Pope Francis shows rare openness on poverty, climate change and more
Sarah Parvini, Los Angeles Times
Though Francis has pushed for a more welcoming and merciful church, he has not softened or changed church doctrine on many issues, such as gay marriage or the ordination of women. He will visit the United States from Sept. 22-27, with stops in Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia.
How is Pope Francis viewed by Alabama Catholics ahead of pontiff’s first U.S. visit
John Sharp, AL.com
Pope Francis has taken controversial stances on climate change and same-sex marriage that has drawn criticism from conservatives in the U.S.
Pope Francis, most influential political leader of our time
Saritha Prabhtu, The Tennessean
Perhaps the most influential political leader of our time is an unlikely figure — Pope Francis. He has, of course, been a very political pope — from his having a hand in the U.S.-Cuba rapprochement to his very vocal positions on global poverty, global capitalism and climate change….
Pope Francis warns of ‘grave consequences’ if climate change is ignored
CNA Daily News
The environment is facing serious threats such as climate change and global warming, Pope Francis has said – adding that finding solutions is a matter of justice since it’s often the poor who are most affected. “We must not forget the grave social consequences of climate change. It is the poorest who suffer the worst consequences,” the Pope said Sept. 11.
Pope Francis’ Encyclical “Laudato si”: A Beautiful and Profoundly Wise Statement of Christian Environmentalism and Theology of Creation
Dave Armstrong, Patheos
I read the whole thing a short while ago. There are innumerable riches here, and a fabulous integrated treatment of environmental / resource problems. This will clearly become the definitive Christian statement on the topic. For too long, Christians have been accused of being (or, too often, actually were in practice) indifferent to the problems of the earth and the environment: as if we merely want to exploit the earth and her resources, rather than (the biblical view) being stewards of God’s marvelous creation. I think this encyclical will go a long way towards dispelling those notions. The secularists don’t “own” this discussion, anymore than they own economic or demographic or “nature of the marriage and family” discussions.
28 Arrested at Seneca Lake Protesting Gas Storage Facility
Democracy Now!
Twenty-eight people have been arrested after forming a human barricade at a natural gas storage facility in upstate New York to protest plans by Crestwood Midstream to expand gas storage in abandoned salt caverns at Seneca Lake, a drinking water source for 100,000 people. Four hundred people have been arrested in the ongoing campaign. The crowd held a seven-foot-tall replica of Pope Francis’ recent encyclical letter on climate change and signs reading “Pope Francis, We Hear You.”
Share this article: