The media uproar about Francis liberating the Church from creationism and sanctioning evolution has already passed and gone, but the idea has stuck. It doesn’t take a genius to understand that the Church has always taught what Francis said… even Time and the Washington Post got it right, with good articles. What is interesting to […]
Tag: Pope Benedict XVI
The Pope and the Economy
Pope Francis’ recent apostolic exhortation has received plenty of attention around the world. Now the man is Time’s “Person of the Year”. But perhaps the most controversial aspect, at least in the USA, has been the economic issue. His words on this subject drew critiques, such as this one from Samuel Gregg here who said […]
A Catholic scientist speaks on Climate Change
Sophie Caldecott has a wonderful inetrview with Glenn Juday, Professor of Forest Ecology at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. The interview focuses on climate change, and expresses through Juday’s ideas what a Catholic position should be. As Sophie says, he “has a refreshingly positive attitude towards the issue of global climate change.” I have spoken at […]
Remembering Pope Benedict XVI: the ‘Green Pope’
Quite rightly, much is being said about Pope Francis and his ecological reflections. But we should not forget Pope Benedict XVI, and how important his papacy was for advancing and understanding a Catholic environmental doctrine, in full continuity with what Pope Francis is teaching. It is hard to explain the importance of Pope Benedict’s on […]
The Pope’s last words on nature: Scaling the mountain
In Pope Benedict XVI’s very last address in Castelgandolfo, already ‘retired’ he mentioned that one of his joys is to be in the beauty of creation: “I am happy to be with you, surrounded by the beauty of Creation and your kindness, which does me so much good…” Though certainly not the central theme in […]
A Tribute to Pope Benedict XVI
I would like to wish many blessings to Pope Benedict XVI today as his first day as Pope Emeritus, who has given so much wonderful food for thought and wisdom for this blog and above all to Catholics and people of good will around the worl,. Most of my posts on this blog have been focused […]
The Contradictions of Nature’s Defense
Pope Benedict is at it again. Recently he spoke to the Roman Curia here, and had much to say on the importance of families. At the root of the crisis of families, he says, is an anthropological crisis, in the denial of the nature of the human being. Here is the central idea related to the environment: […]
Pope Benedict XVI: “Concern to safeguard Creation” is a Sign of the Times
In a recent Catechesis, Pope Benedict XVI focused on “how to speak about God in our times”. While his talk emphasized the importance of prayer and direct contact with Jesus, among other elements, towards the end he mentioned the importance of listening to the signs of the times. The care for creation was 1 among […]
Catholic Symposium on Climate Change… and Hurricane Sandy
Recently a few articles have come out describing a symposium organized by the USCCB on climate change. The Conference was titled: ““A Catholic Consultation on Environmental Justice and Climate Change: Assessing Pope Benedict XVI’s Ecological Vision for the Catholic Church in the United States,” linked here, and as NCR reports, it “came about through a partnership […]
Desire and the ways to knowing God: Benedict XVI’s Paths to Faith
Pope Benedict XVI’s recent catechesis on faith have been illuminating some interesting aspects related to creation and the environment. A few weeks ago he spoke of science as a path to faith. Recently he has spoken of another path, related to creation, which can also lead us to faith: a healthy human desire. This was the […]