Climate Change<\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Duty toward Creation is Essential to Faith<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\nOur Influence is Uncertain<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/div>\n\nClimate Change is a Fact<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cThe climate is a common good<\/strong>, belonging to all and meant for all.\u201d<\/h5>\nPope Francis, 23<\/a><\/h5>\n\u201cChristians, in particular, realize that their responsibility within creation and their duty towards nature<\/strong> and the Creator are an essential part of their faith<\/strong>.\u201d<\/h5>\nPope St. John Paul II, 15<\/a><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tA \u2018Topic\u2019 for Catholic Social Teaching?<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n
YES!<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIn his desire to have and to enjoy rather than to be and to grow, man consumes<\/strong> the resources of the earth and his own life in an<\/strong> excessive and disordered way<\/strong>\u2026In this regard, humanity today must be conscious of its duties and obligations towards future generations.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"The<\/strong> earth is a precious gift of the Creator<\/strong>, who has designed its intrinsic order, thus giving us guidelines to which we must hold ourselves as stewards of his creation\u2026In my recent Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, I referred more than once to such questions.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIt is my hope that this Encyclical Letter (Laudato Si\u2019), which is now added to the body of the Church\u2019s social teaching, can help us to acknowledge the appeal, immensity and urgency of the challenge we face.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Francis, 15)<\/a><\/p>\nClimate Change is one topic among a myriad of ecological and environmental issues facing us. In Solidarity with our fellow man, the Church insists we have a responsibility<\/strong> to<\/strong> evaluate and prioritize<\/strong> environmental issues and, using our prudential judgment<\/strong>, address as many of those so prioritized as we can.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHowever...<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIt is complicated:<\/strong> To be sure, change in climate is a fact of science<\/strong>. The extent to which human activity<\/strong> influences it is not settled science<\/strong>. As well, whether some measures proposed to reduce emissions will do more harm than good<\/strong> is also not a settled matter<\/strong>. Pressing ahead as though these things are settled matters may make the Church look less like responsible stewards of God\u2019s creation and more like political agents.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAddressing Climate Change<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Climate](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/2010_UN_Climate_Talks_crop-683x1024.jpg\" "\\"A")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWho is Responsible?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201c[T]he direct duty to work for a just ordering of society\u2026is proper to the lay faithful<\/strong>\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 29)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nIt is up to the lay faithful to implement Catholic social teaching in the world: Gaudium et Spes (the Pastoral Constitution On The Church In The Modern World) establishes this responsibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy. It is a moral obligation.<\/strong> For Christians, the responsibility is even greater: it is a commandment.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Francis, 3.1)<\/a><\/em><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Alexandria](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/GreenNewDeal_Presser_crop-683x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIs it a Political Issue?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tClearly, in the US<\/strong>, the answer is \u2018yes\u2019<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\nOne political party committed the country to a significant international accord<\/strong> on the topic (The Paris Agreement)<\/em> and has proposed a \u201cGreen New Deal\u201d<\/em> which would allocate tremendous resources to it; the<\/strong> other party has withdrawn the US from the international accord<\/strong> and opposes the other party\u2019s current proposals.<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"A](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/climate-change-protest-small-683x1024.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFulfilling My Obligation<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201c[T]he formation of just structures\u2026belongs to the world of politics\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 29)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cPolitics is an essential means of building human community and institutions\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Francis)<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cWe, Christians, cannot \u2018play Pilate\u2019 and wash our hands\u2026We must participate in politics because politics is one of the highest forms of charity<\/strong> because it seeks the common good. And Christian lay people must work in politics.\u201d (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/p>\nPope Francis recognizes that this \u201cis not easy<\/strong>; politics has become too tainted. But I ask myself: Why has it become<\/strong> tainted? Because Christians have not participated<\/strong> in politics with an evangelical spirit? \u2026To work for the common good is a Christian duty, and many times the way in which to work towards it is through politics.