US Catholics ready to follow Pope's 'marching orders' on climate change

[Tsuwano]

I agree with you on the ways we can care for the environment. To me, global warming or no global warming, we are to be good stewards of the environment.

However it is too easy for Europeans or Asians for that matter to crticize the US because the US is not like Europe or Japan, which to me smacks of arrogance. What they do not realize is the differences of scale. We in the US are trying to care for the environment and there are more of us than you think.

You’re absolutely right, Sarcelle, there are major differences between various areas around the world and, for sure, I don’t advocate a one shoe fits all approach. I’m not saying that the US should be like Japan, but neither do I think we should be afraid of looking at possible options that originate elsewhere. Also, I’m not casting stones at the US or think it hasn’t done anything. I remember the 60’s and 70’s prior to many of the environmental laws that have been passed since then and I know that the US has improved in these areas. I did give a hoot and didn’t pollute and so did many, many other Americans. I’m proud of our accomplishments, but I don’t think we should ever say “Well, we’ve done enough.” I don’t mean to sound arrogant, and I’m glad you pointed out that it is very possible that I do sound that way, but I don’t want to be defeatist, either. I think we, as Americans, need to think about what more we can do to continue our care for the environment.

 

[ReConverted]

I see where you are coming from. You feel that because we have done so much good for the less fortunate all around the world, that we deserve to use more resources than anyone else, even though the resources that we use for helping others is a tiny fraction of the resources we use for our own internal consumption.

Let me tell you what I think of that sense of entitlement. The resources that God placed here for our use are a gift. An undeserved gift - for no one truly deserves the blessing that God bestows. About all those medicines we develop and doctors we send to other countries, our attitude ought to be one of gratitude to God for giving us the opportunity to serve him so well, rather than the attitude that says the rest of the world should be so thankful to us that we decided to let a few crumbs fall from our table. It is a grave mistake to think that somehow we in the US, being only 4.4% of the world’s population, are entitled to take and consume for our own pleasure, 25% of the world’s oil, 23% of the coal, 33% of the world’s paper, 27% of the aluminum, and 19% of the copper.

Wow. Thank you for cutting through so much nonsense! Well said!

 

[ReConverted]

Such is the nature of Catholicism in the United States.

Sad but true!

 

[agnes_therese]

As a matter of fact, poorer neighborhoods in America always seem to have more trash laying around. Just an observation.

Third world poverty stricken nations are the absolute worst polluters… Why?

Yet, it’s the first world nations who are blamed.

…So, what’s the plan again?

I think part of the Pope’s plan is that we stop blaming everyone else and take responsibility for what we can do. Of course, that takes a certain amount of maturity. It’s much easier to say “Well, they do it, so . . .”

 

[ReConverted]

Environmentalism is the radical notion that it’s madness foul our nest.

God wants us to take care of the creation he gave to us as stewards.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Well, a lot of Catholics I know are already doing many of the things which Pope Francis has suggested.

Now if some of those Catholics who are NOT living with mindful stewardship (and I really don’t think there are many whose ‘carbon footprint’ is that large) are being vitalized to start being more mindful of the resources of the world and a more equitable distribution, I think that’s great.

But especially with yesterday’s debacle in the Supreme Court, I surely do expect that as part of being mindful stewards of the Earth and ALL God’s gifts, that US Catholics will be equally ‘vitalized’ to jump into following the ‘marching orders’ of previous Papal encyclicals. I am waiting patiently to see US Catholics leaping to support Pope Francis’ position on same-sex ‘marriage’ and abortion, as well as Pope Benedict’s Moto Proprio (that’s up to the bishops, some of whom are STILL rejecting it, but the laity needs to step up and be heard), Pope St John Paul’s definitive teaching on women priests --(the answer was ‘no’), Pope Paul’s Humanae Vitae and its teachings on contraception. . .etc etc.

 

[TEPO]

I think part of the Pope’s plan is that we stop blaming everyone else and take responsibility for what we can do. Of course, that takes a certain amount of maturity. It’s much easier to say “Well, they do it, so . . .”

Who would you say “we” is, in an encyclical written for everyone in the world? Would that include Africa, where deforestation at the equator has caused some of the most significant problems? Yet we are to exclude the third world, which is the root of the whole problem? How is that being responsible?

 

[TEPO]

Oh yeah, I forgot. Preferential treatment for the poor includes turning a blind eye to their pollution.