The Telegraph reports that Pope Francis is finalising an encyclical on climate change, scheduled to be released in a few weeks’ time.
Whereas his predecessor Benedict XVI was a sceptic in these matters, Francis is convinced that man is responsible for climate change.
Yet, there are also natural factors to consider, such as sun activity. The British long-range weather forecaster Piers Corbyn has made it his mission to study solar movements and track the related drops in temperature as well as the increase in storms and natural disasters. Corbyn doubts the climate change hypothesis — some would say truth — of the CO2 crowd:
WeatherAction is involved in the Global Warming /Climate Change debate where we point out that the world is now cooling not warming and there is no observational evidence in the thousands and millions of years of data that changes in CO2 have any effect on weather or climate. There are no scientists in the world who can produce such observational data. There is only effect the other way, namely that ocean temperatures control average CO2 levels.
My readers will no doubt be more familiar with the long-running Watts Up With That? which is an excellent source of information questioning the received paradigms on climate change.
First, it would be helpful if Pope Francis came out with a balanced statement, although it is likely to be one that pounds the middle classes for being too wasteful, thereby harming the environment. It seems unlikely that individual human acts can so significantly alter climate. It is also doubtful that even emerging countries disregarding the adoption of Western-style clean air legislation could accomplish this. The forces of nature and God’s sovereignty are much more powerful.
Secondly, it will be interesting to see exactly how Francis posits this encyclical with Catholics. Will he declare it infallible until the next Pope changes tack? Who knows? In any event, practising Catholics are obliged to obey or at least give serious consideration to this upcoming position paper.
It will be interesting to see what Francis has to say.
Churchmouse Campanologist 
26 comments
May 3, 2015 at 9:52 pm
john spizziri
should he?… no what matters most in this realm of speculation is will he. In these matters I always ask myself the following question,” what would I do if I woke up next morning and discovered that I had turned into a duck?
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May 3, 2015 at 10:03 pm
churchmouse
As I understand it, it is expected within the next few weeks, as the first sentence stated.
Thanks for stopping by to read and to comment.
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May 3, 2015 at 10:15 pm
john in cheshire
As a Catholic, I despair at what the Catholic Church professes. If I could influence the Pope, I’d ask him to read the Bible and do what Jesus commands us to do. I suppose my views are anathema, well so be it. Jesus is my lord, not the Pope or Jesus’ mother, Mary. God’s work won’t be done until all muslims have heard the truth and either accepted or rejected the good news. Only then will the end times begin. Any moves to a world religion are just satanic and the instigators and followers are headed for a bad end.
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May 3, 2015 at 10:27 pm
churchmouse
Thanks, John — greatly appreciated.
‘If I could influence the Pope, I’d ask him to read the Bible and do what Jesus commands us to do.’ Could it be that you are well on the way to becoming a Protestant? (Not meant in sarcasm, just the truth of what you have written.)
Agree that a syncretic manmade ‘world religion’ is not what is mandated. It would be another Tower of Babel and a disaster here and on Judgement Day.
Thanks for commenting.
Enjoy your Bank Holiday Monday!
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May 3, 2015 at 10:40 pm
john in cheshire
CM, yep I reckon I’m one of them heretical Protestants. How wonderful is that, eh? Though I’ve never till now regarded myself as such. I thought I was a Christian; how complicated could that be. I don’t think it is; it’s man, or perhaps satan, who muddies the waters. Anyway you too have a good bank holiday.
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May 3, 2015 at 10:41 pm
churchmouse
Thank you!
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May 3, 2015 at 11:14 pm
The Gospel of Barney
Not going to help Roman Catholic credibility!
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May 3, 2015 at 11:34 pm
churchmouse
Not for us, but, as far as Catholics are concerned, I’m not sure. Some of my relatives (I was raised a Catholic) absolutely love the Pope. He can do no wrong. (sigh)
Another Galileo moment, I expect — given time.
An encyclical is the doggone wrong thing to do. That said, I’m relieved Francis didn’t put his ‘insult my mother and I’ll punch you in the face’ into an infallible statement of doctrine. Oh, my.
Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your week — and hope you are feeling better!
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May 3, 2015 at 11:54 pm
The Gospel of Barney
He has done so much good, for that I respect him!
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May 3, 2015 at 11:55 pm
churchmouse
Pope Francis?
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May 4, 2015 at 12:04 am
churchmouse
Although I said I was raised a Catholic, that does not imply I am still one.
I became an Episcopalian in 1984 and am an Anglican today.
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May 4, 2015 at 12:42 am
The Gospel of Barney
In restoring the notion of servant hood.
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May 4, 2015 at 12:59 am
churchmouse
Okay, I hadn’t thought of that. However, for what it’s worth …
I am still thinking of washing the feet of criminals (his first Maundy Thursday) when most of the female inmates did not know what a) a Catholic was and b) what the ritual was about. They laughed.
Personally, Pope Francis is not one whom I would highly esteem. However, everyone has his or her own opinion. Other clergy do servanthood much better.
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May 4, 2015 at 4:38 am
John J Flanagan
I would like to join the chorus of voices asking the Pope to decline to write an encyclical on climate change, since it is not his area of expertise. But come to think of it….neither is the Bible.
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May 4, 2015 at 10:13 pm
churchmouse
Thank you very much for both of your points.
The latter sounded reminiscent of Calvin’s love of astronomy and saying that he couldn’t find more about it in Scripture — hence, the Bible is not a science book.