\u201d (Address to the Students of the Jesuit Schools of Italy and Albania, June 7, 2013)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIn Pursuit of Climate Justice<\/span><\/h4>\nThe Catholic Church affirms our responsibility to care for our \u201ccommon home\u201d. (Environmental Degradation)<\/a> \u00a0Terms like \u201cclimate action\u201d and \u201cclimate justice\u201d are valid\u2014when understood through Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis welcomed efforts to advance climate justice (Laudato Si)<\/a> \u2014\u00a0seeing it as \u201can issue of intergenerational justice\u201d<\/span> (Message to IDLO)<\/a>. He insisted that justice is not a slogan but \u201cthe primary way of charity\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 60)<\/a> The Catechism defines justice as \u201cthe constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor\u201d \u00a0\u2014 it \u201cpromotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good\u201d. (CCC, 1807)<\/a> This duty rests on every Christian.<\/span><\/p>\nClimate justice,<\/strong> rightly understood, is an act of faith and a work of mercy. It promotes the Common Good.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nIt is not an ideology and is never isolated from the rest of Catholic teaching. Rather. It is a way to \u201cconnect us with God and to each other\u201d. (Pope Francis)<\/a> And it is a step toward integral ecology<\/a> \u2014for there can be no climate justice without \u201ca renewal of humanity itself\u201d. (Pope Francis, 118)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s needed is a Christian environmentalism: a concern for our common home grounded in our duties to God and to every human person. (Caritas in Veritate, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThis is the path to authentic climate justice.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Climate](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/A-sign-during-a-march-advocating-ro-action-responding-to-climate-change.jpg\" "\\"A")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIn Pursuit of Climate Justice<\/span><\/h4>\nThe Catholic Church affirms our responsibility to care for our \u201ccommon home\u201d. (Environmental Degradation)<\/a> \u00a0Terms like \u201cclimate action\u201d and \u201cclimate justice\u201d are valid\u2014when understood through Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis welcomed efforts to advance climate justice (Laudato Si)<\/a> \u2014\u00a0seeing it as \u201can issue of intergenerational justice\u201d<\/span> (Message to IDLO)<\/a>. He insisted that justice is not a slogan but \u201cthe primary way of charity\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 60)<\/a> The Catechism defines justice as \u201cthe constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor\u201d \u00a0\u2014 it \u201cpromotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good\u201d. (CCC, 1807)<\/a> This duty rests on every Christian.<\/span><\/p>\nClimate justice,<\/strong> rightly understood, is an act of faith and a work of mercy. It promotes the Common Good.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nIt is not an ideology and is never isolated from the rest of Catholic teaching. Rather. It is a way to \u201cconnect us with God and to each other\u201d. (Pope Francis)<\/a> And it is a step toward integral ecology<\/a> \u2014for there can be no climate justice without \u201ca renewal of humanity itself\u201d. (Pope Francis, 118)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s needed is a Christian environmentalism: a concern for our common home grounded in our duties to God and to every human person. (Caritas in Veritate, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThis is the path to authentic climate justice.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Arguments](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/senate-debate-1024x576.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHow Best to Address Politically<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201c[W]hat does it mean, in practical terms<\/strong>, to promote moral truth in the world of politics\u2026?<\/p>\n\n- It means acting in a responsible way on the basis of an objective and integral<\/strong>
\nknowledge of the facts<\/strong>;<\/li>\n- deconstructing political ideologies<\/strong> which end up supplanting truth and
\nhuman dignity in order to promote pseudo-values under the pretext of peace,
\ndevelopment and human rights;<\/li>\n- fostering an unswerving commitment<\/strong> to base positive law on the principles of the natural law<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 12)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Has the Case Been Made Effectively?<\/h4>\n<\/h1>\nNO!<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSince the topic of climate change is clearly political, resolution must entail public education and debate<\/strong>.\u00a0This requires addressing climate change starting from Catholic social teaching principles rather than from positions.<\/p>\n\u2018People of goodwill\u2019 should dialogue<\/strong> - and they can disagree on \u201cpositions\u201d \u2013 as long as their prudential judgement is well formed (ala Pope Benedict XVI\u2019s \u2018matrix\u2019 above and a deep internalization of Catholic social teaching principles.)<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Our Influence is Uncertain<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Climate Change is a Fact<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\u201cThe climate is a common good<\/strong>, belonging to all and meant for all.\u201d<\/h5>\nPope Francis, 23<\/a><\/h5>\n\u201cChristians, in particular, realize that their responsibility within creation and their duty towards nature<\/strong> and the Creator are an essential part of their faith<\/strong>.\u201d<\/h5>\nPope St. John Paul II, 15<\/a><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tA \u2018Topic\u2019 for Catholic Social Teaching?<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n
