As U.S. Visit Nears, Pope Francis Points to Climate Change

As U.S. Visit Nears, Pope Francis Points to Climate Change

by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D. 12 Sep 2015

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/09/12/as-u-s-visit-nears-pope-francis-points-to-climate-change/

As Pope Francis prepares to embark on his first trip ever to the United States, on Friday he spoke of the “urgency of climate change” while indicating two “crucial events” looming on the ecological horizon: the approval of the objectives of sustainable development by the United Nations at the end of this month and the Paris Climate Conference at the beginning of December.

The Pope was addressing a meeting organized by the “Foundation for Sustainable Development,” a Rome-based nonprofit think tank, on the topic of environmental justice and climate change.

The climate, Francis said, is a common good, that is now seriously threatened, as shown by phenomena such as climate change, global warming and the increase in extreme weather events.

The Pope said that the issue of climate change is “hotly debated” by scientists and politicians, and although he indicated an “emerging consensus,” Francis acknowledged that it is “not unanimous.”

Last May, the Pope released an encyclical letter called Laudato Sì, on “the care for our common home,” dealing with a string of environmental topics, including climate change, in which he encouraged open debate and discussion on environmental issues.

On Friday, the Pope said that climate change carries with it “serious social implications” and stated that “it is the poorest who suffer the consequences with the greatest severity!”

With a nod to climate skeptics, Francis invited everyone to the table to discuss responsible stewardship of the environment, recognizing that no one has all the answers. Responsibility means a willingness to dialogue, he said, “and accepting that one’s own contribution will be called into question.”

The Pope called for a “transparent” dialogue including all stakeholders, which may come as a welcome remark after many who question the science behind global warming felt excluded from talks in the Vatican last spring, where opposing voices were silenced.

In June, Bishop Mario Toso, who co-wrote the first draft of the Pope’s encyclical, denied that Pope Francis had any intention of “canonizing” scientific theories regarding climate change, but only wished to assert his authority on the moral level.

Toso, who was secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the time of the drafting of the encyclical, said that in the encyclical letter the Pope sought to offer “reflections on the anthropological and ethical issues” related to the care of creation, but that he did not wish to “impose” the results of scientific studies on anyone or to confer his moral authority on scientific opinions.

“Everyone knows that many opinions today considered ‘scientific’ are not irrefutable or incontrovertible,” he said.

Catholic

Pope Francis I is the pope for the Roman Catholic Church.

Note: Daniel N. DiNardo is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Timothy M. Dolan is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Roger M. Mahony is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and was a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Adam J. Maida is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and was a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Edwin F. O'Brien is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and was a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Sean Patrick O'Malley is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Justin Francis Rigali is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and was a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Edward M. Egan was a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Francis E. George was a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Carolyn Y. Woo is a trustee at the Catholic University of America, and the president & CEO for the Catholic Relief Services.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Catholic Relief Services, the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), the Human Rights Watch, and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was a benefactor at the Human Rights Watch, a supporter for the Center for American Progress, and the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Human Rights Watch, the Center for American Progress, the Climate Reality Project, and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

John J. Studzinski is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), a director at the Human Rights Watch, and a papal knighthood knight.

papal knighthood is an honor conferred by pope from the Roman Catholic Church.

Morton H. Halperin is a senior adviser at the Open Society Foundations, a director at the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.  

Kenneth F. Hackett was a director at the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the president of the Catholic Relief Services.

Michael Ryan was the VP for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and a controller for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Christine Todd Whitman was a director at the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and an administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Cassandra Q. Butts  is a senior adviser for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, was a deputy White House counsel for the Barack Obama administration, and the SVP for the Center for American Progress.

Carol M. Browner is a director, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, was the energy czar for the Barack Obama administration, an administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and a director at the Climate Reality Project.

Climate Reality Project is a merged organization with the Alliance for Climate Protection, and was a merged organization with The Climate Project.

Albert A. Gore Jr. is the chairman for the Climate Reality Project, and a senior adviser for Google Inc.

Google Inc. was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Sheryl K. Sandberg was a VP for Google Inc., a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and is a director at the ONE Campaign.

Susan McCue was the founding president & CEO for the ONE Campaign, and is a director at the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

Dana J. Hyde is the CEO for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and was an attorney at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

Cameron F. Kerry was an associate at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, is John F. Kerry’s brother, and a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

John F. Kerry is Cameron F. Kerry’s brother, the secretary at the U.S. Department of State for the Barack Obama administration, and married to Teresa Heinz Kerry.

Teresa Heinz Kerry is married to John F. Kerry, an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), the chair for the Heinz Endowments, was married to H. John Heinz III, and Donald W. Wuerl was the deacon at her wedding to John Heinz III.

Drue Heinz is a director emeritus at the Heinz Endowments, a director at The Paris Review, and was H. John Heinz III’s stepmother.

H. John Heinz III was married to Teresa Heinz Kerry, and Drue Heinz’s stepson.

Donald W. Wuerl was the deacon at Teresa Heinz Kerry’s wedding to John Heinz III, a trustee at the Catholic University of America, and a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church.

Carolyn Y. Woo is a trustee at the Catholic University of America, and the president & CEO for the Catholic Relief Services.

Pope Francis I is the pope for the Roman Catholic Church.

papal knighthood is an honor conferred by pope from the Roman Catholic Church.

Carl A. Anderson is a trustee at the Catholic University of America, a supreme knight for the Knights of Columbus, a board member for the Vatican Bank, was a commissioner for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation.

Vatican Bank is the bank for the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church.

Mikhail Gorbachev is an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation, was the general secretary for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

Arnold Palmer is an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation, and a member of the Augusta National Golf Club.

Warren E. Buffett is a member of the Augusta National Golf Club, and Susan A. Buffett & Howard G. Buffett’s father.  

Susan A. Buffett is Warren E. Buffett’s daughter, and a director at the ONE Campaign.

Howard G. Buffett is Warren E. Buffett’s son, and a director at the ONE Campaign.

Susan McCue was the founding president & CEO for the ONE Campaign, and is a director at the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

Dana J. Hyde is the CEO for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and was an attorney at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

Cameron F. Kerry was an associate at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, is John F. Kerry’s brother, and a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Francis E. George was a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

R. Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Newton N. Minow is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP, and an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

United Nations Foundation is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

Ted Turner is the chairman for the United Nations Foundation, and an honorary board member for Green Cross International.

Green Cross International

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Cross_International#Honorary_Board

Ted Turner (USA) is an honorary board member for Green Cross International.

Mikhail Gorbachev is the founder for Green Cross International, an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation, was the general secretary for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

Carl A. Anderson was an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation, a commissioner for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, is a trustee at the Catholic University of America, a supreme knight for the Knights of Columbus, and a board member for the Vatican Bank.

Vatican Bank is the bank for the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Francis I is the pope for the Roman Catholic Church.

Daniel N. DiNardo is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Timothy M. Dolan is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Roger M. Mahony is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and was a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Adam J. Maida is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and was a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Edwin F. O'Brien is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and was a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Sean Patrick O'Malley is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Justin Francis Rigali is a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and was a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Edward M. Egan was a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Francis E. George was a cardinal for the Roman Catholic Church, and a trustee at the Catholic University of America.

Carolyn Y. Woo is a trustee at the Catholic University of America, and the president & CEO for the Catholic Relief Services.