Symposium on Pope’s encyclical sparks reflections on climate change
Mike Polhamus, VTDigger
The pope’s letter has been lauded by members of the environmental movement and scoffed at by climate-change skeptics. Speakers at a symposium held by St. Mike’s, a private Catholic college in Colchester, say Francis’ environmental advocacy is not surprising, and they say the document is not solely focused on the natural world.
Pope Francis’ visit is just one ring in 2016 campaign circus — but it’s a big one
Rick Hampson, USA Today
On Sept. 24, when Pope Francis becomes the first pontiff to address a joint session of Congress, there’ll be no coup d’etat. But his first U.S. visit could be another wild card in the unpredictable 2016 presidential race, especially if he touches on controversies such as Planned Parenthood funding, global warming, immigration or the Iran nuclear deal.
14 Tompkins residents arrested in protest at Crestwood appeal to Pope Francis
Jolene Almendarez, The Ithaca Voice
Just two weeks before Pope Francis’ visit to the United States, where he is widely expected to call for urgent action to protect the world’s environment, 28 people, led by local members of the Catholic Worker Movement, formed human chains shortly after sunrise this morning across both entrances of Crestwood Midstream on Route 14.
Pope Francis Leading the Way for a Cleaner, Safer World
Margaret I. Cuomo, The Huffington Post
I applaud the pope’s strong stance on climate change and the need to preserve the earth for future generations. When we speak of maintaining clean water supplies and a sustainable use of the environment, we should also stress the elimination of harmful chemicals in consumer products.
UN Secretary General: Pope Francis a man of moral voice and purpose
Vatican Radio
“[Pope Francis] is a man of humility and humanity, and he is a man of moral voice, and purpose.” There were the words with which the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, described the Holy Father in an exclusive interview with Vatican Radio ahead of the Pope’s visit to the United Nations in New York at the end of September. “We are looking forward with great excitement [to] His Holiness, Pope Francis’ visit to the United Nations,” said Ban, adding, “I’m grateful for his compassionate leadership for peace and humanity.”
Hopes Pope will speak out in US about planet’s health
Ian Harris, Otaga Daily Times
Look for a consensus on a sustainable environment beyond national interests, and find the political will – and build the international institutions – to act upon it. Is this really what religion is about? Too right! Care for the environment raises issues of what it means to live responsibly as humans today.
Clear and present danger
Rosemarie Milsom, The Newcastle Herald
The first session we attended featured Canadian activist, author and filmmaker Naomi Klein. Her new documentary and book, This Changes Everything, centre on the impact of capitalism on the environment. Klein chose to focus on Nauru in her session, which in her view represents all that is wrong with our ‘‘throw-away culture’’, a phrase she borrowed from Pope Francis. Klein, a self-described, secular Jewish feminist, was invited by the Vatican to contribute to the Pope’s climate-change encyclical.
PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT IN KASHMIR
Mir Faizan Anwar, The Kashmir Monitor
One of the significant decisions in the environmental history is the recent climate change encyclical of Pope Francis. The document is now the church’s official position on the environment which includes the practical guidance and is being hailed as a major intervention in the climate change debate. It presents a rare locking of arms between the church and the scientific community.