Mrs. Don-o's "Climate Crisis Lent" Letter: Text

NOR blog ^ | March 26, 2019 | Me

[Mrs. Don-o]

This year my parish re-themed Lent to address the Climate CO2 Crisis. It’s apparently a “wholesale” international push (by Global Catholic Climate Movement, a “collective” of diocesan offices and international NGOs inspired by Laudato Si and Catholic Climate Covenant, the USCCB-related entity) with local “retail” distributors, embodied in miniature in our parish JPICs (Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation groups.) [snip]

I find the Catholic Climate Crisis Lent deeply misplaced, but I have no representation at the parish, diocesan, national, or Vatican level.

Well, there is my little circle: we talk about these things. What we all agree on is this: when it comes to Lent, we want to follow in the footsteps of Christ, not reduce our carbon footprints. To be specific:

• None of us is indifferent to the fate of the earth. We understand that one of the first holy Commandments God gave us in Genesis is to care for the earth. This is what humans are supposed to do.

• God made the earth for everyone, not only for the rich. And not only for the present generation, either, but for the unborn and for all generations to come. We “get” the whole-planet and future-generations horizon.

• As far as Lent goes, there’s certainly nothing wrong with suggesting we turn our thermostats down a notch in the winter, button up our sweaters, hang the laundry out on the line, turn out the lights when we leave the room. Most of us have been doing this, and preaching it non-stop to the kids, for decades.

But here’s where we think the Climate Change Lent goes wrong:

The recommended Climate Actions are way too little (if we accept the premises of the movement itself) and, from a Catholic/spiritual point of view, way off target....

[Mrs. Don-o]

THis is an excerpt, please go read the whole thing. A related version of this was in "Chat" but I decided to put it in Religion as well, since it is of pastoral as well as personal and political concern.

A good half-dozen of the Faithful in my parish have told me they are considering leaving our parish because of the promotion of this Climate-Crisis theme gussied up as a Lenten observance (it's not the only reason, but it's the last straw for them) and one has told me that she knows a whole swath who have already left: some have left.

Hence I intend to press my pastor to meet with me about this. I don't want to get totally chin deep in a discussion of Geophysics and related secular sciences --- which is out of my league, as well as his --- but only to say that pushing something this controversial, divisive, and politicized as the new theme of Lent is pastoral malpractice and scandalizing to souls -- not a few.

I am running this past you for your well-considered perspective and advice. (Not advice like "leve your cockamaie church," which ain't happenin', but rather advice on "Here's the best angle to approach your pastor on this.")

Am I on the right track or not?

[Mrs. Don-o]

(Not advice like "leve your cockamaie church,") = (Not advice like "Leave your cockamamie church")

I hate typos.

[Gay State Conservative]

I'm shocked and stunned by the fact that just about every statement this Pope has made is in direct contradiction to what I was taught by the Sisters of St Joseph during 10.5 years of Catholic school in the 50s and 60s.

[shoff]

Ask him why he feels it is appropriate to mix religion and politics?
Ask him about the same people that support climate crisis also support abortion.
Ask him about the same people that support climate crisis also support gay marriage.
The same people that support climate crisis also disparage christians.
Ask why align yourself with enemies of the church?

[allendale]

Your pastor probably knows you too well by now. However have someone pretending to be a new parishioner, walk up to him and make his acquittance. Have the person be sure to comment that “every predatory homosexual priest that molested a young boy must be prosecuted by the civil authorities and imprisoned. Watch your pastor’s face. It works every time. Then tell him there are more important things to worry about than phony climate scares.

[Salvation]

Lent is about getting our soul right with God. Not about climate nonsense.

[WhoisAlanGreenspan?]

What a great article. I liked every word but here's a really good part.

