The Weekly Francis – 29 December 2014

7 thoughts on “The Weekly Francis – 29 December 2014”

1. Jimmy,

   Was there a specific place where His Holiness said something about Global Warming (aka Climate Change)? The media is all gaga over the Pope’s supposed acceptance of Climate Change and his agreement we need to fight it. I’d like to know the specifics, since I’m VERY skeptical about the scientific basis for all the hoopla. I’d have thought the Pope’s “Jesuit scientists” would be on top of this and know the real story.

   Thanks!

2. The encyclical that Pope Francis is reportedly writing on the environment has not yet been released. Thus, at this point, there are no details to know.

3. Dear “Dr Joe”
   Pope Francis IS one of these Jesuit scientist – he has a Masters degree in Chemistry among his many degrees. He is extremely well qualified, even by Jesuit standards!

   The Pope is also advised by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences consisting of the cream of the world’s scientists as well as the Pontifical Academy of Social Scientists (including leading economists) – both of these Academies include the most qualified non-believers.

   Along with the Vatican diplomatic corps and bishops in almost every country, the Pope is better informed on complex matters of practical judgement than most world leaders or even Fox News or CBS News “experts”!

   He also has the values of the corpus of Catholic Tradition and Catholic Social Teaching and we pray at every Mass for his guidance by the Holy Spirit. The Pope is not swayed by the need to seek re-election, having to watch opinion polls or getting rich donors to fund his election campaign. What more can you ask for in writing a secular report – let alone an encyclical?

   The “Pope’s scientists and economists” met recently to discuss “Stabilizing the Climate and Giving Energy Access to All with an Inclusive Economy” http://www.pass.va/content/scienzesociali/en/events/2014-18/sustainable/statement.html

   Yes, they are “on top of this and know the real story” and said:

   “The massive fossil fuel use at the heart of the global energy system deeply disrupts the Earth’s climate and acidifies the world’s oceans. The warming and associated extreme weather will reach unprecedented levels in our children’s life times and 40% of the world’s poor, who have a minimal role in generating global pollution, are likely to suffer the most.”

   I don’t know what, if any, scientific qualifications you have to justify your being “VERY skeptical about the scientific basis …”. If you have any scientific qualifications I expect that you would expect some respect for your qualifications in your specialism and would respect others in their specialism and even seek them out when you want to know something outside of your field – especially if the facts seem to be disputed.

   If I need an operation, I want someone with great expertise to cut me open and put me to sleep and wake me up again. I want experts with proper medical degrees and recognized training not someone who earned a “google PhD” after 10 minutes surfing. “Every man his own Pope” might be fine for some Protestants on matters of faith but “every man his own surgeon” or “every man his own climate scientist” is just silly. Some opinions about scientific and medical facts are worth more than others. Some people know a lot more than I do about surgery or climate – so I try to seek them out and trust them. I think the Pope is both wise and humble enough to seek out real experts.

   Over 97% of all climate scientists believe (based on a lot of research) that the earth is warming and human activity is causing it. Less that 1% disagree, less than 2% are not sure. There are at least 3 different peer-reviewed methods which come to similar figures. https://www.skepticalscience.com/global-warming-scientific-consensus-intermediate.htm

   All National Science Academies (they know who the real experts are) who have expressed an opinion also say the evidence indicates the earth is warming and humans are causing it. Almost every scientific body competent to have an opinion on this matter agrees. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_opinion_on_climate_change

   In any other area of science where there was such a consensus (following a lot of research) I expect that an educated person would accept it. If 97% of medical scientists said smoking tobacco causes cancer should I try to quit smoking or hope that the 1% funded by tobacco companies are right?

   Informed Catholics will know that Pope Benedict has already spoken on human-caused climate change to the UN General Asssembly in New York on 18 April 2008. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2008/april/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20080418_un-visit_en.html

   His encyclical ‘Caritas in Veritate’ shows his belief in human-caused climate change:
   50 “… the protection of the environment, of resources and of the CLIMATE obliges all international leaders to act jointly and to show a readiness to work in good faith, respecting the law and promoting solidarity with the weakest regions of the planet.”
   http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.html

   B16 also made the Vatican the world’s first carbon neutral state.
   http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/02/130228-environmental-pope-green-efficiency-vatican-city/

   It would seem that some in the Catholic blogosphere/cafeteria seem to have a higher loyalty to the Republican Party than to the Holy Father on this matter.

   1. As to your last line: I suggest you read Matthew, Chapter 7.

      1. Dear Bill912, I do not consider myself to be a Republican or Democrat – we all have planks in our eyes!.

         On this matter, I mention some Republicans because (on this matter) I have seen a number of them who seem to be troubled by a possible encyclical.

         In the US “Catholic Cafeteria”, on the left hand side you have those who reject Catholic Social Teaching (CST) on the sanctity of life before birth. On the right hand side you have those who reject CST on poverty, universal healthcare and other aspects of social justice after birth.

         US politics is excessively polarized. Sadly there are Catholics in both of the political “tribes” who put their loyalty to their political tribe before the Pope – who adjust their “catholicism” around their political values and affiliations, not vice-versa. We are all prone to this.

         Even in matters of scientific fact it seems that in the US the factual category questions of “is the earth warming?” and “if so, are humans now causing it?” is conflated with whether you are Republican or Democrat. This is like conflating one’s position on climate science with whether you prefer Pepsi to Coke.

         1. Re-read verse 1

            1. Thanks Bill912.
               I will wait and see what the Holy Father has to say.

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