I was quite astounded from an article I read in 'Mystics of the Church' site. It appears that at least the last three Popes had regular contact with mystics who gave them Heavenly direction. I always keep that in mind when considering anything the Holy Fathers say or do. The Holy Father will stand accountable to God for his actions and words while in the Chair of Peter. I feel we must pray for him. He has enough of a job (his duty) making the Will of God known to the world. As far as I am concerned, I only ask myself. Am I contributing to harmful lifestyle that could cause damage to the earth or my surroundings. After that it is in Gods' hands to judge me at the end of my life. He will not ask me to render an account of anyone else's words or behaviours. And finally a little favourite quote. Well kinda, sorta Julia style. LOL Each mans death diminishes me, for I am a part of mankind. Therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee and it tolls for me. R Kipling.
Do. Do. A lot of the comments on here are from people who take secular sources as their guide. e.g. many of the anti-Medjugorje fanatics on here cite the Washington Post as their Magisterium. None of them have actually examined the evidence or even set foot in Medjugorje. Fear. It's a dangerous thing.... I love my American brothers and sisters but many of them are living in a massive insular bubble called "Fear". The fear has been generated by their own recent governments. Peace and love B.
Exactly Mac... ....And here is the PROOF of your points and mine. Obama said nothing about the Pope's good statements against abortion in this encyclical, but only this: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/new...-world-leaders-to-heed-pope-franciss-message/ CATHOLIC HERALD Obama calls for world leaders to heed Pope Francis’s message The US president hails the Pope's intervention as 'clear and powerful' The President of the United States has said he wants fellow world leaders to reflect on Pope Francis’s encyclical. Laudato Si’, published yesterday, called for humanity to change its approach to the environment and the way it judged progress. Barack Obama spoke of the responsibility that his own job title brings in leading the way towards a change in global environmental policy. “I welcome His Holiness Pope Francis’s encyclical, and deeply admire the Pope’s decision to make the case – clearly, powerfully, and with the full moral authority of his position – for action on global climate change,” he said. “As we prepare for global climate negotiations in Paris this December, it is my hope that all world leaders and all God’s children will reflect on Pope Francis’s call to come together to care for our common home. “We have a profound responsibility to protect our children, and our children’s children, from the damaging impacts of climate change.”
Our Holy Father has spoken up many many times on moral issues, daily in fact, Mac. I am surprised you didn't know this. Don't they report world news where you live ?
Commentaries from whom? Have you rendered judgement here upon all American Christians and deemed yourself superior? If not, to whom are you applying this ridiculous perception of yours? All serious Catholics I know in America consider themselves Christians foremost, before they look at themselves as any type of Patriots. And Newsmax is not a primary news source for any that I know. Contrary to your opinion, many Americans know the difference between Truth and right (or left) wing propaganda. And both types have many examples in global media.
I think what you might be proposing, Mac, is Protestantism. And I know you wouldn't dream of doing that. (I would put one of those "wink" emoticons here but I have no idea how to do that..) The Church believes in its social teaching, in something called "Stewardship" rooted in the book of Genesis. Catholics put that together with their reason and of course revelation from places such as Akita, fatima, Lourdes etc and act on it. We are not basing our teachings on personal whims or private revelations. We do look to the Magisterium for our direction. So, us following our Lady of Akita's( and many others') requests, is not the only thing that will save us from destruction. That's a private view and not the teaching of The Holy Roman Catholic Church. Perhaps we actually do need to heed our Holy Father's advice and consume less and to downsize. In fact, what is noticeable, is that many forum members over the last few months/years have been sharing in one way or another, that that is exactly what they have been doing.... I do think this encyclical is a good thing, although it has ignited some fiery debate. I also apologise now if any of my comments have upset or angered anyone please do feel free to come back at me. Debate is always good. X Bella.
Yes you have every right to disagree/not believe. That is what makes us fully human, yes? We have consciences and reason. But don't forget that you don't have the right not be challenged, either, especially on a public forum. I would say Pope Francis is right on the money here with this encyclical. I would have expected him, in this day and age, with all that is happening in the world, to reassert the teachings on salvation and baptism and hope ( but, Pope Benedict did that already with Spe Salvi- these guys are ahead of us). The very idea that he was focusing on saving trees in his first encyclical filled me with horror. These wonderful popes in our times are prophets. Read what they are saying ( if you haven't). Ask for the grace of the Holy Spirit to be with you as you read his words and then you can see that these are the words of a true prophet. They are not about saving trees. They are about saving humanity. I think I have said enough on this.. I should step back and allow people some space.. ! God Bless all readers.... B. x
I am from the United States Jon. Its clear my ref to commentaries was about newsmax. and to me I will take future news from Newsmax with a detectives eye. and most Americans are divided on truth in media...its almost a 50/50 split, just like our last election breakdown....per Bill Orielly
Jon - no matter what spin President Obama or anyone else puts on Pope Francis' encyclical, it does not change the substance of it. Those that stretch or twist the Pope's words to fit their own agenda will ultimately be held to account. I guess what bothers me most is that we're wasting time even bothering with what the MSM or political leaders have to say about the encyclical. Who cares? Let's prayerfully consider what Pope Francis actually said, in its full context, and go from there. The MSM is simply to be ignored as far as I am concerned. No truth there!
I agree with that. It's akin to watching Sean Hannity and expecting no bias, or Rachel Maddow for that matter....
