Pope Francis: This is good stuff

[Gaia]

Pope Francis revealed a very moderate interpretation of the biblical exhortation to be fruitful and multiply on Monday, when he told reporters aboard Pope Force 1 that Catholics shouldn't feel like they have to have enough children to cast a TLC reality show. "Some think, excuse me if I use the word, that in order to be good Catholics, we have to be like rabbits but no," he said, instead casting a vote for "responsible parenthood."

My sister sent me this from The American Catholic:

Top Ten Takeaways from:

http://americamagazine.org/issue/top-ten-takeaways-laudato-si

1) The spiritual perspective is now part of the discussion on the environment.
2) The poor are disproportionately affected by climate change.
3) Less is more.
4) Catholic social teaching now includes teaching on the environment.
5) Discussions about ecology can be grounded in the Bible and church tradition.
6) Everything is connected—including the economy.
7) Scientific research on the environment is to be praised and used.
8) Widespread indifference and selfishness worsen environmental problems.
9) Global dialogue and solidarity are needed.
10) A change of heart is required.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/18/pope-francis-encyclical-extract

I do like this Pope, I do.

Gaia

[sandy]

Sounds to me like more take on the responsibility of continued scarcity, do without for the sake of the earth>>>all laid on the shoulders of the masses........no mention of the release of Free energy or cancer cures from those scientists already in the know, no mention of refurbishing nature remedies verses drugs therapy, and on and on..............just >>>>lets keep the little guy's nose to the grind and be happy doing it, cause that is what a good follower and believer is all about...................

Personally I'm not liking this at all :(

[Ellisa]

It is interesting that the Pope is brave enough to hint at the biggest problem of all--- over-population. I too like this Pope,Gaia, but I am not a catholic or even a believer--- so I am even more reassured to see such a sensible point of view from such a respected authority ie a representative of God to those who believe. Can't get higher than that!

He is very brave indeed.

[Gaia]

It is interesting that the Pope is brave enough to hint at the biggest problem of all--- over-population. I too like this Pope,Gaia, but I am not a catholic or even a believer--- so I am even more reassured to see such a sensible point of view from such a respected authority ie a representative of God to those who believe. Can't get higher than that!

He is very brave indeed.

I'm not Catholic but I do think that religion is about being a good person. It would seem there's still one responsible adult leader on the planet's surface.

[betoobig]

Sorry to say but so far he is only doing brave talking.... "a little less conversation a little more action"
MUch LOVE
Juan

[guayabal]

Christ fed about 5 thousand with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and this pope instead of teaching about that kind of faith is teaching about the injustice of climate change, it's ridiculous.

[mosquito]

I've just read the article from "The Guardian" .....

He's saying some amazingly good stuff, but I have to ask who his speech writer was. Miss Marple ?
The speech lacks teeth. While condemning (rightly so) the corporate/consumerist mentality that has brought human evolution to a screeming halt, he issues an encyclical which could have been written, if not by Miss Marple, by some vacuous graduate of an American business school. I'm surprised there's no mention of "managing the stakeholder's expectations".

BUT ... he (at least The Guardian article) ends with this gem (which I won't spoil with any more of my talk) .....


Yet all is not lost. Human beings, while capable of the worst, are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start, despite their mental and social conditioning. We are able to take an honest look at ourselves, to acknowledge our deep dissatisfaction, and to embark on new paths to authentic freedom.

[M0JFK]

What climate change? What overpopulation? The buzz words of the New World Order and Eugenics is a strange place to find on Avalon I must say. I would also say that anything spewing from the mouth of a Jesuite pope should always be taken with extreem caution.

[christian]

You're most likely to swallow poison if it's mixed with something that's actually tasty. The poison I see coming from this pope are the promotion of the idea of man-made climate change, the usefulness of global governance, and the condemnation of capitalism (which is by definition a free market coupled with a citizenry whose private property is actually fully owned by them without compulsory property taxes or restrictions as to what they're allowed to own).

[WhiteFeather]

Not much of a fan of the religion trap, but maybe there is hope for this pope. However I do have my doubts. Good post anyways OP.

[Joe Akulis]

Christ fed about 5 thousand with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and this pope instead of teaching about that kind of faith is teaching about the injustice of climate change, it's ridiculous.

Oh, I don't know. The impression I got was that he might be aware that we are facing a larger dilemma with the planet and greenhouse gasses than most people understand. If you read one of Bill's earlier Avalon newsletters, you are should know what I mean.

Crystalline methane hydrates are ticking time bombs that have been going off and will continue to go off as the north pole goes iceless this autumn for the first time since humans have begun walking the earth. Estimates are that there could be up to 5 billion tons of methane waiting to push forth into our atmosphere. And scientists in America have shown concern in the past about something as trivial as the contribution our nation's cows could make to the methane content in our atmosphere. If 5 million tons of methane per year going into the air is something to get people concerned, what do you think it does when those people are shown this potential for 5 billion tons to get introduced?

With that in mind, and looking at the things the pope was saying, I guess it makes me wonder: Is he just prepping us so it's not such a huge shock when things get worse and worse with the climate? Or is he thinking that a mass appeal for climate concern could help us prevent the damage? I hope it's not something like that. Because there's not much you or I can do about frozen methane sitting under some tundra somewhere.


P.S. Was Jesus feeding people with a couple fishes by using faith? Or did he know how to manifest physical matter with his hands? Perhaps this was another example of the things in store for the next generation of mankind. :-) Hey, wait, didn't he like to refer to himself as the "son" of man? *eyebrows raised*