Turn Laudato Si into action

The Encyclical of Pope Francis “Laudato Si” Care of Our Common Home lays the foundation for action to convert the people of earth to renew our care and concern for the planet. This article presents the some of the psychology of climate change communication. Some contributors share efforts to correct approaches that reinforce human sovereignty and the resulting environmental degradation. Change is proposed in a subjective, inductive, and experiential way without doing damage to the content of the encyclical. We seek common ground in care of the people and living creatures of the planet and our Christian responsibility to care for the poor.

Water challenges on the Eastern Shore

Consider the challenge that decades of climate change discussion hasn't turned into decisive action. For example, water is a fundamental human right but water scarcity around the world is causing severe problems. The questions that need to be asked when assessing environmental impact on people of economic development are important in our own province.

British author and carbon pricing expert, George Marshall, explains the psychology of climate change communication and describes the work he's done in Canada on this front - to bridge the political divides.

Common Ground?

He argues that once we understand what excites, threatens, and motivates us, we can rethink and re-imagine climate change, for it is not an impossible problem. Rather, it is one we can halt if we can make it our common purpose and common ground.

The “Things Not Seen Podcast” features some Franciscan wisdom for a planet in peril in a discussion with  Fr. Dan Horan, OFM, about his new book, “All God's Creatures: A Theology of Creation”

(Click on centre of slide)

The predominant “stewardship model” of creation is the result of an intentional effort to correct approaches that reinforce human sovereignty and the resulting environmental degradation.

Stewards of creation

However, as All God’s Creatures argues, the stewardship model actually does not offer a correction but rather reinscribes many of the very same pitfalls. After close analysis of the stewardship model, this book identifies scriptural, theological, and philosophical sources to support the adoption of a “community of creation” paradigm.

A "community of creation"

Father Richard Hogan writes that both Saint Augustine and Saint Thomas Aquinas lived and taught in a culture which might be described as objective, deductive, and principled.

Both Saint Augustine and Saint Thomas Aquinas lived and taught in a culture which might be described as objective, deductive, and principled. The modern world is primarily subjective, inductive, and experiential.  Objective means that something is real, i.e., it is true, regardless of whether or not I know it to be true. For example, if a blind man is outside, but cannot see the trees, the trees are still there. Even though he does not perceive them, the trees are truly there. The existence of the trees does not depend on whether the blind man perceives them or not.  Objective reality exists independent of one’s perception. The subjective view of reality claims that only that which I perceive to be real is actually real. Generally, the subjective view of reality is not applied to trees and physical objects. However, it is applied to non-physical realities, e.g., truths about the existence of God, truths about morality. The subjective view of reality is clearly captured by the phrase, “That may be true for you, but not for me!”  In other words, what is true depends on what I believe or accept, or better phrased, on what I perceive. In the medieval world, such a claim would be utter nonsense. In fact, to most medieval academics, the truths of the faith, both dogmatic and moral truths, were more real than physical objects. The medieval world was objective. We are subjective.

Through the use of a philosophical movement called phenomenology, John Paul II has been able (in particular with the Theology of the Body) to present the content of Christ’s Revelation in a subjective, inductive, and experiential way without doing damage to its content.

Medieval world	Modern world
objective	subjective
deductive	inductive
principled	experiential
Augustine and Plato; Aquinas and Aristotle	Phenomenology of John Paul II

Table 1 Compare ancient and modern presentation

Katherine Hayhoe, as part of the Global Weirding Series on YouTube, discusses the topic “The Bible doesn’t talk about climate change, right?” in which she looks at the problem from the point of view of Evangelical Christians and finds common ground in care of the people and living creatures of the planet and our Christian responsibility to care for the poor.

Bill McKibben discusses why decades of climate change discussion hasn't turned into decisive action.

Katharine Hayhoe outlines her "elevator pitch", on how climate is changing and why it matters. She advises don’t start with the science.

Start with the values. I care about X. For example “We don’t have a future without water”.

WATER – FOR ALL AND EVERYONE

The Water Connection

Water is a fundamental human right but water scarcity around the world is causing severe problems and human suffering that are likely to worsen in the future, warns Caritas Internationalis.

“All people have a right to safe drinking water…This is a problem that affects everyone and is a source of great suffering in our common home.” – Pope Francis, Laudato Si’

Laudato Si Chapter 6

Displaced by water that was not safe to drink

Caritas’ global 2-year campaign on migration “Share the Journey” promotes Pope Francis’ “culture of encounter”, aiming to build stronger communities. Caritas is mobilizing its organisations in over 160 countries to look at the causes of migration, bust myths about migrants and to bring migrants and communities closer together.

