Soon we will see an encyclical from Pope Francis on the issue of climate change. Already there is serious speculation on its likely impact – especially in the US, where Catholics are divided on the issue.
In preparation for this event we highlight here some web pages that will help readers to understand the pope’s concerns, and the likely themes to be covered by the encyclical.
One of these is likely to be the need for all Christians, and all of the great religious traditions of the world, to be discussing together how to collaborate in building a global momentum for concerted governmental action on this issue.
This discussion can begin any time, and readers are invited to submit their own views and suggestions to us here.
Click here to read the homily of May 2014, in which Pope Francis warns that ‘if we destroy creation, creation will destroy us’.
Click here to read Thomas Reese’s best guess as to what the pending encyclical is likely to say.
Click here for the website of the Global Catholic Climate movement, already endorsed by Pope Francis.
Click here for an NCR article on the psychological barriers to convincing a majority that climate change is an urgent moral and survival issue.
Click here for a Guardian article of December 2014, explaining why the pending encyclical is likely to anger rightist Catholics and other Christians in the US.
Guardian headline of December 27, 2014
Click here for an NCR article of June 6th, surveying conservative Catholic misgivings about the pope turning his attention to this issue. ‘Conservative corners have tepid take on Pope Francis’ environment encyclical’.