In sec. 23 and 24 of Laudato Si, Pope Francis talks about global climate change and some of the scientific factors involved. In sec. 25 and 26, the discussion shifts to the implication of climate change on people and how we must overcome socioeconomic issues to make certain the dignity of human life is upheld.
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There are two ideas that really struck me as I read this section of Laudato Si. The first was yes, the pope is definitely a scientist! The second was the emphasis on human life and dignity that colors his discussion of global climate change.
Pope Francis' academic background includes science (chemistry, to be specific) and in LS 23 when he uses the language of 'appears' and 'majority' and 'significant' I can hear the scientist. Pope Francis is aware that global climate change is a difficult topic, one that some people accept as fact and others deny. As a scientist, this does not phase him. I find that society in general is often surprised at how much flexibility there is in science. Pope Francis does not back any particular theory for how climate change occurs, he simply says that their appears to be a change and that change is affecting people all over the world. While we need to care for the environment and be concerned about climate change, we need to look at it scientifically, that is, experimentally. What I get from Pope Francis is not 'do this or else' but 'investigate, find the process that effects change'. Maybe protecting the rain forest is the way to go, maybe it's not. We won't know until we try.
Just as important as an experimental approach to solving the climatological issues of the world is supporting people through these changes. Whether you believe in global climate change or not, there are undeniably famines, disastrous storms, and other environmental events that are negatively impacting society, primarily society in less developed countries that do not have the infrastructure to assist people through these natural disasters. The environment is a gift given to us by God, this is evident in Pope Francis' introduction. This gift is to be used and cared for by humanity to support humanity. At least, that's my reading. We cannot be concerned with climate issues simply because we want to 'save the environment', but also because we want to increase the quality of life for those individuals who are starving to death due to famine, have lost their home due to flooding and storms, who can no longer farm their ancestral lands because of water table shifts. These people are at the heart of any environmental concern for Pope Francis. We are caretakers of the world and the environment, but we are also here to serve each other and to make certain that all people can have the basic necessities of food water and shelter.
-Ramana
A very important article to accompany Ramana’s entry. It's important because I never hear anyone speak of climate refugees. I knew they existed, but I myself certainly never hear about them in the media.http://education.nationalgeographic.com/.../climate-refugee/
ReplyDeleteRamana's point about our responsibility towards others is an important one and a recurring theme in Pope Francis' discourses and speeches. However, it's one that doesn't always get a great response from a certain segment of the population in the West. Nevertheless, the point is crucial: "Our lack of response to these tragedies involving our brothers and sisters points to the loss of that sense of responsibility for our fellow men and women upon which all civil society is founded." (LS 25) In other words, while we act selfishly and with a general indifference towards the plight of others in the West...that's not what we're called to be doing, not by our pope, and not by our faith either. As President Obama was reminding us in his speech greeting the Pope in the US this morning...this is a man who is not afraid to make us uncomfortable!! Let's hope he never stops!!
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