YES!<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIn his desire to have and to enjoy rather than to be and to grow, man consumes<\/strong> the resources of the earth and his own life in an<\/strong> excessive and disordered way<\/strong>\u2026In this regard, humanity today must be conscious of its duties and obligations towards future generations.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"The<\/strong> earth is a precious gift of the Creator<\/strong>, who has designed its intrinsic order, thus giving us guidelines to which we must hold ourselves as stewards of his creation\u2026In my recent Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, I referred more than once to such questions.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIt is my hope that this Encyclical Letter (Laudato Si\u2019), which is now added to the body of the Church\u2019s social teaching, can help us to acknowledge the appeal, immensity and urgency of the challenge we face.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Francis, 15)<\/a><\/p>\nClimate Change is one topic among a myriad of ecological and environmental issues facing us. In Solidarity with our fellow man, the Church insists we have a responsibility<\/strong> to<\/strong> evaluate and prioritize<\/strong> environmental issues and, using our prudential judgment<\/strong>, address as many of those so prioritized as we can.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHowever...<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIt is complicated:<\/strong> To be sure, change in climate is a fact of science<\/strong>. The extent to which human activity<\/strong> influences it is not settled science<\/strong>. As well, whether some measures proposed to reduce emissions will do more harm than good<\/strong> is also not a settled matter<\/strong>. Pressing ahead as though these things are settled matters may make the Church look less like responsible stewards of God\u2019s creation and more like political agents.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAddressing Climate Change<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWho is Responsible?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201c[T]he direct duty to work for a just ordering of society\u2026is proper to the lay faithful<\/strong>\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 29)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nIt is up to the lay faithful to implement Catholic social teaching in the world: Gaudium et Spes (the Pastoral Constitution On The Church In The Modern World) establishes this responsibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy. It is a moral obligation.<\/strong> For Christians, the responsibility is even greater: it is a commandment.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Francis, 3.1)<\/a><\/em><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIs it a Political Issue?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tClearly, in the US<\/strong>, the answer is \u2018yes\u2019<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\nOne political party committed the country to a significant international accord<\/strong> on the topic (The Paris Agreement)<\/em> and has proposed a \u201cGreen New Deal\u201d<\/em> which would allocate tremendous resources to it; the<\/strong> other party has withdrawn the US from the international accord<\/strong> and opposes the other party\u2019s current proposals.<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFulfilling My Obligation<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201c[T]he formation of just structures\u2026belongs to the world of politics\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 29)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cPolitics is an essential means of building human community and institutions\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Francis)<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cWe, Christians, cannot \u2018play Pilate\u2019 and wash our hands\u2026We must participate in politics because politics is one of the highest forms of charity<\/strong> because it seeks the common good. And Christian lay people must work in politics.\u201d (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/p>\nPope Francis recognizes that this \u201cis not easy<\/strong>; politics has become too tainted. But I ask myself: Why has it become<\/strong> tainted? Because Christians have not participated<\/strong> in politics with an evangelical spirit? \u2026To work for the common good is a Christian duty, and many times the way in which to work towards it is through politics.\u201d (Address to the Students of the Jesuit Schools of Italy and Albania, June 7, 2013)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIn Pursuit of Climate Justice<\/span><\/h4>\nThe Catholic Church affirms our responsibility to care for our \u201ccommon home\u201d. (Environmental Degradation)<\/a> \u00a0Terms like \u201cclimate action\u201d and \u201cclimate justice\u201d are valid\u2014when understood through Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis welcomed efforts to advance climate justice (Laudato Si)<\/a> \u2014\u00a0seeing it as \u201can issue of intergenerational justice\u201d<\/span> (Message to IDLO)<\/a>. He insisted that justice is not a slogan but \u201cthe primary way of charity\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 60)<\/a> The Catechism defines justice as \u201cthe constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor\u201d \u00a0\u2014 it \u201cpromotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good\u201d. (CCC, 1807)<\/a> This duty rests on every Christian.<\/span><\/p>\nClimate justice,<\/strong> rightly understood, is an act of faith and a work of mercy. It promotes the Common Good.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nIt is not an ideology and is never isolated from the rest of Catholic teaching. Rather. It is a way to \u201cconnect us with God and to each other\u201d. (Pope Francis)<\/a> And it is a step toward integral ecology<\/a> \u2014for there can be no climate justice without \u201ca renewal of humanity itself\u201d. (Pope Francis, 118)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s needed is a Christian environmentalism: a concern for our common home grounded in our duties to God and to every human person. (Caritas in Veritate, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThis is the path to authentic climate justice.