Glaciers, Part One: Global Warming
A few evenings ago I attended a presentation on
glaciers at the local museum. If you know
anything at all about glaciers, you're probably
aware that glaciers all over the world are melting
and disappearing at an alarming rate. Of course,
this subject came up at the presentation, and of
course, there was mention of human-caused global
warming as the cause of the disappearance of the
glaciers. One gentleman immediately started in on
“the scientists don't know what they're talking
about, volcanoes emit more carbon dioxide gas than
the activities of people”, and so on.
My mother was with me at this glaciers
presentation, and she mentioned that she knew the
man from church. My mother is a Catholic, and in
the past, I had observed that a lot of Catholics
weren't aware of the positions their church had
taken on a number of issues. As an example,
before the last Presidential election many
Catholics said, “You can't vote for Kerry, he's
for abortion.” Apparently many of them were
unaware that the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops and even Cardinal Ratzinger, now
Pope Benedict XVI, had spoken on the issue, saying
that Catholics should not be one-issue voters and
could vote for a candidate who supported abortion
rights if they felt strongly enough about the
candidate's positions on other issues. And large
numbers of Catholics were unaware that Pope John
Paul II sent an emissary to George W. Bush to
speak against the Iraq war, or that Cardinal
Ratzinger also spoke out against the war, saying,
“There were not sufficient reasons to unleash a
war against Iraq. To say nothing of the fact
that, given the new weapons that make possible
destructions that go beyond the combatant groups,
today we should be asking ourselves if it is still
licit to admit the very existence of a 'just
war.'”
It occurred to me that if the leaders of the
Catholic Church had made statements on global
warming, this gentleman was probably unaware of
them. So I decided to see what if anything the
Catholic leaders had said on global warming, and
possibly to mail the gentleman some information.
I found a number of statements on global warming
from Catholic Church leaders. The Holy See (the
office of the Pope) has even chimed in on this
issue. In a document entitled, “Intervention by
the Holy See At the Ninth Conference of the
Parties (COP-9) To The United Nations Framework
Convention On Climate Change (UNFCCC)”, we find
these statements:
“Climate Change stands at the crossroads of
environmental, scientific, technological, ethical,
political and economic concerns of the human
family. As such, UNFCCC implementation directly
impacts the future sustainable development
patterns of all States and of all peoples. Climate
is the overriding context for the consideration of
many other social and economic problems that the
world faces today.
“Both scientifically and politically, it has been
recognized that human activity is a significant
factor in climate change. Further, human actions
can play a crucial role in the mitigation of and
adaptation to climate change. The consequent
ethical responsibilities are not limited only,
however, to single acts of individuals, but apply
equally at the level of technical, economic and
social structures and at the government level.
There is, therefore, an ethical obligation
incumbent on all individuals and societies,
particularly certain sectors of society, to assure
that all activity is oriented towards the common
good, with special care and consideration for the
poor.
“While the human person is part of the ecosystem,
the person is distinct. We alone are free to make
choices, even sacrifices, to plan for the future -
for future generations - and to take steps to
implement them. We, therefore, bear the
responsibility for the choices that we make today
and must assure that the common patrimony of
humanity is improved and not destroyed.”
OK, it's written in “Popese”, but it's pretty
clear where the Pope stands. Global warming is
real, human beings are causing it, and we have a
moral responsibility to do something about it.
What about the Bishops? What do they think?
In 2001, the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops released a statement entitled, “Global
Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and
the Common Good.” Here are some passages from
that statement:
“As people of faith, we are convinced that 'the
earth is the Lord's and all it holds' (Ps 24:1).
Our Creator has given us the gift of creation: the
air we breathe, the water that sustains life, the
fruits of the land that nourish us, and the entire
web of life without which human life cannot
flourish. All of this God created and found 'very
good.' We believe our response to global climate
change should be a sign of our respect for God's
creation.
“As Catholic bishops, we make no independent
judgment on the plausibility of 'global warming.'
Rather, we accept the consensus findings of so
many scientists and the conclusions of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
as a basis for continued research and prudent
action.