In Laudato Si, Pope Francis declares the questions that need to be asked when assessing environmental impact on people of economic development.

Questions in Economic development

185. In any discussion about a proposed venture, a number of questions need to be asked in order to discern whether or not it will contribute to genuine integral development. What will it accomplish? Why? Where? When? How? For whom? What are the risks? What are the costs? Who will pay those costs and how? In this discernment, some questions must have higher priority. For example, we know that water is a scarce and indispensable resource and a fundamental right which conditions the exercise of other human rights. This indisputable fact overrides any other assessment of environmental impact on a region.

https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Aerial-Boat-Harbour2_NS-Government-credit.jpg

For 50 years the Boat Harbour NS residents witnessed the transformation of Boat Harbour from a once pristine tidal estuary, so frequented by the Mi’kmaq of Pictou Landing that they referred to it as “the other room,” into a brown, frothy, toxic soup containing some of the world’s most dangerous chemicals: carcinogens such as dioxins and furans and heavy metals such as mercury, zinc, cadmium and chromium.

Action to address the climate change, water, and loss of biodiversity concerns expressed in “Laudato Si” needs to be focused on responding to the values of people that are threatened as the planet changes and people are displaced from their homes.

References

(2018, November 9). CBC Listen | Front Burner | Bridging the climate change divide - CBC.ca. Retrieved November 14, 2018, from https://www.cbc.ca/listen/shows/front-burner/episode/15629854

(2018, November 19). Franciscan wisdom for a planet in peril: Fr. Dan Horan, OFM .... Retrieved November 20, 2018, from http://www.thingsnotseenradio.com/shows/1833-horan
(n.d.). An Introduction to John Paul II's Theology of the Body - NFP Outreach. Retrieved November 13, 2018, from https://www.nfpoutreach.org/47

(2017, January 4). The Bible doesn't talk about climate change, right? - YouTube. Retrieved November 21, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpjL_otLq6Y
(2010, December 3). A life in writing: Bill McKibben | Books | The Guardian. Retrieved November 27, 2018, from https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/dec/06/bill-mckibben-interview
(2018, March 21). Water – for all and everyone - Caritas Internationalis. Retrieved November 25, 2018, from https://www.caritas.org/2018/03/sharing-water/
(2015, May 24). Laudato si' (24 May 2015) - Vaticano. Retrieved November 21, 2018, from http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html
(2017, November 22). Dirty Dealing - Halifax Examiner. Retrieved November 27, 2018, from https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/province-house/dirty-dealing/

Human activity is trouble for climate, water, biodiversity, and other mammals.

The apparent complacency of many North Americans about what is happening to our common home, the earth should be shaken by scientific studies that indicate that human activity is driving mammal extinction.

Best friend of humans

This potential “great extinction” is connected to the big three concerns of the UN (2013) and Pope Francis (2015) of Climate Change, Water Shortages, and Biodiversity Loss. Kay Vandette, Earth.com staff writer, discusses how human activity is driving a mammal extinction crisis.

Researchers from Aarhus University and the University of Gothenburg conducted a study examining the rates of extermination currently underway.
By their calculations, unless conservation becomes a top priority, during the next five decades so many species will become extinct that it will take three to five million years for evolution to reach current biodiversity levels.
The results, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show that evolution will not be able to keep up

The conclusion that Climate Change, Water Shortages, and Biodiversity Loss, will have growing Impacts on global business is contained in a UN Report that quotes UN Under Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

"The report speaks to the reality of climate change and natural resource scarcities and outlines how more creative decisions by the private sector with longer term horizons may assist in meeting these challenges. It makes the case that whether it be in water saving, or climate-proofing infrastructure, the world is going to look for solutions that in turn will drive corporate competitiveness, reputational risk and a transition to an inclusive green economy,' added Mr. Steiner.
The new report is based on UNEP's Global Environment Outlook (GEO-5); the UN's most comprehensive assessment of the state of the global environment. According to that report, human pressures on the global environment mean that several critical environmental thresholds are approaching, or have already been surpassed, beyond which abrupt changes to the life-support functions of the planet could occur.

The encyclical letter LAUDATO SI’ of Pope Francis on care for our common home notes our complacency at the conclusion of Chapter One “WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR COMMON HOME” that focuses on three areas; (1) Pollution and Climate Change, (2) Water Shortages, and (3) Biodiversity Loss.

