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ChibiViolet
Guest
Has Pope Francis condemned the use of air conditioning, or only excessive air conditioning? Is he implying its of grave matter to use air conditioning?
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andrewstx
Guest
I THINK he meant going overboard.
The Holy Father never lived in AZ or
TX.
The Holy Father never lived in AZ or
TX.
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Tomdstone
Guest
When it is over 100 degrees outside, is it a sin to use AC? What would constitute excessive AC?
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Tbrightson
Guest
I missed this one…he said using AC is immoral? I cant keep up…
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MarcoPolo
Guest
Since he didn’t specify, we don’t know. In #55 of his encyclical, he said:*People may well have a growing ecological sensitivity but it has not succeeded in changing their harmful habits of consumption which, rather than decreasing, appear to be growing all the more. A simple example is the increasing use and power of air-conditioning. The markets, which immediately benefit from sales, stimulate ever greater demand. An outsider looking at our world would be amazed at such behaviour, which at times appears self-destructive.*What constitutes “self-destructive” appearing air-conditioning use? When does air-conditioning become a “harmful habit”?
In reading other parts of the encyclical, I suppose it would be “harmful” if one went beyond its use for health purposes. Because air-conditioning can be extremely helpful for the elderly, yes the poor, and also very beneficial for those suffering from allergens because it also purifies air in addition to cooling it. And throughout the encyclical he speaks of attaining good health, so obviously, some proper use of air-conditioning would actually help that.
One of his principles is that we should try to get everyone healthy. For example:*#50 To blame population growth instead of extreme and selective consumerism on the part of some, is one way of refusing to face the issues. It is an attempt to legitimize the present model of distribution, where a minority believes that it has the right to consume in a way which can never be universalized, since the planet could not even contain the waste products of such consumption.*So if air conditioning was used in such a way as to prevent others from attaining it, then maybe that’s excessive. Or if one unnecessarily uses air conditioning so much they can’t even give to the poor because funds are so low on over-use. Etc… Principally speaking, a person could use just about any “good” to excess. By singling out air-conditioning, I think the virtue of simple moderation in his message may be lost, if that is indeed the message to be deduced from reading the paragraphs in tandem.
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Tbrightson
Guest
It appears so:
"A simple example [of harmful habits of consumption] is the increasing use and power of air-conditioning,” “The markets, which immediately benefit from sales, stimulate ever greater demand. An outsider looking at our world would be amazed at such behavior, which at times appears self-destructive.”
Cue the responses: “What he REALLY was trying to say is…”
"A simple example [of harmful habits of consumption] is the increasing use and power of air-conditioning,” “The markets, which immediately benefit from sales, stimulate ever greater demand. An outsider looking at our world would be amazed at such behavior, which at times appears self-destructive.”
Cue the responses: “What he REALLY was trying to say is…”
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Tbrightson
Guest
“So if air conditioning was used in such a way as to prevent others from attaining it, then maybe that’s excessive”
Pardon me, but how the heck is my use of air-conditioning 24/7 in the heat depriving others of the same?
Pardon me, but how the heck is my use of air-conditioning 24/7 in the heat depriving others of the same?
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MarcoPolo
Guest
As I said in my post, we really don’t know what the Pope had in mind specifically, so I’m guessing here. But I would repeat what I said about deteriorating your own money which you might have put in the Sunday collection basket, etc… would have gone to the poor, perhaps used for air-conditioning somewhere. And second, I would add an economic factor, that excessive air-conditioning use jacks up “demand” and thus the cost of air-conditioning for everyone. Basic economics 101. So I presume prudent use would be to use it in accord with good health and not excess beyond that, so as not to create a vane demand that causes air-conditioning to become unaffordable for some. But, again, you would have to ask the Pope to clarify his own words.
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Linusthe2nd
Guest
Paragraph 55 of the Encyclical in Chapter 1 " What has happend to our common home?
w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html
" :55. Some countries are gradually making significant progress, developing more effective controls and working to combat corruption. People may well have a growing ecological sensitivity but it has not succeeded in changing their harmful habits of consumption which, rather than decreasing, appear to be growing all the more. A simple example is the increasing use and power of air-conditioning. The markets, which immediately benefit from sales, stimulate ever greater demand. An outsider looking at our world would be amazed at such behaviour, which at times appears self-destructive. "
He seems to identify air-conditioning a one of the factors contributing to environmental degredation. But that is his personal opinion, it is not Catholic moral teaching.