“Human behavior and activity are, according to the
most recent findings of the international
scientific bodies charged with assessing climate
change, contributing to a warming of the earth's
climate. Although debate continues about the
extent and impact of this warming, it could be
quite serious. Consequently, it seems prudent not
only to continue to research and monitor this
phenomenon, but to take steps now to mitigate
possible negative effects in the future.
“In facing climate change, what we already know
requires a response; it cannot be easily
dismissed. Significant levels of scientific
consensus - even in a situation with less than
full certainty, where the consequences of not
acting are serious - justifies, indeed can
obligate, our taking action intended to avert
potential dangers. In other words, if enough
evidence indicates that the present course of
action could jeopardize humankind's well-being,
prudence dictates taking mitigating or
preventative action.
“The common good calls us to extend our concern to
future generations. Climate change poses the
question 'What does our generation owe to
generations yet unborn?' ... we simply cannot
leave this problem for the children of tomorrow.
As stewards of their heritage, we have an
obligation to respect their dignity and to pass on
their natural inheritance, so that their lives are
protected and, if possible, made better than our
own.
“As people of religious faith, we bishops believe
that the atmosphere that supports life on earth is
a God-given gift, one we must respect and protect.
It unites us as one human family. If we harm the
atmosphere, we dishonor our Creator and the gift
of creation. The values of our faith call us to
humility, sacrifice, and a respect for life and
the natural gifts God has provided.”
As far back as 2001, the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops was convinced that global warming
was real, that human beings were responsible for
it, and that we are obligated to take action to
prevent it. The Office of the Pope issued a
similar statement in 2003. The evidence has only
grown since then.
If you are a Catholic, were you aware of the
position of the Church on global warming? If you
have until now dismissed global warming, perhaps
it's time you do some studying and learn why the
Bishops and the Holy See are convinced that action
is required on global warming. If you are a
member of another faith, do you know where your
church stands on this issue?
“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same
God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and
intellect has intended us to forgo their use.” -
Galileo
glaciers at the local museum. If you know
anything at all about glaciers, you're probably
aware that glaciers all over the world are melting
and disappearing at an alarming rate. Of course,
this subject came up at the presentation, and of
course, there was mention of human-caused global
warming as the cause of the disappearance of the
glaciers. One gentleman immediately started in on
“the scientists don't know what they're talking
about, volcanoes emit more carbon dioxide gas than
the activities of people”, and so on.
My mother was with me at this glaciers
presentation, and she mentioned that she knew the
man from church. My mother is a Catholic, and in
the past, I had observed that a lot of Catholics
weren't aware of the positions their church had
taken on a number of issues. As an example,
before the last Presidential election many
Catholics said, “You can't vote for Kerry, he's
for abortion.” Apparently many of them were
unaware that the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops and even Cardinal Ratzinger, now
Pope Benedict XVI, had spoken on the issue, saying
that Catholics should not be one-issue voters and
could vote for a candidate who supported abortion
rights if they felt strongly enough about the
candidate's positions on other issues. And large
numbers of Catholics were unaware that Pope John
Paul II sent an emissary to George W. Bush to
speak against the Iraq war, or that Cardinal
Ratzinger also spoke out against the war, saying,
“There were not sufficient reasons to unleash a
war against Iraq. To say nothing of the fact
that, given the new weapons that make possible
destructions that go beyond the combatant groups,
today we should be asking ourselves if it is still
licit to admit the very existence of a 'just
war.'”
It occurred to me that if the leaders of the
Catholic Church had made statements on global
warming, this gentleman was probably unaware of
them. So I decided to see what if anything the
Catholic leaders had said on global warming, and
possibly to mail the gentleman some information.
I found a number of statements on global warming
from Catholic Church leaders. The Holy See (the
office of the Pope) has even chimed in on this
issue. In a document entitled, “Intervention by
the Holy See At the Ninth Conference of the
Parties (COP-9) To The United Nations Framework
Convention On Climate Change (UNFCCC)”, we find
these statements:
“Climate Change stands at the crossroads of
environmental, scientific, technological, ethical,
political and economic concerns of the human
family. As such, UNFCCC implementation directly
impacts the future sustainable development
patterns of all States and of all peoples. Climate
is the overriding context for the consideration of
many other social and economic problems that the
world faces today.
