Catholic Cardinal and Bishop Condemn Climate Change Extremism, Radical Environmentalism

LifeSiteNews ^ | 1/3/07 | John Jalsevac

[wagglebee]

VATICAN, January 3, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Two high-ranking Catholic clergymen ushered in the New Year by separately denouncing the currently most fashionable doomsday theory-the theory of man-driven global-warming-and radical environmentalism, as both unscientific and disturbingly quasi-religious.

Cardinal George Pell, the notoriously outspoken Australian clergy-man, and Bishop Crepaldi, the Vatican secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, published their comments in The Catholic World Report (CWR), and Fides news agency, respectively.

In a lengthy interview with CWR, Pell, while admitting that there is clear evidence that man-made pollutants can have negative effects on the environment, cautioned against the dogmatic and extreme position on climate change that has become mainstream in the last several years. Instead, said Pell, the climate change phenomenon should be approached with the rational skepticism that is part and parcel of the scientific method.

"It is no disrespect to science or scientists to take these latest claims with a grain of salt. Commitment to the scientific method actually requires it," said the Cardinal, pointing out that it was only a few decades ago when numerous scientists were predicting a potentially devastating phenomenon of global cooling. "I am certainly skeptical about extravagant claims of impending man-made climatic catastrophes. Scientific debate is not decided by any changing consensus, even if it is endorsed by political parties and public opinion. Climate change both up and down has been occurring, probably since earth first had a climate."

"Significant evidence suggests that average temperatures rose by 0.6 degrees centigrade during the last century," he continued, "and there is no doubt that large-scale industrial activities can have an adverse impact in particular locations, as in the larger Chinese cities. But when averaged out across the globe, it is difficult to see this being the main culprit for any overall global warming, let alone bringing us to the verge of catastrophe. Again, we are dealing with a very imprecise science here, whatever the computer models might suggest. There are so many other variables."

"Man-made carbon emissions-however large or undesirable-need to be set in context next to the immense power of the sun, the influence of the oceans, clouds and other forces of nature that have been impacting the earth for millions of years."

Pell strongly criticized public figures in Australia for having embraced the climate change fad with a herd-like mentality that belies Australia's reputation for rugged independence and clear-headedness.  "Despite the fact that Australians like to see themselves as a ruggedly independent, rational, and democratic people, in some respects a herd-like mentality still prevails. Right now, the mass media, politicians, many church figures, and the public generally seem to have embraced even the wilder claims about man-made climate change as if they constituted a new religion." He continued, "These days, for any public figure to question the basis of what amounts to a green fundamentalist faith is tantamount to heresy."

Pell traced the cause of the enthusiasm with which the West has embraced the newest doomsday theory to what he called the West's "pagan emptiness."   "Some of the more hysterical and extreme claims about global warming appear symptomatic of a pagan emptiness, of a Western fear when confronted by the immense and basically uncontrollable forces of nature," he said, continuing, "Years ago I was struck by the fears that middle-class kids without religion had about nuclear war. It was almost an obsession with a few of them. It's almost as though people without religion, who don't belong to any of the great religious traditions, have got to be frightened of something. Perhaps they're looking for a cause that is almost a substitute for religion."

While Pell advocated a healthy concern for the environment, he concluded saying, "Jesus calls us to address the challenges in our own hearts, families, and communities before we moralize about distant worlds, where we are usually powerless."

Bishop Crepaldi's remarks followed the same lines, cautioning men and women to distinguish between valid scientific theories and ideologically driven agendas that are veiled by a deceptive layer of science, reported Catholic World News.  "It is always necessary to distinguish between scientific work and ideological use of scientific work," said Crepaldi. Crepaldi further clarified his remarks, warning against ideologies that "subordinate the human person to a presumed centrality of nature." 

