Pope to make climate action a moral obligation

[RamboLiberal]

Source: The Independent UK

The Pope is expected to use his first address to the United Nations to deliver a powerful warning over climate change in a move to adopt protection of the environment as a "moral" cause for the Catholic Church and its billion-strong following.

The New York speech is likely to contain an appeal for sustainable development, and it will follow an unprecedented Encyclical (a message to the wider church) on the subject, senior diplomatic sources have told The Independent.

It will act as the centrepiece of a US visit scheduled for next April – the first by Benedict XVI, and the first Papal visit since 1999 – and round off an environmental blitz at the Vatican, in which the Pope has personally led moves to emphasise green issues based on the belief that climate change is affecting the poorest people on the planet, and the principle that believers have a duty to "protect creation".

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, head of the Catholic Church in the UK, said last night: "This is a crucial issue both today and for all future generations. We are the stewards of creation and we need to take that responsibility seriously and co-operate to care for the created world."



Read more: http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article2987811.ece

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There are a lot of things I don't agree with this Pope on - but I sure have to give him kudos for this one. Now if the Catholic church would move in to the 20th century, let alone the 21st century on birth control!

[silverweb]

1. Finally.

Something I can agree with him on!

Let's hope the world's Catholics take this message as much to heart as they do this Pope's instructions regarding other matters.

[rurallib]

2. Birth control would go nicely with this.

Any word on him supporting birth control?

[Mythsaje]

10. Precisely...

Birth control IS an environmental necessity and a LOT of my issues with the Catholic church (but not all) would be eliminated by its realization of this fact.

[Ian David]

14. It seems like only yesterday they forgave Galileo. Baby steps, man. n/t

[Trillo]

3. One child per procreating woman slash family

is thought, in 150 years time, to reduce the total human population to 1.5 Billion.

[Triana]

8. Bingo - there's the right plan (n/t)

[Hardrada]

9. Funny you should say BINGO!

[Mz Pip]

4. That's nice

Now how about sending Cardinal Law back to the states... Just saying. It's easy to talk the talk about climate change but to really do something substantial...

Go for it Benny. I wish I could be more supportive, but this is just an easy one for Benny.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Donnachaidh]

5. how about establishing a moral obligation to PROSECUTE pedophile priests?

I think his Popishness should finish the first major catastrophes before he takes on another, don't you?

[cliss]

6. Memo from Cliss to Mr. Pope.

Italy is currently feeling the effects of global warming. There have been fires around the Mediterranean. Greece burned this summer, so much that the images could be seen from space.

This summer, Rome was scorching hot, and the Vatican probably ran its air conditioner all summer as Pope Ratzinger sweated it out.

SUDDENLY, global warming is a priority simply because it's not fun in Rome. Overpopulation is seen as the primary cause for global warming.

And the Pope has NOT changed his position about family planning.

Keep frying, Ratzinger.

[Triana]

7. Now, if he would just advocate population control

since that is the absolute crux of the problem, we'd be getting somewhere.

[razzleberry]

11. who sells the best carbon offsets

B-16, or somebody else?

[Raine]

12. GOOD for him

I'll take my victories where I can get them. The Pope has much he can be critized on but still I will credit him for doing this and give him a ... :thumbsup:

[Lucinda]

13. Yup. Me too! n/t

[KingFlorez]

15. Glad to hear this

It's good to see he takes this seriously

[The Backlash Cometh]

16. Wish he would have been as quick and decisive with HIV prevention and condoms.

[Doctor_J]

17. Will he recommend witholding communion from pols who deny GW?

let's see...

[Canuckistanian]

18. Hmmm

Maybe the Church could get into the business of selling indulgences carbon credits.

[Quixote1818]

19. Now if he would just stop telling people to have more babies. nt