the vatican // Current TV

Pope Orders 'Missal Launch' on Salt Lake City, Igniting a Holy War

The Vatican - The introduction of a new Missal, the prayer book that serves as the... more

mbalton
added this
6 months ago
|
0 comments

Is there any Comedy about #OccupyWallStreet that Doesn't Denigrate the Movement? Yes. And here it is.

Can there be satire about Occupy Wall Street that doesn't denigrate Occupy Wall... more

IronicNewsReport
added this
6 months ago
|
0 comments

A Message From On High: The Vatican Urges People to Take Climate Science Seriously

For many Tea Party leaders and their representatives in Congress, it is an "article of faith" that the Earth was given to humans by God for their exploitation and dominion. Many have used this distorted theology to support destructive mining and drilling projects, and to pass legislation attempting to strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its ability to regulate planet-warming carbon pollution. Conservative members of Congress would rather the federal government subsidize oil companies than invest in clean energy technology.

But such reckless disregard for the Earth, its people, and natural resources is being challenged by a broad base of faith leaders who point to the many passages in the Bible that call for humans to be caretakers and good stewards of the planet. We can now add to their voices those of a working group of scientists appointed by the Vatican's Pontifical Academy of Sciences, a nonsectarian organization presided over by Werner Arber, a Nobel laureate and a Protestant. The academy has just issued a report that declares, without qualification and with utmost urgency, that global climate change is occurring, that humans bear responsibility for it, and that it is our gravest moral imperative to reduce carbon emissions as quickly as possible.

The report focuses on the causes and implications of retreating mountain glaciers and other ice forms because their melting is a key indicator of global warming. The report says these developments provide "some of the clearest evidence we have for a change in the climate system." The report's authors consist of "glaciologists, climate scientists, meteorologists, hydrologists, physicists, chemists, mountaineers, and lawyers." The authors document the quickened pace of melting glaciers, ice, and snow across the globe, and the potential drastic consequences for human populations.

They recommend three main actions: "reduce worldwide carbon dioxide emissions without delay ... reduce the concentrations of warming air pollutants ... [and] prepare to adapt to the climatic changes, both chronic and abrupt, that society will be unable to mitigate."

While the report is significant in its acknowledgment of climate change and insistence on the need for the global community to take responsibility, it is hardly surprising that Catholic leadership commissioned and supported these findings. Pope Benedict XVI has been an ardent supporter for many years of recognizing the truth of climate change and the collective responsibility to reduce carbon emissions and preserve clean air and clean water. In fact, he has been dubbed the "Green Pope" in diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks.

And in a true example of "lived faith," the pope and his leadership spearheaded renewable energy projects right in Vatican City. In 2008 the Vatican began installing 2,400 solar panels atop the pope's audience hall, which prevents 230 tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted annually. The Vatican even flirted with the idea of going completely carbon neutral by reforesting degraded land in Hungary to offset their emissions, though critics assailed the plan for its focus on offsets over efficiency improvements.

In the new pope's first social encyclical, "Caritas in Veritate," he proclaimed there is a "covenant" between humans and the environment, and "responsibility is a global one, for it is concerned not just with energy but with the whole of creation, which must not be bequeathed to future generations depleted of its resources." He highlighted in particular the responsibility of wealthy developed nations to take the lead on these efforts.

The pope's encyclical in tandem with the working group's report are not meant to scare people. Rather, they are meant to confirm, once and for all, that people need to take climate change seriously, that it is no longer a matter of legitimate debate. The church's strong moral voice shows the urgency of the issue and should persuade conservatives who oppose action to protect God's creation that if they listen to one of the leading lights of the Christian faith on other issues, they should pay attention on this one as well.

This post was originally published by Science Progress.For many Tea Party leaders and their representatives in Congress, it is an... more

Jennifer_Guinn
added this
12 months ago
|
0 comments

The Vatican stops Pope from donating his organs

Although he looks like a real-life Darth Sidious, Pope Benedict (used to) have a... more

sbacker
added this
1 year ago
|
2 comments

Pope aide pulls out of trip after 'Third World jibe

A senior Papal adviser has pulled out of the Pope's UK visit after saying... more

CarolineS
added this
1 year ago
|
3 comments

What One Person's "Favorite" Thing in the World Is

Worth the quick-read time...

EthicalVegan
added this
2 years ago
|
6 comments

John, Paul, George, Ringo – and Benedict ("John Paul Elected Pope; George Ringo Miffed")

John, Paul, George, Ringo – and Benedict Vatican newspaper tribute to the... more

EthicalVegan
added this
2 years ago
|
0 comments

Ringo Starr Tells The Vatican Go To Hell... or something

http://www.waneenterprises.com/videos/livewire/47 Ok so " The Vatican has... more

Redpassiondiva
added this
2 years ago
|
4 comments

Pope knocked down at Christmas Eve Mass

A woman jumped the barriers and knocked down the pope as he walked down the main aisle... more

Future_America
added this
2 years ago
|
1 comment

The Pope's Playlist: Muse, Fleet Foxes and Tupac

I honestly don't know where to start with this. What songs should the Pope or... more

shana
added this
2 years ago
|
0 comments

Pope: Condoms could worsen Aids

The Roman Catholic pope has come under renewed criticism after saying that condoms are... more

covelogibbs
added this
3 years ago
|
10 comments

Vatican Goes Green

he first solar panels were installed Monday on top of the papal audience hall at... more

Apocalipstick
added this
3 years ago
|
0 comments

Nudity opposed by Church

The Roman Catholic Church is opposing a nudist beach festival in Sicily billed as a... more

Mr_Costello
added this
4 years ago
|
2 comments

Pope Benedict XVI begins first U.S. tour

The Pope has landed in the US for the first time since he became pontiff. It's... more

superkiy
added this
4 years ago
|
5 comments

Calling all warriors of god, the vatican needs your help!

The vatican is in need of more priests to do exorcist to help fight satanist! Give... more

etosha_pent
added this
4 years ago
|
0 comments

select your country

Community Spotlight

Join a Community Group

BFD - Big Featured Discussion

Viewer Created Content

TAGS

tagged w/ the vatican

Pope Orders 'Missal Launch' on Salt Lake City, Igniting a Holy War

Is there any Comedy about #OccupyWallStreet that Doesn't Denigrate the Movement? Yes. And here it is.

A Message From On High: The Vatican Urges People to Take Climate Science Seriously

The Vatican stops Pope from donating his organs

Pope aide pulls out of trip after 'Third World jibe

What One Person's "Favorite" Thing in the World Is

John, Paul, George, Ringo – and Benedict ("John Paul Elected Pope; George Ringo Miffed")

Ringo Starr Tells The Vatican Go To Hell... or something

Pope knocked down at Christmas Eve Mass

The Pope's Playlist: Muse, Fleet Foxes and Tupac

Pope: Condoms could worsen Aids

Vatican Goes Green

Nudity opposed by Church

Pope Benedict XVI begins first U.S. tour

Calling all warriors of god, the vatican needs your help!

top videos

Viewpoint

Would an independent agency fix the Federal Reserve’s ‘governance problem’?

The Young Turks

Even after another massacre, ‘I’m not sure that help is on the way’ to Syria, Cenk says

Talking Liberally

Examining modern masculine mystique

Full Court Press

Romney Camp Plays the Trump Card

find current on tv

find current online

recent comments

© 2012 Current TV, LLC
All Rights Reserved

the basics

follow us online

tools

stay in touch