To read the full interview with Cardinal Pell see:
http://www.ignatius.com/Magazines/CWR/pell_jan08.html

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Healthy Skepticism of Global Warming Alarmism Recommended
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/dec/06122209.html

300 Million US Population in Light of Kyoto, Global Warming and Other Created Hysterias
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/oct/06102301.html

Care for Creation Yes, But Why is the Vatican Backing Climate Change Theory?
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/may/07052406.html

Evangelical Leaders Warn Against Christian Involvement in "Climate Change" Hysteria
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/mar/07030208.html

[wagglebee]

Bishop Crepaldi's remarks followed the same lines, cautioning men and women to distinguish between valid scientific theories and ideologically driven agendas that are veiled by a deceptive layer of science, reported Catholic World News. "It is always necessary to distinguish between scientific work and ideological use of scientific work," said Crepaldi. Crepaldi further clarified his remarks, warning against ideologies that "subordinate the human person to a presumed centrality of nature."

Very well said!

[wagglebee]

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[narses]

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[RosieCotton]

I liked this, too!

"It is no disrespect to science or scientists to take these latest claims with a grain of salt. Commitment to the scientific method actually requires it," said the Cardinal

Bravo! Cardinal Pell rarely fails to impress.

Thanks for posting!

[wagglebee]

Cardinal Pell would make an excellent pope someday!

[RosieCotton]

I almost posted just that!

[ElkGroveDan]

Wow. That’s just great news.

[wagglebee]

It was known when Benedict was elected that his papacy would be fairly short, I’m sure they will be looking for someone from Africa, Asia or South/Central America next time, but Pell would be excellent. He has a moral clarity that seems to be sorely absent among most of the cardinals and bishops in the US.

[SolidWood]

Bell looks like Duncan Hunter.

[sneakers]

"Pell looks like Duncan Hunter"

Hey, you're right! Both men of fine character and moral clarity!

[RosieCotton]

I’m always impressed with the way he’s able to go straight to the meat of the matter and speak about it in a way that is both intelligent and completely understandable. And he leaves no room for doubt.

[steelyourfaith]

"Hot Air Cult"

~~Anthropogenic Global Warming ™ ping~~

[susannah59]

I’m always impressed with the way he’s able to go straight to the meat of the matter and speak about it in a way that is both intelligent and completely understandable. And he leaves no room for doubt.

I don't know that I've ever read anything else he's written, but I agree completely with what you say. He's very intelligent, very clear, and absolutely right!

[Mojohemi]

Desperate to get Duncan Hunter face value on National News and International News.
What Magic can be performed to enhance Duncan Hunter to become the Next President of the USA?
A one on one with the Pope of Rome? Beginning with Cardinal George Pell?
Freepers are incredibly intelligent.
The Duncan Hunter loyalist needs a Conservative George Soros type to fund the real candidate “Duncan Hunter”

[Mojohemi]

Desperate to get Duncan Hunter face value on National News and International News.
What Magic can be performed to enhance Duncan Hunter to become the Next President of the USA?
A one on one with the Pope of Rome? Beginning with Cardinal George Pell?
Freepers are incredibly intelligent.
The Duncan Hunter loyalist needs a Conservative George Soros type to fund the real candidate “Duncan Hunter”

[dsc]

I wonder if we could flimflam Australia into trading us Cardinal Pell for Mahoney.

[GodGunsGuts]

This, combined with comments by the new Pope, are going to drive the global socialists nuts!

[cogitator]

Record Heat Parched South Australia in 2007

CANBERRA, Australia, January 3, 2007 (ENS) - For many Australians 2007 was the warmest year on record, although when averaged across the whole continent, it was only the sixth warmest year, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's 2007 Climate Statement issued today by the National Climate Centre.

Statistically, the mean temperature for Australia was 0.67°C above average in 2007, making it the sixth warmest year since high quality Australia-wide recordkeeping began in 1910.

Australia has now recorded a warmer-than-average year for 16 of the past 18 years. "This pattern is not surprising given that Australia's climate is warming in line with the rest of the globe," said the bureau.

In the southern half of the continent, temperatures were well above normal, with South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and the country's food bowl, the Murray Darling Basin, all recording their warmest years on record.

A grim feature of the year has been extremely low water availability across parts of Australia, although the continent as a whole received near average rainfall.

"The worst drought on record is continuing to bite hard throughout Australia's food bowl," said Dr. Wendy Craik, chief executive of the Murray Darling Basin Commission.

The basin is home to two million people and supplies nearly half Australia's fruit and cereal crops. The ongoing drought intensified early in November with the onset of very hot weather. Temperatures were up to six degrees above average for much of the southern part of the Basin.

