Bishops Issue Ecology Appeal

Ottawa Citizen ^ | October 5, 2003 | Bob Harvey

[Loyalist]

Bishops issue ecology appeal Pastoral letter notes smog, soil depletion and dying fisheries

Canada's Catholic bishops are urging their 13 million followers to take action to heal the Earth.

"Life on Earth today is plagued with an unprecedented and accelerating ecological crisis. Deforestation, species extinction, climate change, ecosystem collapse, contamination of air and water, and soil erosion are just a few of the enormous ecological problems which we face in Canada and elsewhere," says the pastoral letter released yesterday.

Among the examples they cite are the closing of the cod fishery in Newfoundland, urban smog alerts in Toronto and Montreal, and risks to the safety of the food we eat.

The bishops say the ecological crisis is also a "profoundly religious crisis. In destroying creation we are limiting our ability to know and love God."

The document from the social affairs commission of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops urges the faithful not only to assess the energy use of their churches, but also to contribute financially to ecological causes and take political action.

"Ecological problems are enmeshed within social structures that serve the interests of the few at the expense of many, especially those marginalized and in poverty," says the commission, chaired by Gaspé's Bishop Jean Gagnon.

"Care for the environment is not an option.... Not to care for the environment is to ignore the Creator's plan for the Creation and results in an alienation of the human person," says the pastoral letter. It marks today's celebration of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the gentle 12th-century saint who so loved nature that it was said birds came to hear his sermons.

The bishops suggest that Catholics "fast from actions that pollute, embrace whatever conveniences may arise from running a greener household, decrease our use of fossil fuels and tithe time, treasure and talent to environmental causes." They urge their followers not only to lobby government to ban bulk exports of water, and guarantee that water utilities remain public, but also to participate in environmental groups, set up ecology study groups in their parishes, and take part in an international movement to provide good drinking water for the one billion people around the world who now lack it. Lack of clean drinking water is one of the world's 10 leading causes of death.

The bishops' pastoral letter also admits that in the past "churches have insufficiently come to grips with how aspects of Christian theology and tradition are implicated in the Western capitalist development model which has led to so much ecological ruin, not to mention the ecological disasters left by communist regimes."

This latest action plan and reflection on the ecology is one of several exhortations by Catholic leaders to take action to cure a growing ecological crisis. In 1990, Pope John Paul II warned in a document titled Peace With All Creation that world peace is threatened not only by the arms race, but also by a lack of respect for nature.

Andrew Male, communications co-ordinator for Greenpeace, welcomed the Canadian bishops' latest statement.

"It is great news when anybody raises concern about the environment. If we had 13 million members in Greenpeace, we would be laughing," he said.

© Copyright 2003 The Ottawa Citizen

[Loyalist]

"Churches have insufficiently come to grips with how aspects of Christian theology and tradition are implicated in the Western capitalist development model which has led to so much ecological ruin, not to mention the ecological disasters left by communist regimes."

Genesis 1:26: And he said: Let us make man to our image and likeness: and let him have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and the beasts, and the whole earth, and every creeping creature that moveth upon the earth.

God gave man stewardship of the fruits of the earth for his benefit. Responsible conservation is a recognition of that grant of stewardship.

Degradation of the environment has nothing to do with Catholic tradition and theology, and everything to do with the secular idea that man is the measure and master of all things.

[Loyalist]

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[sinkspur]

Degradation of the environment has nothing to do with Catholic tradition and theology, and everything to do with the secular idea that man is the measure and master of all things.

But degradation of the environment is precisely what happens in a socialist country like Canada, which socialism the Canadian Catholic bishops have happily fostered.

They foul their own nest, then gripe about?

Gimme a break.

[sinkspur]

The bishops suggest that Catholics "fast from actions that pollute, embrace whatever conveniences may arise from running a greener household, decrease our use of fossil fuels and tithe time, treasure and talent to environmental causes."

The Canadian Bishops' Conference is now an adjunct of Greenpeace!

How about tithing time to the Church, and leave the SUV-protests to the Birkenstock crowd?

I find it hard to take these churchmen seriously when they advocate foolishness like this.

The bishops' pastoral letter also admits that in the past "churches have insufficiently come to grips with how aspects of Christian theology and tradition are implicated in the Western capitalist development model which has led to so much ecological ruin, not to mention the ecological disasters left by communist regimes."

Notice how they throw in a reference to "communist regimes" as an afterthought?

What the Church opposes is capitalism, especially the American model of capitalism.

Adopt the American model, you goofy Canucks, and the water and air will clean itself up.

[narses]

Have they read Rerum Novarum you think?

