Catholic Church Says Polluting = Sin

[carolathompson]

Im not religious in any way.......But lets relate this to the DR, where a large % of the population is catholic. If this in any way will change some of how they recycle, it can only be a good thing there. If anything that appals me when visiting, that would be it. Much litter on streets and in the early am on the beach after drifting in over night. And not to mention no recycling what so ever of glass, plastic, paper.
A great business venture , with someone with casholla.

[Chip]

Originally Posted by Chris

Chip, I know very little about this, so, a simple question, perhaps a stupid one .. Is it a common thing for the Church to involve itself in such 'wordly' issues? It is almost as if they are Legislating the issue. Hmmm, I've just realized, those that are violently against the concept of climate change, and are catholics, may just have a problem.

I have always been an advocate of trying to put one's beliefs into practices, and the Catholic Church has tried to do this, with varying success over the years. As far as climate changes goes, from a scientific point of view, it isn't generally accepted as fact, nonetheless, there are many other similar related issues we can take care that actually would overlap. To make this DR related, I'm not sure the CC could convince the policy makers to do anything but window dressing, although I do know the Church has spoken out about the corruption here, who knows....

As far as buying indulgences, that is so 15th century - here are the real facts... make note of the reforms made centuries ago, yet somehow people still talk about it if it were happening today!

Myths about Indulgences

[mkohn]

Another way for the CC to control the people.
I think it will be yet one more reason for people to stop going to the CC.
The first thing the CC taught me was that I have free will.
The last thing I expect from them is to tell me how to exercise my free will.
Some day, everyone will understand that pollution harms mother earth and the environment even if you have no religion.
It's called Natural Law, and the consequences are also natural. You've heard of the Law of Attraction (The Secret) (but it really is simpler than that - you put your keys on the table. Then you put your wallet, then you empty your pockets and eventually the table is full of stuff - attracted by the other stuff there...
It's not nice to fool Mother Nature. mkohn ...sorry 'bout the soap box

[Chirimoya]

Originally Posted by mkohn

Some day, everyone will understand that pollution harms mother earth and the environment even if you have no religion.

It's worked for me

As I watched the person in front of me at the supermarket check-out get her smallish amount of shopping packed into about 50 plastic bags this morning, I wondered if I should say something about the Vatican, but on balance, I kept my mouth firmly shut.

[Chip]

Originally Posted by mkohn

Some day, everyone will understand that pollution harms mother earth and the environment even if you have no religion.

Just like someday people will realize killing is harmful to society, right? What makes you think "people" will realize this on their own if we have been messing it up royally for the last 10,000 years? BTW, this has nothing to do with the CC, just your view seems real naive. Next will get rid of all laws and gov't and everybody will do what they want, oh yeah we already did that - Somalia, nice place to visit they tell me.

[CyaBye3015]

From my perspective the 10 commandments are obeyed about the same as the traffic laws in the DR!

Think about it!

OK, bring on the hate mail.

[Chip]

Originally Posted by CyaBye3015

From my perspective the 10 commandments are obeyed about the same as the traffic laws in the DR!

Think about it!

OK, bring on the hate mail.

No doubt, but then again isn't this typical of most places in the world? As far as the CC promoting environmental responsibility, I would think it would be a no brainer to have someone else in the camp to promote the ideals. Then again, since apparently only non Catholics appear to be paying attention anyway, what is the big deal then?

[Chirimoya]

Consider that the countries with the best environmental records are also those where religion is in decline - i.e. western Europe.
I'm sure that there are many sincerely religious people who are also environmentally conscious, but it is also possible to be a moral/environmentally aware person for its own sake, not out of fear of eternal damnation.

[Chip]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

Consider that the countries with the best environmental records are also those where religion is in decline - i.e. western Europe.
I'm sure that there are many sincerely religious people who are also environmentally conscious, but it is also possible to be a moral/environmentally aware person for its own sake, not out of fear of eternal damnation.

Actually this is only a very, very recent phenomenom, as most of the flora and fauna of these areas were made extinct by man. Furthermore, I'm 100% sure that the percentage of "clean" rivers and lakes in Europe are less than that of the US. As far as groundwater goes, let us just say, for the most part the public water supply is not potable in the Europe like in the US. Furtheremore, I doubt that EU has spent than a less of a tenth of environmental cleanup activies like the US, ie Superfund, and given that the development in Europe predates the US and has always been more concentrated, needless to say it is a royal mess.

Like I said before, we have had 10,000 years to "awaken", what's our problem then?

[Keith R]

A cautionary note, guys & gals: let's not have this thread wander off into "who's better at environmental protection: Europe vs. US" debate, ok?

Keith R
Environment Forum moderator