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIn Pursuit of Climate Justice<\/span><\/h4>\nThe Catholic Church affirms our responsibility to care for our \u201ccommon home\u201d. (Environmental Degradation)<\/a> \u00a0Terms like \u201cclimate action\u201d and \u201cclimate justice\u201d are valid\u2014when understood through Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis welcomed efforts to advance climate justice (Laudato Si)<\/a> \u2014\u00a0seeing it as \u201can issue of intergenerational justice\u201d<\/span> (Message to IDLO)<\/a>. He insisted that justice is not a slogan but \u201cthe primary way of charity\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 60)<\/a> The Catechism defines justice as \u201cthe constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor\u201d \u00a0\u2014 it \u201cpromotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good\u201d. (CCC, 1807)<\/a> This duty rests on every Christian.<\/span><\/p>\nClimate justice,<\/strong> rightly understood, is an act of faith and a work of mercy. It promotes the Common Good.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nIt is not an ideology and is never isolated from the rest of Catholic teaching. Rather. It is a way to \u201cconnect us with God and to each other\u201d. (Pope Francis)<\/a> And it is a step toward integral ecology<\/a> \u2014for there can be no climate justice without \u201ca renewal of humanity itself\u201d. (Pope Francis, 118)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s needed is a Christian environmentalism: a concern for our common home grounded in our duties to God and to every human person. (Caritas in Veritate, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThis is the path to authentic climate justice.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHow Best to Address Politically<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201c[W]hat does it mean, in practical terms<\/strong>, to promote moral truth in the world of politics\u2026?<\/p>\n\n- It means acting in a responsible way on the basis of an objective and integral<\/strong>
\nknowledge of the facts<\/strong>;<\/li>\n- deconstructing political ideologies<\/strong> which end up supplanting truth and
\nhuman dignity in order to promote pseudo-values under the pretext of peace,
\ndevelopment and human rights;<\/li>\n- fostering an unswerving commitment<\/strong> to base positive law on the principles of the natural law<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 12)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Has the Case Been Made Effectively?<\/h4>\n<\/h1>\nNO!<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSince the topic of climate change is clearly political, resolution must entail public education and debate<\/strong>.\u00a0This requires addressing climate change starting from Catholic social teaching principles rather than from positions.<\/p>\n\u2018People of goodwill\u2019 should dialogue<\/strong> - and they can disagree on \u201cpositions\u201d \u2013 as long as their prudential judgement is well formed (ala Pope Benedict XVI\u2019s \u2018matrix\u2019 above and a deep internalization of Catholic social teaching principles.)<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\u201cChristians, in particular, realize that their responsibility within creation and their duty towards nature<\/strong> and the Creator are an essential part of their faith<\/strong>.\u201d<\/h5>\nPope St. John Paul II, 15<\/a><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tA \u2018Topic\u2019 for Catholic Social Teaching?<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n
YES!<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIn his desire to have and to enjoy rather than to be and to grow, man consumes<\/strong> the resources of the earth and his own life in an<\/strong> excessive and disordered way<\/strong>\u2026In this regard, humanity today must be conscious of its duties and obligations towards future generations.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"The<\/strong> earth is a precious gift of the Creator<\/strong>, who has designed its intrinsic order, thus giving us guidelines to which we must hold ourselves as stewards of his creation\u2026In my recent Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, I referred more than once to such questions.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIt is my hope that this Encyclical Letter (Laudato Si\u2019), which is now added to the body of the Church\u2019s social teaching, can help us to acknowledge the appeal, immensity and urgency of the challenge we face.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Francis, 15)<\/a><\/p>\nClimate Change is one topic among a myriad of ecological and environmental issues facing us. In Solidarity with our fellow man, the Church insists we have a responsibility<\/strong> to<\/strong> evaluate and prioritize<\/strong> environmental issues and, using our prudential judgment<\/strong>, address as many of those so prioritized as we can.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHowever...<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIt is complicated:<\/strong> To be sure, change in climate is a fact of science<\/strong>. The extent to which human activity<\/strong> influences it is not settled science<\/strong>. As well, whether some measures proposed to reduce emissions will do more harm than good<\/strong> is also not a settled matter<\/strong>. Pressing ahead as though these things are settled matters may make the Church look less like responsible stewards of God\u2019s creation and more like political agents.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAddressing Climate Change<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWho is Responsible?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201c[T]he direct duty to work for a just ordering of society\u2026is proper to the lay faithful<\/strong>\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 29)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nIt is up to the lay faithful to implement Catholic social teaching in the world: Gaudium et Spes (the Pastoral Constitution On The Church In The Modern World) establishes this responsibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy. It is a moral obligation.<\/strong> For Christians, the responsibility is even greater: it is a commandment.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Francis, 3.1)<\/a><\/em><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIs it a Political Issue?