[JNB]

While Capitalism as the way the US had it with regulations in the post WWII period that gave labor more power and that protected the US from unfair trade practices more or less fell under the principles outlined by Pope Leo XIII encyclical Rerum Novarum, the Free wheeling, free market, unrestrained, as Pope John Paul II calls it, Savage Capitalism, the kind Dallas FED Chief Robert McTeer advocates, is very much so against church teachings. The American model of Calitalism has become quite opressive and rots rather than gives strength to a nations moral fabric.

[sinkspur]

the Free wheeling, free market, unrestrained, as Pope John Paul II calls it, Savage Capitalism, the kind Dallas FED Chief Robert McTeer advocates, is very much so against church teachings. The American model of Calitalism has become quite opressive and rots rather than gives strength to a nations moral fabric.

How? That organized labor has no power is organized labor's fault. In a global economy (which the Vatican and this Pope advocates, by the way), labor must be competitive and will have whatever value the marketplace gives it.

The Vatican defers to the UN in economic matters as well as on the war on terrorism. That ought to scare the hell out of you.

[JNB]

How does the Vatican in any way, shape or form support the current condition of economic globalism? The Pope speaking out against "savage capitalism" certainly is not a endorsement of the current condition of economic globalism. The condemnations the Pope has made on this are numerous.

As for the Vatican being against US foreign policy at times, all I can say is America is not allways correct. As GK Chesteron said in a quote, "My Coubntry right or wrong is like saying my motherm drunk or sober."

[sinkspur]

The Pope speaking out against "savage capitalism" certainly is not a endorsement of the current condition of economic globalism.

The world is not "capitalistic." The United States is trying to lead the third world and other socialist enclaves into the world of the free market.

No, the Pope's not wild about capitalism, but the alternative (government interference in "correcting" the market) doesn't work, as is proven by the stagnant Western Europe economies.

The Pope likes foolishness such as debt forgiveness and subsidization rather than tolerate the often messy outcomes of capitalism (i.e., some people will have more money than other people).

As for the Vatican being against US foreign policy at times, all I can say is America is not allways correct.

America was correct on Iraq, and the removal of Saddam Hussein. The Pope was dead wrong.

[JNB]

The US system in place from 45 to 70 was the correct system, that system that pushed fair trade rather than unrestricted free trade. It was Capitalism with regulations that gave it a human face, it is in contrast to what is in place today. As for market interference, sorry, but there is plenty of that, the market interference that comes from propping up the markets at key times with liquidity injections from the FED, not to mention minipulation with the currency. The minipulation of course works in favor of the bankers, but allways screws the middle and working classes.

As for forgivness of debts to 3rd world nations, I support that, let them got out of their debtor prisons and start fresh, forgive the debts and have the govrenmnets down there get some leeway instead of having to devote most of their budgets to service of debts.

About the Iraqi policy, while at first I supported it, I now have had 2nd thoughs especially considering the costs involved.

[sinkspur]

The US system in place from 45 to 70 was the correct system, that system that pushed fair trade rather than unrestricted free trade.

The amount of trade engaged in by the US during that time was miniscule. Now, Americans buy quality, inexpensive goods from all over the world.

Remember the crappy automobiles from the 70s and 80s? Importing Japanese vehicles forced American automakers to improve quality.

As for market interference, sorry, but there is plenty of that, the market interference that comes from propping up the markets at key times with liquidity injections from the FED, not to mention minipulation with the currency.

Now you're off talking about capital markets. I'm talking about trade.

The minipulation of course works in favor of the bankers, but allways screws the middle and working classes.

How in the world does keeping the dollar strong hurt the middle class? What nonsense!

As for forgivness of debts to 3rd world nations, I support that, let them got out of their debtor prisons and start fresh, forgive the debts and have the govrenmnets down there get some leeway instead of having to devote most of their budgets to service of debts.

If the debt forgiveness comes with the strings of democratic reform, I'm with you. The Pope doesn't like the strings.

About the Iraqi policy, while at first I supported it, I now have had 2nd thoughs especially considering the costs involved.

You and Ted Kennedy. Turn tail and run because things get tough.

Do you vote Democrat?

[JNB]

You see, we differ on trade. Actually the US was involved in a large amount of trade in the 45-70 period as well, but did not run trade gaps because trade was mosty between the US and Europe, between countries that had similar labor and enviromental regulations. The way trade is now is the playing feild is very unlevel. The imported goods that Americans buy really do not help the consumer as much as the stock holder and bankers, and the cost of the current trade practices come at a high cost, from forcing more 2 parent familes to have both parents work, to stripping the US of its industrial capacity that is needed for national defense of the need so arises. I also am not allways for free trade in the other direction either, NAFTA has put millions of poor Mexican farmers out of work, and SURPRISE, they come up to the US to make a living. As for American automobiles, they actually were of good quality till the eraly 70s, in some cases till the late 70s, but the bean counters forced much cut rate design and development and nickel and dimed everything on the production end, and that caused major quality problems.