At the same time we can note the rise of a false or superficial ecology which bolsters complacency and a cheerful recklessness. As often occurs in periods of deep crisis which require bold decisions, we are tempted to think that what is happening is not entirely clear. Superficially, apart from a few obvious signs of pollution and deterioration, things do not look that serious, and the planet could continue as it is for some time. Such evasiveness serves as a licence to carrying on with our present lifestyles and models of production and consumption. This is the way human beings contrive to feed their self-destructive vices: trying not to see them, trying not to acknowledge them, delaying the important decisions and pretending that nothing will happen.

References

(2018, October 16). Human activity driving mammal extinction crisis • Earth.com. Retrieved October 20, 2018, from https://www.earth.com/news/human-activity-mammal-extinction/
(2013, June 21). Climate Change, Water Shortages, Biodiversity Loss, will have .... Retrieved October 20, 2018, from http://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/climate-change-water-shortages-biodiversity-loss-will-have-growing
(2015, May 24). Laudato si' (24 May 2015) - Vaticano. Retrieved October 20, 2018, from http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

Christians substitute pussy willows for palms

The idea that Christians substitute pussy willows for palms during the annual Palm Sunday celebration arose during a recent discussion of the 2015 encyclical of Pope Francis “Laudato Si and the Care of our Common Home - the Earth. One of the participants in the discussion provided a list of references to some articles on the topic. Some of the contents of these articles are curated here. Jay Wexler asks if our Palm Sunday Palms are Bad for the Environment? Melissa Ramirez Cooper explains how Lutherans purchase 'eco-palms' for Palm Sunday. Hillary Watson urges urges her Mennonite parsonage to re-examine the theology of palms. Jean Hopfensperger of the Star Tribune in Minnesota reports on an 'Eco-Palm' project that sends nearly 1 million palms to 5,000 churches. The Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province Communications report that Catholic Relief Services also Sells Eco-Palms for Palm Sunday. Rev Ben Johnson describes how palms and pussy willows through global trade have enriched our Palm Sunday. Rev. Andriy Rabiy, explains blessing pussy willows as an Orthodox tradition. He states “Back home, the tradition is to bless the pussy willows.”
References

(2015, March 27). Blessing pussy willows an Orthodox tradition - Orthodox .... Retrieved October 18, 2018, from http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php?topic=64259.0
(2013, March 22). Are Your Palm Sunday Palms Bad for the Environment?. Retrieved October 18, 2018, from http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/03/palm_sunday_fronds_churches_should_buy_palms_from_environmentally_sustainable.html
(n.d.). Lutherans purchase 'eco-palms' for Palm Sunday - ELCA. Retrieved October 18, 2018, from https://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/7347
(2017, March 29). No more palms, please | Mennonite World Review. Retrieved October 18, 2018, from http://mennoworld.org/2017/03/29/the-world-together/no-more-palms-please/
(2017, April 11). Minnesota 'Eco-Palm' project sends nearly 1 million palms to 5000 .... Retrieved October 18, 2018, from http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-eco-palm-project-sends-nearly-1-million-palms-to-5-000-churches/418718583/
(2007, February 14). Catholic Relief Services Sells Eco-Palms for Palm Sunday - Holy .... Retrieved October 18, 2018, from https://hnp.org/catholic-relief-services-sells-eco-palms-for-palm-sunday/
(2017, April 10). Palms and pussy willows: How global trade enriched your Palm .... Retrieved October 18, 2018, from http://blog.acton.org/archives/93059-palms-and-pussy-willows-how-global-trade-enriched-your-palm-sunday.html

Comments from a discussion on Situating Laudato Si

At a recent gathering of concerned people interested in Laudato Si, the 2015 encyclical of Pope Francis urging Care of our Common Home, the Earth, we commented on the video by Fr. Daniel P. Horan, OFM, entilled "Situating Laudato Si". The presentation situates the encyclical "Laudato Si" in the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching and Franciscan spirituality. The terms used in this description may be difficult language for people who are not familiar with Church history and terminology. Some who tend to a literal interpretation of Genesis 1.26 may find dissonance in the rejection of the Dominion Model in the presentation. The apprehension that Francis of Assisi teaching language of Sister and Mother in reference to the earth may invoke dismissal of the letter is countered by use of the language of Stewardship as used in Genesis 2. Patriarch Bartholomew is quoted in the presentation about the need for each of us to repent of the ways we have harmed the planet. Our individual actions need to be linked to efforts to bring the message of the need to change our ways as a society to the attention of politicians and business leaders. The apparent difficulty in communicating the message to leaders of society is evidenced by deep reluctance to change and results in frustration for the advocates of reform. A theme of the encyclical is a call for conversion and a new solidarity with people, nature and future generations. Solidarity with future generations had an important resonance in the discussion group. This problem facing the earth is not the concern of our politicians nor does it resonate with business. Perhaps stories of conversion may reduce the denial and fear of change and reluctance to face reality. One story about considering a change in the use palm branches in Christian Easter time liturgies may be a framework within which a visible change in local community policy points to the positive consequences of this action in the lives of the poor and the health of the planet.

