A post that has been overdue, is a synthesis of Pope Benedict XVI’s latest publication, “Light of the World”, which are a compilation of interviews by journalist Peter Seewald, on the environment. Certainly the environment is not the central theme, but there are many sections that show the Pope’s latest thinking on the environment. As […]
Tag: Pope Benedict XVI
The Ecological Conversion
“Without the light of faith, the entire universe finishes shut within a tomb devoid of any future, any hope.” These are words in this years Message for Lent by Pope Benedict XVI. The term ‘ecological conversion’ has been widely used in Catholic environmental discourse, hinted at in Pope John Paul II’s 1990 World Day of […]
Ratzinger and Habermas… again
In the most recent publication by Pope Benedict XVI, which is actually a collection of interviews by Peter Seewald called Light of the World, German philosopher Jurgen Habermas is mentioned once again. The context is the question about the relevance of faith to modern life, an issue which both Ratzinger and Habermas have been and are engaging […]
Reason, Freedom and God: What is happening in Egypt?
Right now, in Egypt, these are all words that emerge in the debate. Freedom and democracy, God and his will, reason to navigate the situation. The world watches the perceived (I do not know enough Middle Eastern politics to know this is true) linchpin of stability between the West and radical Islam, Egypt, as the […]
Criteria for Internet Communications
On occasion of the 45th World Media Day, Pope Benedict XVI gave a diagnostic of the world of communications and some outlines of how they should be used ethically. The Pope did not mention Facebook directly, but certainly alluded to social media and the latest technologies. In the positive the Pope certainly highlighted the great […]
Neo-paganism, Modern Polytheism and the Environment
Vatican insider Sandro Magister has an excellent summary and commentary of the latest comments of Pope Benedict XVI with regards to modern tendencies towards religious polytheism and neo-paganism. We must remember that Benedict XVI closely tied modern environmental ideas with neo-pagan and pseudo religious tendencies of our age in his historic speech on the environment […]
Expert on Humanity?
Often the recognition that human beings are different than the rest of nature, incredibly, raises many objectives from environmentally minded people. I experienced this directly when I mention the extraordinary human capacity to affect reality, be it for good or evil, at the Bioneers conference a few weeks ago. But does the recognition of human […]
Contraception, Africa and the Church
Recently there has been much controversy in the media about the Pope’s recent interview publication and his comments with regards to contraception. Many media reports portray this as a revision of the Church’s position on the matter, as can be seen here, here and here. Clearly, this is not the case. When Pope Benedict XVI […]
Economics, the Pope and G20
Pope Benedict XVI spoke to the G 20 Summit and highlighted the importance of the economic crisis and the duty of leaders: I therefore encourage you to tackle the numerous serious problems facing you — and which, in a sense, face every human person today — bearing in mind the deeper reasons for the economic […]
B XVI in Spain I – Truth and Freedom
The Pope’s recent visit to Spain has been filled with much content pertinent to environmental questions and issues. In the beginning of the trip a theme emerged that seemed quite clear: freedom, and it’s relationship to truth. In his inaugural address (1), then at the tomb of St. James (2) and finally the homily in […]