As for the strong dollar, that was a moronic policy left over from the Clinton admin, that served only to hide the real inflationary impact of a ever expanding M3 money supply, and sadly rags like the WSJ(a mouthpeice for bankers/neo-cons) support a garbage policy like the strong dollar. Even the Reagan admin in 85 with the Plaza accord realised the dangers of a strong dollar and under the leadership of then Tresury Secuatry James Baker, develued teh dollar 50% against the Yen and 25-35% against European currencies, and this gave US industry time to breath and recover by the time the 90s boom started in 95, when the strong dollar policy was indtroduced.

As for strings attached, there should be no strings attached to debt relief, and democracy, at least a American style Democracy, much less economic system, is not allways the best choice. As long as a system is just and follows the principles of Rerum Novarum(somthing the US more or less followed from 45-70 but doesnt now), where the workers and human person has dignity, it does not need to be either a free market system or a American style democracy.

As for voting Democrat, I am in no way, shape or form a Democrat, and see the Democrats the party of Secular Humanism, but I am no longer a Republican, and I do not intend to vote for Bush. I will either give a protest vote and vote for the Constituionalist canidate, or just not vote at all.

[JNB]

To add to this sinkspur, this may sound distressing, I put my Catholic faith far ahead of my being a US citizen. I have no qualms of saying I am a Catholic, not a American first.

[sinkspur]

I am in no way, shape or form a Democrat,

You are in every way, shape, and form a Democrat, the party of the "workin' man."

You may not vote that way, but your rhetoric belies you.

[JNB]

If being for fair trade, and sane immigration policies makes one a Democrat, than the GOP is in large trouble, just look at the economic threads at Free Republic itself.

Also, I put the faith above any party or govrenmnet. In the end that is what saves us, and in the end, the only thingthat will rescue Western Culture is the church itself. What do you put first, the faith or a political party?

[sinkspur]

If being for fair trade, and sane immigration policies makes one a Democrat, than the GOP is in large trouble, just look at the economic threads at Free Republic itself.

Free Republic is indicative of Free Republic, not the voting population at large. Both political parties refuse to do anything about illegal immigration, and they are both overwhelmingly for free trade.

In the end that is what saves us, and in the end, the only thingthat will rescue Western Culture is the church itself. What do you put first, the faith or a political party?

The faith. That's why it pains me to see the Pope siding with the socialists in the EU so often on political matters, especially when he says he opposes so much of their agenda.

[JNB]

Free Republic is more or less represenative of grass roots conservatism. No, it may not be represenative of GOP party organisations, but it is what the man in the street who calls himself conservative thinks. There are far more people who are Ralph Hall or Virgill Goode style Conservtives than people who are Dick Armey conservatives. As for free trade, while the GOP leadership is for it, the rank and file is a different story, and the Democrats view on it since Gore was defeated is more in opposition again, a weakness the Democrats can exploit next year.

Not everything is about dollar and cents, a fact the Holy Father understands, yet neo-conservatives at the WSJ editorial page fail to understand. I think you need to read Rerum Novarum to understand the church view on econonomics. No, it is not what many Neo-Conservative pundits like Limbaugh would call conservative, but it certainly is not socialist either. The pope is correct when he lashes out against consumerism and materialism.

[sinkspur]

As for free trade, while the GOP leadership is for it, the rank and file is a different story, and the Democrats view on it since Gore was defeated is more in opposition again, a weakness the Democrats can exploit next year.

I haven't heard a single Democrat candidate say one word against free trade. Not one. I think that's wishful thinking on your part.

The pope is correct when he lashes out against consumerism and materialism.

Of course he is. He's not correct when he thinks government intervention is a solution to those deficiencies.

What are the downsides to controlled economies?

Lots of poverty, disease, and death.

[JNB]

Rep Gephardt, who is a major Democratic presidential canidate, has made is carrer opposing free trade. Free Trade is a raw deal for the middle and working classes, and it will be a big issues next year, like it or not. Also, support for free trade and globalism is not a issue that has any grass roots support, again look at this forum. I know probably more than any other place in the US, North Dallas and surrounding areas will have unqestioned support for free trade, unrestricted free markets, but that is hardly represenative of the US. Also to throw in somthing else, Dallas FED cheir McTeer is considerd to be a lightweight in terms of his intellect concerning economics.


Again for controlled economices, it depends on what one considers a controlled economy, the US had many restricts on trade that made sure it was fair trade, and the median purchasing power 40 years ago was higher than it is today. Of course socialism is not the awnser, but completely free market economices are not the awnser either.