The art of Dying Well

In the past year, I have attended too many funerals and celebrations of life for family and friends who have died.

Memory lane

When I reflect on the stories shared about the deceased at these events, I have heard more about what the person who has died has done for others than what he or she had done for selfish motives. I am concerned that our lack of understanding of the “good death” may reduce our opportunity to experience giving deeply significant benefits to our family and friends in our final hours.

Facebook has brought two TED talks to my attention, in which the reality of our mortality has contributed to renewed commitment to live the “good life” by these speakers. “Embracing your expiry date” is a talk by Jeremie Saunders, an award-winning actor, producer, and host of popular Canadian media including the Sickboy Podcast, delivered at TEDxToronto.





“The Other Side of Ego” is presented by Jonathan Gravenor, television journalist who seemed to have everything, at TEDxOcala.





The New Catholic Encyclopedia deals with the “Ars Moriendi” (The Art of Dying) by referring to the “ars vivendi” (Art of Living) as an emphasis that reaches back to a Stoic maxim—given Christian meaning by the Fathers of the Church and special prominence by Renaissance humanists—which declares that no death is evil if it is preceded by a good life.



Peter Fenwick is an eminent neuropsychiatrist, academic and expert on disorders of the brain. His most compelling and provocative research has been into the end of life phenomena, including near-death experiences and deathbed visions of the dying person, as well as the experiences of hospice and palliative care workers and relatives of dying people.

At TEDxBrussels Peter Fenwick delivered a talk on The Art of Dying Well that identified some marvelous phenomena experienced by the dying person and shared with those in the room. The choice to die well and be in harmony with ancient wisdom about humility, surrender, and bringing blessings to those who accompany you to death is being forgotten.

The trumpeting of a “right” to take control and bypass the practice of the art of dying may leave the dying person and the community who support him or her poorer when deprived of being participants and witnesses in the good death.

Politics Popes and Pipelines

Recently the media has presented discussion on political intrigue, allegations of improper handling of the abuse scandal by Pope Francis and tensions between proponents and protesters connected to the Trans Mountain Pipeline.

Pipeline proponents

The depth to which politics has become pursuit of election or reelection, regardless of the truth or practicality of the promises, has pushed ethical considerations and fair treatment to the background.



The real agenda of many promises is solely to attract votes.

Attacks that attempt to demonize individuals struggling to reform abusive practices is not about support for the abused, but it is an attempt to replace a status quo critical reform agenda with a more conservative leadership supportive of existing socio-economic systems. Elizabeth Dias and Laurie Goodstein, writing in the New York Times, about “Letter Accusing Pope Leaves U.S. Catholics in Conflict” share an observation about the history of the tension between Archbishop Viganò and Pope Francis.

The battle lines were being drawn even before Archbishop Viganò issued his stunning 11-page letter calling for the pope’s resignation over allegations that he covered up an abusive cleric, former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick.
Two weeks ago, Archbishop Viganò privately shared his plan to speak out with an influential American friend: Timothy Busch, a wealthy, conservative Catholic lawyer on the board of governors of the media network in which Archbishop Viganò ultimately revealed his letter.

The declaration that all investment in the country is in jeopardy because of a court decision regarding the failure of government to faithfully undertake their constitutional responsibility to protect the environment and consult meaningfully with First Nations in a very specific case is hyperbole. Jesse Snyder writes, in the Financial Post, that the tide of investment is set to recede from oilpatch amid more pipeline delays. Unfortunately the quote in the article and other media seems to extend investment decline to other sectors.

Christopher Ragan, an economics professor at McGill University and chair of Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission, said investors are “one notch less likely to commit capital toward large-scale investment in Canada” following the decision.

Investment in Canada in many sectors does not have the potential of drastic environmental consequence nor would it require consideration of the Constitutional obligations to First Nations. If the investment may have drastic environmental consequence or involves the territorial or treaty rights of First Nations, then the investor can expect that it will be in the national interest of Canada to truthfully and sincerely address these issues.

Reform of the political system includes support of politicians, like the late Senator John McCain, who speak truth to power and operate from an ethical base that is open to discussion and compromise. The electorate will need to demand that the political parties risk running candidates who use their intelligence, their ethical compass, their desire for seeking common ground, and common good to represent their constituents. The party leader will probably have to abandon the practice of “approving” candidates who have been chosen by constituent processes and “party whips” need to stop trying to force voting as “yes” people in party group think. The conservative who needs to change the liberal agenda, or vice versa, needs to approach the issues seeking common ground with a true appreciation that the “opponent” is also motivated to do the best for the people, too.