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tClearly, in the US<\/strong>, the answer is \u2018yes\u2019<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\nOne political party committed the country to a significant international accord<\/strong> on the topic (The Paris Agreement)<\/em> and has proposed a \u201cGreen New Deal\u201d<\/em> which would allocate tremendous resources to it; the<\/strong> other party has withdrawn the US from the international accord<\/strong> and opposes the other party\u2019s current proposals.<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFulfilling My Obligation<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201c[T]he formation of just structures\u2026belongs to the world of politics\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 29)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cPolitics is an essential means of building human community and institutions\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Francis)<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cWe, Christians, cannot \u2018play Pilate\u2019 and wash our hands\u2026We must participate in politics because politics is one of the highest forms of charity<\/strong> because it seeks the common good. And Christian lay people must work in politics.\u201d (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/p>\nPope Francis recognizes that this \u201cis not easy<\/strong>; politics has become too tainted. But I ask myself: Why has it become<\/strong> tainted? Because Christians have not participated<\/strong> in politics with an evangelical spirit? \u2026To work for the common good is a Christian duty, and many times the way in which to work towards it is through politics.\u201d (Address to the Students of the Jesuit Schools of Italy and Albania, June 7, 2013)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIn Pursuit of Climate Justice<\/span><\/h4>\nThe Catholic Church affirms our responsibility to care for our \u201ccommon home\u201d. (Environmental Degradation)<\/a> \u00a0Terms like \u201cclimate action\u201d and \u201cclimate justice\u201d are valid\u2014when understood through Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis welcomed efforts to advance climate justice (Laudato Si)<\/a> \u2014\u00a0seeing it as \u201can issue of intergenerational justice\u201d<\/span> (Message to IDLO)<\/a>. He insisted that justice is not a slogan but \u201cthe primary way of charity\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 60)<\/a> The Catechism defines justice as \u201cthe constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor\u201d \u00a0\u2014 it \u201cpromotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good\u201d. (CCC, 1807)<\/a> This duty rests on every Christian.<\/span><\/p>\nClimate justice,<\/strong> rightly understood, is an act of faith and a work of mercy. It promotes the Common Good.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nIt is not an ideology and is never isolated from the rest of Catholic teaching. Rather. It is a way to \u201cconnect us with God and to each other\u201d. (Pope Francis)<\/a> And it is a step toward integral ecology<\/a> \u2014for there can be no climate justice without \u201ca renewal of humanity itself\u201d. (Pope Francis, 118)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s needed is a Christian environmentalism: a concern for our common home grounded in our duties to God and to every human person. (Caritas in Veritate, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThis is the path to authentic climate justice.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIn Pursuit of Climate Justice<\/span><\/h4>\nThe Catholic Church affirms our responsibility to care for our \u201ccommon home\u201d. (Environmental Degradation)<\/a> \u00a0Terms like \u201cclimate action\u201d and \u201cclimate justice\u201d are valid\u2014when understood through Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis welcomed efforts to advance climate justice (Laudato Si)<\/a> \u2014\u00a0seeing it as \u201can issue of intergenerational justice\u201d<\/span> (Message to IDLO)<\/a>. He insisted that justice is not a slogan but \u201cthe primary way of charity\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 60)<\/a> The Catechism defines justice as \u201cthe constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor\u201d \u00a0\u2014 it \u201cpromotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good\u201d. (CCC, 1807)<\/a> This duty rests on every Christian.<\/span><\/p>\nClimate justice,<\/strong> rightly understood, is an act of faith and a work of mercy. It promotes the Common Good.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nIt is not an ideology and is never isolated from the rest of Catholic teaching. Rather. It is a way to \u201cconnect us with God and to each other\u201d. (Pope Francis)<\/a> And it is a step toward integral ecology<\/a> \u2014for there can be no climate justice without \u201ca renewal of humanity itself\u201d. (Pope Francis, 118)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s needed is a Christian environmentalism: a concern for our common home grounded in our duties to God and to every human person. (Caritas in Veritate, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThis is the path to authentic climate justice.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHow Best to Address Politically<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201c[W]hat does it mean, in practical terms<\/strong>, to promote moral truth in the world of politics\u2026?<\/p>\n\n- It means acting in a responsible way on the basis of an objective and integral<\/strong>
\nknowledge of the facts<\/strong>;<\/li>\n- deconstructing political ideologies<\/strong> which end up supplanting truth and
\nhuman dignity in order to promote pseudo-values under the pretext of peace,
\ndevelopment and human rights;<\/li>\n- fostering an unswerving commitment<\/strong> to base positive law on the principles of the natural law<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 12)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Has the Case Been Made Effectively?<\/h4>\n<\/h1>\nNO!<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSince the topic of climate change is clearly political, resolution must entail public education and debate<\/strong>.\u00a0This requires addressing climate change starting from Catholic social teaching principles rather than from positions.<\/p>\n\u2018People of goodwill\u2019 should dialogue<\/strong> - and they can disagree on \u201cpositions\u201d \u2013 as long as their prudential judgement is well formed (ala Pope Benedict XVI\u2019s \u2018matrix\u2019 above and a deep internalization of Catholic social teaching principles.)<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
