God and Other Topics
Source: News from The Associated Press
In the matter of what is proper Catholic doctrine and what isn’t, there is probably no higher authority than the Pope. Whomever occupies that role has spent their entire life at being a scholar of the history of the teachings of the Church. If you were on a TV show and a god question was posed of you, it’s likely that the Pope would be one of your lifeline calls.
I cast serious doubts as to whether the topic of global warming ever came up in the scholarly studies that all Catholic priests are required to master. If it has, then all Popes before this one have been negligent by never having discussed it during their reigns. While Pope Francis tries to link global warming to the suffering of people in poorer countries, I can think of at least one other cause of mass suffering that he can address; that of the stupidity of the products that come out of the entertainment business.
There’s plenty to address in the matter of human frailties in the world including the classic ones of greed, corruption and general evilness. Whatever happened to the classic pleas on behalf of global poverty, starving kids and world peace? There’s no shortage of affronts to humanity that he can target with his critical words. The nebulous claims of the global warming crowd should be well down the list of issues facing mankind. In a quote from his interview, he says,
“Those who deny this must go to the scientists and ask them. They speak very clearly,” he said, referring to experts who blame global warming on man-made activities…”
Which scientists? When you read that “scientists have all agreed on the science”, it should give pause to anyone, since unlike the god business, science is not about agreement, it’s about empirical evidence that can be measured. In fact, there are plenty of dissenting scientific views on global warming, but somehow, the ‘consensus’ is already in. Well, I think many will want a recount on that consensus. As far as speaking clearly, the only common solution that ever arises from the sage scientists are more taxes on western economies.
Imagine if football broadcasters Al Michaels and Chris Collinsworth were to comment on the policies of the Catholic Church. Interesting perhaps, but they don’t have any more credibility than the next guy. We look to them for football opinions, not for topics clearly out of their lane.
When a figure with the gravitas of The Pope makes a pronouncement on a topic, people pay attention. It’s not like Jennifer Lawrence or Bill Maher making inane and obtuse comments. The Pope should be speaking from a position of knowledge and perspective. Clearly, his expertise is in the saving of souls business, not in the saving the planet racket. That’s for non god fearing lawyers and politicians.