Laudato Si' arrives | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I am briefly responding to MSW's comments and after I read the Encyclical, may comment at length. I am also interested in hearing whether the final version and the supposed leaked draft were at all similar. Now to MSW's points:
1. I would not expect an Encyclical without scriptural quotes, which provide the context of why any encyclical is important - because they are an extension of the Gospel (something the Protestants don't get). I love the fact that he cited his All Holiness as an equal, if not a superior. That kind of humility is what is needed to renew western Christianity, since it removes the objections to papism. On the text itself, I will need to read it (there is no link) to see how it was treated - as tradition and myth or fact (which I doubt this Pope would do - as it would be ironic to adopt science on climate change and deny it on evolution - my have we come along way in a century since Pius X condemned Modernism).
2. The quotes from St. Francis are charming and bring to mind the vitality of one of my old college friend's father. I can see Francis that way, both past and present. Will that be enough to force the powers that be in the technocracy to repent? I doubt it - no matter what star quality the Holy Father brings to the party. It will take a demand from many more people for more than environmental justice but also economic justice - and a hope that this does not simply add more consumers and make matters worse.
3. The Church has come a long way since Gallileo was condemned for calling the old geocentric paradigm of creation erroneous and calling into question the position of man, and with him, God, as the center of the universe. Now we are affirming science and affirming that God resides with the poor, not the powerful. The powerful don't like that, especially those who see their power as coming from God, not as a gift but something merited. It is odd that salvation is free and not a matter of merit but wealth is an earned benefit.
4. I like where the Pope went on economic justice for workers. I wish he had gone farther in calling for workers to be made not only partial, but full owners with full control, replacing hierarchism with democracy. Of course, since the Holy Father and I don't speak and he apparently does not read my blog, the omission is not surprising. Indeed, if he had called for workplace ownership and democracy, he would very quickly have to allow the faithful to elect their own bishops rather than having him make the final choices. I could see him sending the tierna to the people for a vote and I could see the local clergy doing it. It would be off putting to demand democracy on the shop floor and not implement it in the Church.
5. I don't see Francis as a Green, unless he does do the democracy thing, but his comments certainly do qualify him for membership in Occupy! Welcome brother Jorge! As for personal ecology, it is not easy. Getting all the right trash and recycle bins takes effort, as does collecting them. Buying food that does not send killing chemicals into the Severn River and the Bay is almost impossible, although my sister and current hostess tries. Even more expensive would be to grow your own food with customized lighting (actually better for the plants, it really is a miracle we eat at all given how much of sunlight is toxic to growing) and a larger house (or a Condo Unit!). Employee onwership looks more essential all the time. Indeed, it would take that much change in living to really open the hearts and minds of most people, just as living in more humble quarters in both Buenos Aires and Rome remind Francis of his lifestyle choices. St. Francis of Assisi could have been a great spiritual writer, but it would have meant nothing had he not renounced wealth first. We could live at harmony with Earth, but it will take cooperation with each other to do it. Just making the poor richer will simply make matters worse.
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