A \u2018Topic\u2019 for Catholic Social Teaching?<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n
YES!<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIn his desire to have and to enjoy rather than to be and to grow, man consumes<\/strong> the resources of the earth and his own life in an<\/strong> excessive and disordered way<\/strong>\u2026In this regard, humanity today must be conscious of its duties and obligations towards future generations.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"The<\/strong> earth is a precious gift of the Creator<\/strong>, who has designed its intrinsic order, thus giving us guidelines to which we must hold ourselves as stewards of his creation\u2026In my recent Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, I referred more than once to such questions.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIt is my hope that this Encyclical Letter (Laudato Si\u2019), which is now added to the body of the Church\u2019s social teaching, can help us to acknowledge the appeal, immensity and urgency of the challenge we face.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Francis, 15)<\/a><\/p>\nClimate Change is one topic among a myriad of ecological and environmental issues facing us. In Solidarity with our fellow man, the Church insists we have a responsibility<\/strong> to<\/strong> evaluate and prioritize<\/strong> environmental issues and, using our prudential judgment<\/strong>, address as many of those so prioritized as we can.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHowever...<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIt is complicated:<\/strong> To be sure, change in climate is a fact of science<\/strong>. The extent to which human activity<\/strong> influences it is not settled science<\/strong>. As well, whether some measures proposed to reduce emissions will do more harm than good<\/strong> is also not a settled matter<\/strong>. Pressing ahead as though these things are settled matters may make the Church look less like responsible stewards of God\u2019s creation and more like political agents.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAddressing Climate Change<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWho is Responsible?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201c[T]he direct duty to work for a just ordering of society\u2026is proper to the lay faithful<\/strong>\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 29)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\nIt is up to the lay faithful to implement Catholic social teaching in the world: Gaudium et Spes (the Pastoral Constitution On The Church In The Modern World) establishes this responsibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy. It is a moral obligation.<\/strong> For Christians, the responsibility is even greater: it is a commandment.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Francis, 3.1)<\/a><\/em><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIs it a Political Issue?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tClearly, in the US<\/strong>, the answer is \u2018yes\u2019<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\nOne political party committed the country to a significant international accord<\/strong> on the topic (The Paris Agreement)<\/em> and has proposed a \u201cGreen New Deal\u201d<\/em> which would allocate tremendous resources to it; the<\/strong> other party has withdrawn the US from the international accord<\/strong> and opposes the other party\u2019s current proposals.<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFulfilling My Obligation<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201c[T]he formation of just structures\u2026belongs to the world of politics\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 29)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cPolitics is an essential means of building human community and institutions\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Francis)<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cWe, Christians, cannot \u2018play Pilate\u2019 and wash our hands\u2026We must participate in politics because politics is one of the highest forms of charity<\/strong> because it seeks the common good. And Christian lay people must work in politics.\u201d (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/p>\nPope Francis recognizes that this \u201cis not easy<\/strong>; politics has become too tainted. But I ask myself: Why has it become<\/strong> tainted? Because Christians have not participated<\/strong> in politics with an evangelical spirit? \u2026To work for the common good is a Christian duty, and many times the way in which to work towards it is through politics.\u201d (Address to the Students of the Jesuit Schools of Italy and Albania, June 7, 2013)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIn Pursuit of Climate Justice<\/span><\/h4>\nThe Catholic Church affirms our responsibility to care for our \u201ccommon home\u201d. (Environmental Degradation)<\/a> \u00a0Terms like \u201cclimate action\u201d and \u201cclimate justice\u201d are valid\u2014when understood through Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis welcomed efforts to advance climate justice (Laudato Si)<\/a> \u2014\u00a0seeing it as \u201can issue of intergenerational justice\u201d<\/span> (Message to IDLO)<\/a>. He insisted that justice is not a slogan but \u201cthe primary way of charity\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 60)<\/a> The Catechism defines justice as \u201cthe constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor\u201d \u00a0\u2014 it \u201cpromotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good\u201d. (CCC, 1807)<\/a> This duty rests on every Christian.<\/span><\/p>\nClimate justice,<\/strong> rightly understood, is an act of faith and a work of mercy. It promotes the Common Good.