Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Pope Francis, Man of Science & of Faith, Gets Questioned by Climate Change Skeptic Rick Santorum


Earth from Space with Stars

Photo courtesy of DonkeyHotey Flickr Page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/donkeyhotey/6143809369




The old button from the Environmental Club days which I just happened to find on Earth Day! It is a little beat up (particularly the ends of the ribbon), but no worse for the wear, I think. And it is one of the few items that I have left from those days, so it carries a lot of great memories for me! Nothing Changes Until You Do!



Here is a picture of a very similar logo, with the same message, that was on the t-shirt that I purchased from the BCC Environmental Club and, if memory serves me correctly, may even have helped to make. There were a few projects like that which club members, myself included, were regularly involved with. It has been so long, however, that I no longer recall specifically if I actually helped to make these or not, although I do believe so, since I remember seeing the process of the t-shirts being dyed. In any case, I loved this t-shirt, and have kept it ever since, even if I do not regularly wear it. Since it was part of my experience with the BCC Environmental Club days, as well as more generally having an environmental theme, it seemed appropriate to share it here. 



"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's gred."

~Mahatma Gandhi


"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."
  
~John F. Kennedy 




Pope Francis has been a refreshing change for the face of the Vatican which heads the Catholic Church. Many have felt relief that he seems to embrace more modern attitudes towards modern day issues than the Church has previously had.

One of the major changes has been in recognizing the reality of climate change, although in this, not everyone is happy.

Ignoring the fact that Pope Francis was an accomplished scientist in his own right before he ever became Pope, American politician Rick Santorum took exception to Pope Francis's climate change stance, suggesting, essentially, that he should butt out.

Santorum, who belongs to the same Republican party that keeps reminding everyone that they are not scientists whenever they sound their familiar refrain of denying the existence of climate change and/or denying human activity is what led to it, is taking a tact that seems particularly hypocritical. Up until just recently, the Vatican took a decidedly different stance on climate change, but Pope Francis has taken a much stronger stance, far more critical of humanity's role, and far more activist in his leanings.

For his part, Santorum is equating this with what he perceives is a consistent environmentalist bent of the Vatican, and reminding anyone and everyone who will listen that the Church has gotten it wrong in science before.

Is it not ironic that Santorum is bringing up the past history of the Catholic Church when Pope Francis has worked to correct that history, all in order to justify his own belief that climate change is fiction, which is surely guided, in part at least, by his own stated faith?

Here, specifically, is some of what Santorum said:

“The perception that the media would like to give of Pope Francis and the reality are two different things…I’m a huge fan of his, and his focus on making sure that we have a healthier society…I support completely the Pope’s call for us to do more to create opportunities for people to be able to rise in society and care for the poor. That’s our obligation as a society.”

“The Church has gotten it wrong a few times on science, and I think we’re probably better off leaving science to the scientists and focus on what we’re really good on, which is theology and morality. When we get involved with political and controversial scientific theories, then I think the church is probably not as forceful and credible.”


Rick Santorum to Pope Francis: 'Leave science to the scientist' by Jen Hayden, June 2, 2015:


And here are some articles that discuss Pope Francis's background in science: 

Pope Francis, Master of Chemistry, Another Example Of Catholicism's Long Association With Science By Roxanne Palmer, March 16 2013:

Pope Francis, Scientist by Alex Knapp, March 12, 2013:

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