In December, Craik said total Murray water storage was lower than this time last year, which was the lowest for December since 1940.

Less than one percent of divertible water is available for critical environmental watering to protect endangered species and habitats, she said.

National Farmers Federation Vice-President Charles Burke said that early in the year Australian farmers were hopeful that there would be a strong winter cropping season as early rain promised to see production meet high global prices, driven by demand for sugar and grains from the growing biofuels market.

"However, the failure of the rains to eventuate over both winter and spring saw that optimism wane as the sector was plunged into unprecedented back-to-back winter crop failures, and minimal water allocations for many farms across the country," Burke said.

"As a result, farm debt mounted, rising to over $45 billion," he said.

Australian farmers are now hoping that 2008 will bring them a greater share of these prices and that vastly improved rainfall can finally break the back of drought," said Burke.

But there appears to be little drought relief in sight. Patchy rainfall across southern Australia means that long-term droughts persist in the far southwest and in the southeast, including the Murray Darling Basin, all of Victoria and northern Tasmania.

Southeastern Australia has now missed out on the equivalent of an average year's rainfall over the duration of the continuing 11 year drought, the bureau said today.

Despite promising rains during the first half of the year, July to October was particularly dry. It was not until November that rain returned to much of the continent with the emergence of a La Niña event - a cooling of sea surface temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

Overall, annual rainfall was average to above average across northern and central Australia, and average to below average in the southwest, with mixed results in the southeast.

Cool temperatures during the austral winter in June were a result of highly unusual heavy rains over northern Australia, and a series of low pressure systems, including that which caused extensive flooding around Newcastle.

Since January 1, 1908, the Bureau of Meteorology has been responsible for collecting, managing and safeguarding Australia's climate record, allowing data recorded today to be placed in historical context.

[ohioman]

I knew I would find FR’s #1 Globull Warming Shill somewhere on this thread. In that fashion, you always fail to disappoint.

[cogitator]

This, combined with comments by the new Pope, are going to drive the global socialists nuts!

I'm not a global socialist, but this Pope is very concerned about the environment.

Environmental damage risks God’s creation, threatens poor, Pope Benedict says

"The pope said the created world was a great gift of God but is presently "exposed to serious risks by life choices and lifestyles that can degrade it." ... "In particular, environmental degradation makes poor people's existence intolerable," he said.

"In July, the pope sent a message to Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, praising his efforts in reminding Christians of their duty to protect the environment. In that message, the pope warned that the ecological balance of the Amazon region was under threat."

Protect God's creation: Vatican issues new green message for world's Catholics

"The Vatican yesterday added its voice to a rising chorus of warnings from churches around the world that climate change and abuse of the environment is against God's will, and that the one billion-strong Catholic church must become far greener. ... At a Vatican conference on climate change, Pope Benedict urged bishops, scientists and politicians - including UK environment secretary David Miliband - to "respect creation" while "focusing on the needs of sustainable development". "

Pope Benedict Calls for Action on Climate Change in Christmas Message to World

The article provides an excerpt from the Pope's message, which I'm further excerpting below:

"Respecting the environment does not mean considering material or animal nature more important than man. Rather, it means not selfishly considering nature to be at the complete disposal of our own interests, for future generations also have the right to reap its benefits and to exhibit towards nature the same responsible freedom that we claim for ourselves. Nor must we overlook the poor, who are excluded in many cases from the goods of creation destined for all. Humanity today is rightly concerned about the ecological balance of tomorrow. It is important for assessments in this regard to be carried out prudently, in dialogue with experts and people of wisdom, uninhibited by ideological pressure to draw hasty conclusions, and above all with the aim of reaching agreement on a model of sustainable development capable of ensuring the well-being of all while respecting environmental balances. If the protection of the environment involves costs, they should be justly distributed, taking due account of the different levels of development of various countries and the need for solidarity with future generations."

and

"Further international agencies may need to be established in order to confront together the stewardship of this “home” of ours; more important, however, is the need for ever greater conviction about the need for responsible cooperation. The problems looming on the horizon are complex and time is short. In order to face this situation effectively, there is a need to act in harmony."