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nIt is not an ideology and is never isolated from the rest of Catholic teaching. Rather. It is a way to \u201cconnect us with God and to each other\u201d. (Pope Francis)<\/a> And it is a step toward integral ecology<\/a> \u2014for there can be no climate justice without \u201ca renewal of humanity itself\u201d. (Pope Francis, 118)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s needed is a Christian environmentalism: a concern for our common home grounded in our duties to God and to every human person. (Caritas in Veritate, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThis is the path to authentic climate justice.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIn Pursuit of Climate Justice<\/span><\/h4>\nThe Catholic Church affirms our responsibility to care for our \u201ccommon home\u201d. (Environmental Degradation)<\/a> \u00a0Terms like \u201cclimate action\u201d and \u201cclimate justice\u201d are valid\u2014when understood through Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis welcomed efforts to advance climate justice (Laudato Si)<\/a> \u2014\u00a0seeing it as \u201can issue of intergenerational justice\u201d<\/span> (Message to IDLO)<\/a>. He insisted that justice is not a slogan but \u201cthe primary way of charity\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 60)<\/a> The Catechism defines justice as \u201cthe constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor\u201d \u00a0\u2014 it \u201cpromotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good\u201d. (CCC, 1807)<\/a> This duty rests on every Christian.<\/span><\/p>\nClimate justice,<\/strong> rightly understood, is an act of faith and a work of mercy. It promotes the Common Good.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nIt is not an ideology and is never isolated from the rest of Catholic teaching. Rather. It is a way to \u201cconnect us with God and to each other\u201d. (Pope Francis)<\/a> And it is a step toward integral ecology<\/a> \u2014for there can be no climate justice without \u201ca renewal of humanity itself\u201d. (Pope Francis, 118)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s needed is a Christian environmentalism: a concern for our common home grounded in our duties to God and to every human person. (Caritas in Veritate, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThis is the path to authentic climate justice.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHow Best to Address Politically<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201c[W]hat does it mean, in practical terms<\/strong>, to promote moral truth in the world of politics\u2026?<\/p>\n\n- It means acting in a responsible way on the basis of an objective and integral<\/strong>
\nknowledge of the facts<\/strong>;<\/li>\n- deconstructing political ideologies<\/strong> which end up supplanting truth and
\nhuman dignity in order to promote pseudo-values under the pretext of peace,
\ndevelopment and human rights;<\/li>\n- fostering an unswerving commitment<\/strong> to base positive law on the principles of the natural law<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 12)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Has the Case Been Made Effectively?<\/h4>\n<\/h1>\nNO!<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSince the topic of climate change is clearly political, resolution must entail public education and debate<\/strong>.\u00a0This requires addressing climate change starting from Catholic social teaching principles rather than from positions.<\/p>\n\u2018People of goodwill\u2019 should dialogue<\/strong> - and they can disagree on \u201cpositions\u201d \u2013 as long as their prudential judgement is well formed (ala Pope Benedict XVI\u2019s \u2018matrix\u2019 above and a deep internalization of Catholic social teaching principles.)<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\u201cIn his desire to have and to enjoy rather than to be and to grow, man consumes<\/strong> the resources of the earth and his own life in an<\/strong> excessive and disordered way<\/strong>\u2026In this regard, humanity today must be conscious of its duties and obligations towards future generations.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \"The<\/strong> earth is a precious gift of the Creator<\/strong>, who has designed its intrinsic order, thus giving us guidelines to which we must hold ourselves as stewards of his creation\u2026In my recent Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, I referred more than once to such questions.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \u201cIt is my hope that this Encyclical Letter (Laudato Si\u2019), which is now added to the body of the Church\u2019s social teaching, can help us to acknowledge the appeal, immensity and urgency of the challenge we face.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Francis, 15)<\/a><\/p>\n Climate Change is one topic among a myriad of ecological and environmental issues facing us. In Solidarity with our fellow man, the Church insists we have a responsibility<\/strong> to<\/strong> evaluate and prioritize<\/strong> environmental issues and, using our prudential judgment<\/strong>, address as many of those so prioritized as we can.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> It is complicated:<\/strong> To be sure, change in climate is a fact of science<\/strong>. The extent to which human activity<\/strong> influences it is not settled science<\/strong>. As well, whether some measures proposed to reduce emissions will do more harm than good<\/strong> is also not a settled matter<\/strong>. Pressing ahead as though these things are settled matters may make the Church look less like responsible stewards of God\u2019s creation and more like political agents.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> It is up to the lay faithful to implement Catholic social teaching in the world: Gaudium et Spes (the Pastoral Constitution On The Church In The Modern World) establishes this responsibility.<\/p>\n \u201cWorking for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy. It is a moral obligation.<\/strong> For Christians, the responsibility is even greater: it is a commandment.