Interpret it for yourself. There was a time when there was no air conditioning, our home never had it until after I left. So people can live without it, but there is no doubt that it makes life more tolerable in harsh climates. In certainly saves lives. One can also argue that it has a positive impact on provided goods and services to the poor who do not have air conditioning. Of course one can give up air conditioning as a means of showing solidarity with the poor, one can even take the dollars saved and contribute to charitable institutions like Peter’s Pence or Aid to the Chuch in need. I would classify this as being a questin of prudential judgment. You don’t have to give up air conditiioning, but you might exercise charity by giving it up and following the suggestions above.
Linus2nd
w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html
" :55. Some countries are gradually making significant progress, developing more effective controls and working to combat corruption. People may well have a growing ecological sensitivity but it has not succeeded in changing their harmful habits of consumption which, rather than decreasing, appear to be growing all the more. A simple example is the increasing use and power of air-conditioning. The markets, which immediately benefit from sales, stimulate ever greater demand. An outsider looking at our world would be amazed at such behaviour, which at times appears self-destructive. "
He seems to identify air-conditioning a one of the factors contributing to environmental degredation. But that is his personal opinion, it is not Catholic moral teaching.
Interpret it for yourself. There was a time when there was no air conditioning, our home never had it until after I left. So people can live without it, but there is no doubt that it makes life more tolerable in harsh climates. In certainly saves lives. One can also argue that it has a positive impact on provided goods and services to the poor who do not have air conditioning. Of course one can give up air conditioning as a means of showing solidarity with the poor, one can even take the dollars saved and contribute to charitable institutions like Peter’s Pence or Aid to the Chuch in need. I would classify this as being a questin of prudential judgment. You don’t have to give up air conditiioning, but you might exercise charity by giving it up and following the suggestions above.
Linus2nd
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1ke
Guest
You have a sensitive conscience, as other posts indicate. You should avoid reading posts and threads on this encyclical.
Remember, he is NOT defining doctrine. Guidance in this area is prudential judgment.
No, it is not a sin to use air conditioning, let alone grave matter. He did not “condemn” air conditioning.
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agnes_therese
Guest
No, he didn’t. The encylical is available for free, online, you can see for yourself.
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Tbrightson
Guest
This was from his environmental encyclical so I don’t the collection basket was the reasoning.
High demand for AC would only jack up the price if demand was hard to meet. That’s not an issue in the US. Plenty AC units to be had and pricing is competitive. You can get a window unit pretty cheap as well.
And once again, there is question as to what he “really meant”…If that’s the case with this encyclical, than what good is it if it cant be discerned?
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Tbrightson
Guest
None here either…but that changed when I bought the house next door to my parents and installed AC…Wasn’t too much long afterward that Dad had it installed in his house. I guess I was a neighbor my Dad felt he had to “keep up with”, or perhaps Mom now had something to force Dad to cave
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MarcoPolo
Guest
This goes beyond environment exclusively. That’s just the media’s caricature of the encyclical you are espousing. But whatever. I don’t recommend over-splurging on air conditioning.
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SonOfMan
Guest
AC is highly sinful and immoral, as it stands for Anti-Christ. That’s probably what Pope Francis was condemning and the media misinterpreted his use of acronyms and now we’re all discussing the morality of air conditioning. 
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Tarpeian_Rock
Guest
I don’t think Buenos Aires has too many frosty days.
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ChibiViolet
Guest
I only found out about it because someone told me and actually, I do not have a sensitive conscience, but only try to avoid mortal sins mostly and there’s nothing wrong with a sensitive conscience, as long as there is no scrupulosity. I wish I had a sensitive conscience…I also wish Pope Francis wouldn’t be so vague in what he says; it gets confusing to keep hearing of things he’s said…
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WillyAL
Guest
I kind of agree. It seems like every time he says something, someone else is trying to tell us what he REALLY meant. Sometimes because what he said doesn’t agree with the commenter’s political or world view, but usually because what he said was just so darn vague that anyone can read their own meaning into it.
Hey Pope…how about a bit of clarity.
(Just for the record, even as a non-Catholic, I think Pope Francis is a pretty good guy.)
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powerofk
Guest
After re-reading that passage a few times, it looks like Pope Francis was talking about AC as an example of the consumerist culture. It’s not the AC that’s the problem - it’s the idea of needing the “best, newest, latest, most powerful, biggest, etc.” that’s the problem. He could have easily mentioned cars or TVs or lawnmowers or video games.
As an aside, AC, while it makes the inside more tolerable, takes the heat from the inside and pumps it out of the home.
As an aside, AC, while it makes the inside more tolerable, takes the heat from the inside and pumps it out of the home.
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Robert_Sock
Guest
You get 20 points for that correct answer.- Status