You are right. However, I, and others I suppose, are just expressing concern as to how the Pope's encyclical will be used to advance things we perceive to be evil by adding the weight of the leader of the Christian world to their cause. When the UN meets, the Pope has asked us to urge our government to take action on climate change. I don't trust the UN or my government to do anything right on this topic, so I am very uncomfortable in doing what he has asked of us. I DON"T REALLY WANT OUR GOVERNMENT TO GIVE POWER TO THE UN OVER OUR SOVEREIGNTY IN THE NAME OF CLIMATE CHANGE. These again are my reasons:
Understood, Jon. Thanks for the reply. Your point is well taken. However, I would submit that the words of Christ and of subsequent Christian leaders have been taken out of context and twisted for millennia to suit evil agendas. Yet, we know from history that eventually, truth wins out. I believe that will be the case here. Truth will win out.
From my brief review of the actual Encylical (and I confess, I've only been able to skim through it), it seems very light on the actual climate change part and very heavy on not messing with God's creation and nature, including the right to life, the importance of each individual sex. He even seems to talk about this so called trans gender nonsense- that humans should respect how God made them. So far, I think it's brilliant and I hope to find during the weekend to read it more thoroughly.
After reflection, I think the Holy Spirit led the pope to write this encyclical. As we all know, the un is trying to force their ungodly version of climate change and sustainable development on the world. It is good the Pope is attempting to give a Christian perspective on the issue, before the un tries to force their agenda on the world. This way we have a Christian voice addressing these problems. Personally I am out of date on some ideas. I think some of the unusual climate patterns are a wake up call from God to humanity. In the Bible, God used natural phenomena to wake up and chastise humans. Our sin is the root cause of these events. I look forward too The era of peace when the natural world will reflect the peace of that time.
Fanatics? Careful, that's a two edged sword coming from a pro Medjugorje fanatic ;-) Washington Post? Never read it. I've examined everything on both sides and made up my mind. I have yet to meet a pro medj fanatic who has honestly examined both sides.
Marc had this to say about the Pope’s encyclical after its release: “The papal encyclical, no matter how nuanced it may read, will simply be used as a tool to support UN global warming ‘solutions’ that are at odds with most Catholic teachings on issues such as abortion, contraception, overpopulation, and helping the poor nations develop. The Vatican appears to be taking an unprecedented step by seemingly endorsing a specific UN climate treaty.” - See more at: http://www.cfact.org/2015/06/19/the...15/06/19/the-vaticans-global-warming-mistake/
I think the Holy Spirit led The pope to write this encyclical. When freemasonry was trying to takeover the governments of Europe Pope Leo xiii, wrote an encyclical exposing the dangers of freemasonry. Today, climate change is a vehicle the un and others want to use to enslave and control the world. Masonry overtly had the same intention in the time of pope leo xiii. The Pope is giving a Christian explanation of climate change, before the un tries to force its agenda on the world. Disagreement on the science of climate Change is acceptable. But telling the world that God is the creator and that for example abortion in unacceptable as a means of population control is a message the un needs to hear.
food for thought...Catholic Apologist Jimmy Akin http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimm...mental-encyclical-13-things-to-know-and-share 12) Can I just dismiss the encyclical if I don’t believe in manmade global warming? If you are a Catholic, no. Even if it deals in part with matters of a scientific nature, it also articulates matters of faith and morals upon which the pope can speak and is speaking authoritatively. Because this document involves more of a mix of the religious and the scientific than most Church documents, believers may need to think more carefully than usual about which propositions belong to which category, but one cannot simply dismiss what the pope says on matters of Church teaching. Indeed, believers should not adopt a hostile attitude toward this document. Even if they hold different views on some of the scientific matters the pope touches on, they should seek to find as much as possible in the document that is good and useful. Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/pope-franciss-environmental-encyclical-13-things-to-know-and-share/#ixzz3dXmyFbGf
This may be of some help to some of you. I have already posted this Here Jimmy Akin, John Allen, Catholic Voices, Meghan Clark, Paul Collins, Kevin Cotter, EJ Dionne, Fr Raymond de Souza, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Massimo Faggioli, Andrea Gagliarducci, Justin Gillis,Samuel Gregg, the Guardian, Elizabeth Kolbert, Austen Ivereigh, Fr James Martin SJ, Bill McKibben, George Monbiot, Rupert Myers,Michael Peppard, RR Reno, Andrew Revkin, Robert Royal, Sara Sidner, Andrew Simms, John Smeaton, Tim Stanley,Damian Thompson, George Weigel,Garry Wills and Michael Sean Winters comment on the environment encyclical. Source: Catholic Herald
Before i start i must i confess i don't have a clue to the causes of Global warming, I only know its happening and is getting worse year by year. How many of us have actually sat down and thought about the effects Global Warming and what effect it could have on us and human society. I suppose the main thing i personally notice is the changing of the seasons as a keen Fly Fishing Angler i like to tie my own flies, anglers call it matching the hatch. Over the years you pick up a wee bit of knowledge on Entomology (The Life Cycle of Flies) but to cut a long story short I personally have noticed a big change in the insect life in our rivers and lakes. This may not seem much to some people but in nature it is a disaster, for an example i was fishing at the weekend for trout and i was watching to see what they fish were feeding on and to my surprise they were eating Johnny Long Legs (Crane Fly). These Flies should not be hatching until August- September and are very important in the Eco Cycle trout will gorge on them before the start of the spawning season, and some other fish actually spawn at this time of the year because there is plenty of food. What happens to fish when they spawn when there is no flies to feed the young they starve and so it starts what happens when the Angler cant catch the fish he starves. This is not only to do with fish the Plant life is also going through the same change what happens if there is no plants we all starve.