Have a good week ahead!
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May 5, 2015 at 8:16 pm
Agellius
He can’t declare a document to be infallible, only a teaching, and the teaching must have to do with faith and morals and be based on revealed truth. There is no danger of his doing so with regard to global warming, which is a matter of scientific findings and the most prudent ways of responding to them. But you’re right, as Catholics we would be obliged to seriously and prayerfully consider what he has to say.
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May 5, 2015 at 10:18 pm
churchmouse
I’m thinking climate change could be proposed the same way. Many clergy — regardless of denomination — take it very seriously, as if the average parishoner or congregant is to blame.
However, I hope you are right.
That said, it begs the question of, ‘Why an encyclical?’
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May 5, 2015 at 10:29 pm
Agellius
Do you mean that climate change could be proposed as a dogmatic teaching based on revealed truth? Impossible. The pope can’t invent new dogmas that were never heard of before, he can only confirm existing teaching as being dogmatic. I mean, anything is possible, theoretically, but he would have to have lost his marbles to try it.
Why an encyclical? Encyclicals can be written about anything that has a moral aspect to it. After all, his last one touched on economics. The Church does have teachings about respecting the environment, i.e. God’s creation given to us as stewards and so forth. For example, from the Catechism:
‘”By the very nature of creation, material being is endowed with its own stability, truth and excellence, its own order and laws.” Each of the various creatures, willed in its own being, reflects in its own way a ray of God’s infinite wisdom and goodness. Man must therefore respect the particular goodness of every creature, to avoid any disordered use of things which would be in contempt of the Creator and would bring disastrous consequences for human beings and their environment.’
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May 5, 2015 at 10:42 pm
churchmouse
I understand your perspective, Agellius, and, in principle, I agree with it.
However, man — including the ordained among us — have a problem or disconnect with God’s managing, ordering or setting Nature itself in synch for our provision. I find it strange that the Pope is writing an encyclical about something which, in many people’s minds (a sizeable minority, let’s say) is not settled. In a way, he and many other clergy doubt natural law — and by extension God to a certain extent.
My objection to modern encyclicals, such as the one on economics, is that their moral dimension is somewhat suspect when many families and individuals in the West are trying to keep their heads above water financially.
Better, IMHO, to preach the Gospel and put the rest to one side. But that would be contentious and would never do.
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May 5, 2015 at 10:36 pm
Agellius
I will admit that given his track record as something of a loose cannon, I am a little apprehensive about what the encyclical might say. But in the end, we’re not obligated to assent to the pope’s prudential judgments, especially in areas where he has no special knowledge or expertise.
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May 5, 2015 at 10:44 pm
churchmouse
And in cases where one has no special knowledge or expertise, perhaps it is better to remain silent.
I agree with you on the loose cannon bit wholeheartedly.
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May 5, 2015 at 11:00 pm
Agellius
I understand your concern about encyclicals on prudential matters, but I can’t say I agree. It can’t be the job of the leaders of the Church only to propound doctrine, they also have to talk about how it applies to our lives in the world.
It might help to think of an encyclical as being something like a homily or a sermon. Preaching is primarily about applying Gospel principles to everyday life, and you can’t do that without making some prudential judgments about how things actually are.
But you don’t have to obey every teaching in a sermon, nor do you have to agree with everything in it, in order for it to do you some good. Even if the Pope is wrong about some facts and the best ways of dealing with a problem, the encyclical still could impart something beneficial in terms of how to apply the principles of Church teaching to actual issues. For example, even if he mistakenly proclaims that it’s beyond question that global warming is manmade, he still would be conveying the principle that we’re morally obliged to take good care of the environment.
We are then free to reject the mistaken factual conclusions and prescriptions for action (if upon careful reflection our own conclusions differ), but nevertheless take the principles to heart.
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May 5, 2015 at 11:10 pm
churchmouse
An encyclical is much more than a sermon/homily. It carries Catholic authority from on high in the Vatican.
Parts of what you have written here directly contradict your previous comments.
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May 5, 2015 at 11:31 pm
Agellius
It’s certainly more than a sermon/homily. The point of similarity with a sermon is, as I said, that encyclicals attempt to apply Gospel principles to situations in the world. See for example Libertas by Pope Leo XIII (http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Leo13/l13liber.htm), in which the Pope condemns various ideas then current in politics based on the principles of Christian teaching.
An encyclical certainly does carry authority. But its authority is not absolute and it doesn’t apply on the same level to every statement it contains.
In any case, it’s a bit premature to condemn the encyclical when we don’t even know what it will say. As I said, I am apprehensive about it myself, but that’s only because I anticipate him being wrong on some points, which may be embarrassing and may mislead some people. Still, no one ever promised that Church leaders would always be right or speak wisely.
I reviewed my prior comments and don’t find any contradiction. Can you give me a quote or something?
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May 5, 2015 at 11:35 pm
churchmouse
Thought you would say that. All being well, Agellius, you are getting a few days off Purgatory time with these electronic exchanges.
This is your last comment on this post. You’ve made your points, however we wish to read and understand them. Thank you for your time.
Two concise quotes of yours follow:
It might help to think of an encyclical as being something like a homily or a sermon.
But you’re right, as Catholics we would be obliged to seriously and prayerfully consider what he has to say.
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May 5, 2015 at 11:46 pm
Agellius
Ouch!
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