No, if we believed in this looming global catastrophe, the action would be giga-big, and now: Start clearing millions of people out of the most endangered Coastal Zones like Manhattan; the San Francisco Bay Area; Miami; and New Orleans; plus, Guangzhou, China; Mumbai, India; and Nagoya, Japan. Ban 99% of passenger air travel, including no more Catholic pilgrimages (unless you walk). And, for God’s sake, machine-gun the flatulent cows!

But nobody really believes that. At least, nobody is acting as if they do.

I highly recommend that everyone go read the whole thing. Awsome.

[TonytheTiger7777]

Sick Communism cannot by cloaked in the Glory of Christ. It is obvious what is wrong, the evil intentions clear and cannot withstand the Truth and the Life.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

I am running this past you for your well-considered perspective and advice.

Am I on the right track or not?

Just straightening deck chairs on the Titanic, tilting at windmills, and missing the central issue in the Roman Catholic Church today...

The issue of climate change is insignificant.

The issue of 30-45% homosexual priests, sexual abuse of children, and illegal coverup of crimes is HUGE.

If they do not change the HUGE issue, the minor issue of climate nonsense does not matter important.

Why spend your time, energy and brainpower on a minor thing?

Let's see your letters to the editor about the real issue.

[Persevero]

Update us after you turn it in/meet

[Persevero]

Update us after you turn it in/meet

[LYDIAONTARIO]

I love you, my sister in Christ! That was wonderful!

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you for your gracious words. I will let you know if I get any response.

"Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials..."

So, like, I'm ecstatic...

[Mrs. Don-o]

Oh, are you a Tennesseean? What diocese? And are they doing this climatre-carbon-phobia stuff in your parish, too?

[LYDIAONTARIO]

So far, the Nashville Diocese hasn't gone “hippie”! (I have relatives in Chattanooga who attend the Bascilica there and it is VERY traditional, even the music! Hoping that starts a trend to return to tradition....instead of Mother Earth worship)

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

I think it is worthwhile. They are not going to hear from many like me as this Marxist Pope lost us a while ago. So it is great to stay in and push back.

Powerfully worded analysis, btw.

[daniel1212]

By Julianne Wiley

Your real name is Julianne Wiley?

his year my parish re-themed Lent to address the Climate CO2 Crisis. It’s apparently a “wholesale” international push (by Global Catholic Climate Movement, a “collective” of diocesan offices and international NGOs inspired by Laudato Si and Catholic Climate Covenant, the USCCB-related entity)

But just who is acting consistent with RC social teaching as expounded in Laudato Si? While you make know your concerns to your leadership, it is really your place as a peon in the pew to implicitly engage in public reproof of your pope, when the one basic duty of the multitude is to allow themselves to be led, and, like a docile flock, to follow the Pastors? Especially if you esteem traditional RC teaching over the modern "clarifications?"

Pushed to comment on reforms outlined by Archbishop Vigano concerning the sex-abuse crisis (oh yeah, that other crisis) Cardinal Blase Cupich told NBC News, “The Pope has a bigger agenda. He’s got to get on with other things—of talking about the environment and protecting migrants and carrying on the work of the Church.

Sorry, but that's your duly elected pope, and Insofar as it is part of the Church’s moral teaching, the Church’s social doctrine has the same dignity and authority as her moral teaching. It is authentic Magisterium, which obligates the faithful to adhere to it . - http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html

And it is quite well evidenced that the popes last encyclical (http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html) is intended to teach what the Church's moral teaching demands as regards ecology and economy. (172 references in this encyclical cite church teaching and prelates for support).

And you cannot leave your church without being in schism, though by rejecting Francis as pope one already is.

[LYDIAONTARIO]

Looks like your letter isn’t just popular with other Catholics! In the spirit of Christian unity, this guy has pinged the gang over to read it!

[HarleyD]

Mrs. Don-o has a heart for Christ and I sympathize with her. However, Daniel1212 is simply point out the obvious. These are leaders in the Church who are directing the path of the Church. If the Church is heading in the wrong direction, one needs to examine the scriptures. Luther did and left. It should be a wake up call.