\u201d\u00a0(Pope Francis, 3.1)<\/a><\/em><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> One political party committed the country to a significant international accord<\/strong> on the topic (The Paris Agreement)<\/em> and has proposed a \u201cGreen New Deal\u201d<\/em> which would allocate tremendous resources to it; the<\/strong> other party has withdrawn the US from the international accord<\/strong> and opposes the other party\u2019s current proposals.<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \u201c[T]he formation of just structures\u2026belongs to the world of politics\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 29)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cPolitics is an essential means of building human community and institutions\u201d.\u00a0(Pope Francis)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe, Christians, cannot \u2018play Pilate\u2019 and wash our hands\u2026We must participate in politics because politics is one of the highest forms of charity<\/strong> because it seeks the common good. And Christian lay people must work in politics.\u201d (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/p>\n Pope Francis recognizes that this \u201cis not easy<\/strong>; politics has become too tainted. But I ask myself: Why has it become<\/strong> tainted? Because Christians have not participated<\/strong> in politics with an evangelical spirit? \u2026To work for the common good is a Christian duty, and many times the way in which to work towards it is through politics.\u201d (Address to the Students of the Jesuit Schools of Italy and Albania, June 7, 2013)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> The Catholic Church affirms our responsibility to care for our \u201ccommon home\u201d. (Environmental Degradation)<\/a> \u00a0Terms like \u201cclimate action\u201d and \u201cclimate justice\u201d are valid\u2014when understood through Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Pope Francis welcomed efforts to advance climate justice (Laudato Si)<\/a> \u2014\u00a0seeing it as \u201can issue of intergenerational justice\u201d<\/span> (Message to IDLO)<\/a>. He insisted that justice is not a slogan but \u201cthe primary way of charity\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 60)<\/a> The Catechism defines justice as \u201cthe constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor\u201d \u00a0\u2014 it \u201cpromotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good\u201d. (CCC, 1807)<\/a> This duty rests on every Christian.<\/span><\/p>\n Climate justice,<\/strong> rightly understood, is an act of faith and a work of mercy. It promotes the Common Good.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n It is not an ideology and is never isolated from the rest of Catholic teaching. Rather. It is a way to \u201cconnect us with God and to each other\u201d. (Pope Francis)<\/a> And it is a step toward integral ecology<\/a> \u2014for there can be no climate justice without \u201ca renewal of humanity itself\u201d. (Pope Francis, 118)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n What\u2019s needed is a Christian environmentalism: a concern for our common home grounded in our duties to God and to every human person. (Caritas in Veritate, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n This is the path to authentic climate justice.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> The Catholic Church affirms our responsibility to care for our \u201ccommon home\u201d. (Environmental Degradation)<\/a> \u00a0Terms like \u201cclimate action\u201d and \u201cclimate justice\u201d are valid\u2014when understood through Catholic social teaching.<\/span><\/p>\n Pope Francis welcomed efforts to advance climate justice (Laudato Si)<\/a> \u2014\u00a0seeing it as \u201can issue of intergenerational justice\u201d<\/span> (Message to IDLO)<\/a>. He insisted that justice is not a slogan but \u201cthe primary way of charity\u201d. (Caritas in Veritate, 60)<\/a> The Catechism defines justice as \u201cthe constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor\u201d \u00a0\u2014 it \u201cpromotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good\u201d. (CCC, 1807)<\/a> This duty rests on every Christian.<\/span><\/p>\n Climate justice,<\/strong> rightly understood, is an act of faith and a work of mercy. It promotes the Common Good.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n It is not an ideology and is never isolated from the rest of Catholic teaching. Rather. It is a way to \u201cconnect us with God and to each other\u201d. (Pope Francis)<\/a> And it is a step toward integral ecology<\/a> \u2014for there can be no climate justice without \u201ca renewal of humanity itself\u201d. (Pope Francis, 118)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n What\u2019s needed is a Christian environmentalism: a concern for our common home grounded in our duties to God and to every human person. (Caritas in Veritate, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n This is the path to authentic climate justice.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> \u2018People of goodwill\u2019 should dialogue<\/strong> - and they can disagree on \u201cpositions\u201d \u2013 as long as their prudential judgement is well formed (ala Pope Benedict XVI\u2019s \u2018matrix\u2019 above and a deep internalization of Catholic social teaching principles.)<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>Read More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
However...<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Addressing Climate Change<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Who is Responsible?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Is it a Political Issue?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Fulfilling My Obligation<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
In Pursuit of Climate Justice<\/span><\/h4>\n
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>In Pursuit of Climate Justice<\/span><\/h4>\n
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>How Best to Address Politically<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n
\nknowledge of the facts<\/strong>;<\/li>\n
\nhuman dignity in order to promote pseudo-values under the pretext of peace,
\ndevelopment and human rights;<\/li>\nHas the Case Been Made Effectively?<\/h4>\n
<\/h1>\n
NO!<\/span><\/h4>\n