“Both scientifically and politically, it has been
recognized that human activity is a significant
factor in climate change. Further, human actions
can play a crucial role in the mitigation of and
adaptation to climate change. The consequent
ethical responsibilities are not limited only,
however, to single acts of individuals, but apply
equally at the level of technical, economic and
social structures and at the government level.
There is, therefore, an ethical obligation
incumbent on all individuals and societies,
particularly certain sectors of society, to assure
that all activity is oriented towards the common
good, with special care and consideration for the
poor.
“While the human person is part of the ecosystem,
the person is distinct. We alone are free to make
choices, even sacrifices, to plan for the future -
for future generations - and to take steps to
implement them. We, therefore, bear the
responsibility for the choices that we make today
and must assure that the common patrimony of
humanity is improved and not destroyed.”
OK, it's written in “Popese”, but it's pretty
clear where the Pope stands. Global warming is
real, human beings are causing it, and we have a
moral responsibility to do something about it.
What about the Bishops? What do they think?
In 2001, the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops released a statement entitled, “Global
Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and
the Common Good.” Here are some passages from
that statement:
“As people of faith, we are convinced that 'the
earth is the Lord's and all it holds' (Ps 24:1).
Our Creator has given us the gift of creation: the
air we breathe, the water that sustains life, the
fruits of the land that nourish us, and the entire
web of life without which human life cannot
flourish. All of this God created and found 'very
good.' We believe our response to global climate
change should be a sign of our respect for God's
creation.
“As Catholic bishops, we make no independent
judgment on the plausibility of 'global warming.'
Rather, we accept the consensus findings of so
many scientists and the conclusions of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
as a basis for continued research and prudent
action.
“Human behavior and activity are, according to the
most recent findings of the international
scientific bodies charged with assessing climate
change, contributing to a warming of the earth's
climate. Although debate continues about the
extent and impact of this warming, it could be
quite serious. Consequently, it seems prudent not
only to continue to research and monitor this
phenomenon, but to take steps now to mitigate
possible negative effects in the future.
“In facing climate change, what we already know
requires a response; it cannot be easily
dismissed. Significant levels of scientific
consensus - even in a situation with less than
full certainty, where the consequences of not
acting are serious - justifies, indeed can
obligate, our taking action intended to avert
potential dangers. In other words, if enough
evidence indicates that the present course of
action could jeopardize humankind's well-being,
prudence dictates taking mitigating or
preventative action.
“The common good calls us to extend our concern to
future generations. Climate change poses the
question 'What does our generation owe to
generations yet unborn?' ... we simply cannot
leave this problem for the children of tomorrow.
As stewards of their heritage, we have an
obligation to respect their dignity and to pass on
their natural inheritance, so that their lives are
protected and, if possible, made better than our
own.
“As people of religious faith, we bishops believe
that the atmosphere that supports life on earth is
a God-given gift, one we must respect and protect.
It unites us as one human family. If we harm the
atmosphere, we dishonor our Creator and the gift
of creation. The values of our faith call us to
humility, sacrifice, and a respect for life and
the natural gifts God has provided.”
As far back as 2001, the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops was convinced that global warming
was real, that human beings were responsible for
it, and that we are obligated to take action to
prevent it. The Office of the Pope issued a
similar statement in 2003. The evidence has only
grown since then.
If you are a Catholic, were you aware of the
position of the Church on global warming? If you
have until now dismissed global warming, perhaps
it's time you do some studying and learn why the
Bishops and the Holy See are convinced that action
is required on global warming. If you are a
member of another faith, do you know where your
church stands on this issue?
“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same
God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and
intellect has intended us to forgo their use.” -
Galileo
posted by Jim Allyn at 4/15/2006 02:46:00 PM
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