Irish bishops call faithful to action on climate change
November 11, 2009
The Catholic bishops of Ireland have released a “pastoral reflection on climate change,” entitled The Cry of the Earth, calling for an “ecological conversion” among the faithful and encouraging every parish to audit its own environmental practices.
At a press conference in Dublin announcing the release of the statement, Archbishop Dermot Clifford of Cashel and Emly said that in preparing their statement the bishops had relied on scientists’ testimony. “They leave us in no doubt that the temperature of the earth has been on the rise since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution two hundred and fifty years ago,” he said. The continuation of that trend, he continued, would lead to “more heat waves, floods, storms, fire, droughts and famines. These will cause death or displacement for hundred millions of people.”
Following a section devoted to that scientific analysis of the evidence of climate change and its likely consequences, The Cry of the Earth offers the bishops’ pastoral reflections on Christian stewardship over creation, and practical advice on lowering carbon emissions. The document and an accompanying DVD will be sent to every Irish parish, with a request that the faithful learn about the environmental issue and take appropriate action.
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Posted by: filioque -
Nov. 14, 2009 7:48 PM ET USA
This certainly demonstrates the limits of infallibility. The bishops cite scientific pronouncements that the earth is warming and urge us to stop this horrible trend. A little Christian humility would help: there is zero evidence that human activity drives climate change, which has always happened and always will. Water in the atmosphere causes about 90% of the greenhouse effect; CO2 is a negligible player. Read "Unstoppable Global Warming: Every 1500 Years" for the science references.
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Posted by: Universal -
Nov. 14, 2009 7:43 PM ET USA
The real risk is that billions of people will truly die and be displaced eternally. The bishops must first get that message across. Once that homework is done - you can get to the electives.