The sloganeering about “projects in the National interest”, or “this will be the death of collective bargaining” are news bytes that are usually half-truths that have the effect of dividing the camps into “us: and “them”, ensuring conflict and delaying real action for the common good. So much conflict and so little resolution appear to be haunting our democratic society. The collapse of half-truth political promises, political groupthink, and disruptive strategies that disguise real agenda create an opportunity for reformation and real progress.

References

(2018, August 30). Federal Court of Appeal quashes construction approvals for Trans .... Retrieved August 30, 2018, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tasker-trans-mountain-federal-court-appeals-1.4804495

(2018, August 27). Letter Accusing Pope Leaves U.S. Catholics in Conflict - The New .... Retrieved August 31, 2018, from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/27/us/catholic-church-pope-francis-letter.html

(2018, August 30). Tide of investment set to recede from oilpatch amid more pipeline delays. Retrieved August 31, 2018, from https://business.financialpost.com/commodities/tide-of-investment-set-to-recede-from-oilpatch-amid-more-pipeline-delays

Truth, Beauty and Wealth

Three pursuits have stirred people for millennia. This curation of ideas is connected to a method to advance needed public discourse based on discipline that recognizes a common basic desire to pursue truth, beauty and wealth.

Immigration truth

 Michael Sandel, Harvard University political philosopher, delivered the 2017 LaFontaine-Baldwin lecture on the topic “Does Democracy Have a Future?” It was broadcast on the CBC Program Ideas in Nov 2017. He cites two tendencies at work in western society that threaten democratic ideals. (1) We have become a market society where everything is up for sale. (2) Our public discourse is such that the participants are not listening to each other nor engaging in real argument.

Discuss the important issues

He argues that citizens want to engage big questions of justice, equality, and inequality and are frustrated with politicians who avoid discussing more consequential concerns.

Ayun Halliday, writing about The Hobo Ethical Code of 1889, claims that hoboes prided themselves on their self-reliance and honesty, as well as their compassion for their fellow humans.

1. Decide your own life; don’t let another person run or rule you.
2. When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times.
3. Don’t take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation, locals or other hobos.
4. Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. By doing so you not only help a business along, but ensure employment should you return to that town again.
5. When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts.
6. Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals’ treatment of other hobos.
7. When jungling in town, respect handouts, do not wear them out, another hobo will be coming along who will need them as badly, if not worse than you.
8. Always respect nature, do not leave garbage where you are jungling.
9. If in a community jungle, always pitch in and help.
10. Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible.
11. When traveling, ride your train respectfully, take no personal chances, cause no problems with the operating crew or host railroad, act like an extra crew member.
12. Do not cause problems in a train yard, another hobo will be coming along who will need passage through that yard.
13. Do not allow other hobos to molest children; expose all molesters to authorities…they are the worst garbage to infest any society.
14. Help all runaway children, and try to induce them to return home.
15. Help your fellow hobos whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday.

David A. Zubik comments that we need to recapture the sacredness of language. It is through words that we express life, that we express all that we love, all that we fundamentally believe. He suggests “Nine Rules for Civility and Integrity for Faith Communities and Everyone Else.” They come from his  experience in ecumenical and interfaith dialogues, from which he has learned much and has formed treasured friendships with faith leaders of other traditions. We can disagree on profound theological and social issues but love what we see in each other’s hearts.

In a healthy, civil dialogue, we listen to one another
Civil conversation presumes that we are each working for the common good
Any civil public discussion recognizes the validity of contending groups in society
Civility shows respect for the person with whom I differ
Civility works for the inclusion of all members of society
Civility distinguishes between facts and opinions
The flip side to this rule is that facts can only take us so far
We should not assume or impugn motives
We must be willing to be self-critical

The audio of the discussion led by Michael Sandel is an example of people of differing views on immigration advancing public discourse to reveal truth to all participants.

References
(2017, November 28). Michael Sandel - CBC. Retrieved June 27, 2018, from https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/why-democracy-depends-on-how-we-talk-to-each-other-michael-sandel-1.4423076
(2016, November 18). The Hobo Ethical Code of 1889: 15 Rules for Living a ... - Open Culture. Retrieved August 22, 2018, from http://www.openculture.com/2016/11/the-hobo-ethical-code-of-1889.html
(2018, June 26). 9 rules for civility from the Catholic tradition | America Magazine. Retrieved June 27, 2018, from https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/06/26/9-rules-civility-catholic-tradition