks like they are saying the part of being Catholic is being 'green'(!)

OK so we can define 'green' in a lot of ways, but when the leadership of an organization that encompasses about 1 billion people expresses concern about...

exhausting the resources of the planet, the rapid thawing of the glaciers, the increase of the greenhouse effect, the increase of natural disasters, excessive emission of carbon dioxide ... These are some of the warning signs that call for a moral awakening in favor of the earth.

... that seems to be a fairly bg deal. It's good to see this coming from the Vatican; and I'm reminded that the Jesuit GC 35 also dealt with environmental issues, but I haven't read about that, yet.

Comments

[Mike L]

Man has observed the environment for only a very small fraction of time, so why should we believe that it should be frozen at this point in time? The earth is dynamic, glaciers have come, and have melted more than once while man was not around to observe them. Why should we think that they should not do so again? With or without human help?

I think that what we are seeing is the normal cycle of glaciation but driven to move faster by human industry. Even if we try to reduce the carbon emissions the cycle will continue - the glaciers will melt, the sea will rise, the glaciers will come again. But let us remember that as humans breath they emit carbon dioxide, so our very life would seem to be damaging to the environment.

Having said that, I admit that I am appalled over the waste and destruction of the environment due to greed. I do believe that part of being Catholic is reasonable use of our resources, but I do not think that freezing the world in its present state is part of the requirement. Allow it to change, but don't destroy it.

Mike L

[Jeff]

Steve,

I was very pleased in particular, to see B16 raise his own consciousness and awareness on this issue and to speak out as forcefully as he has on it. I especially feel that way in light of the fact that in many conservative religious circles, global warming has been pooh-poohed and dismissed so blithely. I've seen it in my own family.

[Steve Bogner]

Mike - I agree, the environment has gone through cycles for ages. It's natural. But then, the pollution caused by our modern society can't be good for the environment.

Hey Jeff - Some in my family take similar stands, dismissing the science and research and etc. I recently read on the Terrapass blog that some believe those dismissive stances come from more of a cultural basis, a culture-war thing, and would be there regardless of how firm the science was. See http://tinyurl.com/2tdf2q . They propose that & discuss how environmentalism is viewed by many as the 'new communism'.

[kiwi_nomad06]

Steve, I went to a talk last year by a visiting speaker, who has worked as a priest for many years in the Philippines. (I can't remember what order he was, perhaps Columban.)
He has developed a special interest in climate change as it appeared to him that there was evidence of its damaging effects already in the Philippines, in terms of more damaging cyclones etc.
He made two major points. One was that it was the wealthy countries causing most of the environmental damage, but it was poorer countries on oceanic islands that would suffer the most from it. He had also tried to thoroughly research the church's position on the environment, using Vatican documents etc. And he found that it had rarely been even mentioned.

[Steve Bogner]

Hi Kiwi - Hopefully that all is changing now, as far as awareness goes. The article on Zenit had links to a lot of related stories from the Vatican about the environment.

[Patrick]

Hi Steve.

"God neither spoils nor wastes....but makes use of...."

My thesis in a nutshell. We can moan about our suffering in whatever form it appears and we can ask God to remove it, etc. Or we can ask our Creator to transform our suffering into something which will help US recognise the Presence of God(Love).

In that Garden, Jesus prayed to Abba, that if possible remove this suffering, He knew was coming, but if not removed then make something good of it. He trusted that the One who allowed this suffering happen could remove it and/or could transform it. Jesus knew either way redemption would come through this moment. What a use of suffering and a death. We were to receive reconciliation and made whole again in relationship with our Creator our Origin.

I misssed the refernces for the Letter from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. Could you send it to me. It will be an excellent source for my literature review on transforming suffering. As ever Thank You Steve. The full Joy of Easter and the fulfilled Hope of the Resurrection be with You and your family, always, and any who accept it. Patrick

[clarissa]

green is a good goal...
been looking at presidential candidates...
so hard to find one from the rep or dems that encompasses a consistent life ethic & green stance but was "introduced" to joe schriner independent candidate... and i believe he is the only candidate whose core beliefs resonate with my own... he is from Ohio-have you heard of him?