Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego called for divestment from oil companies during this week’s assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
McElroy criticized a document draft on social spending by the Church, saying that it was “weak” on fossil fuels and should have included language about divesting from oil in order to slow climate change.
The document was meant to limit Church funding and investments in institutions and corporations that offend against “human dignity.”
“During the first day of public meetings the bishops also considered new socially responsible investment guidelines,” reported Carol Zimmerman of Catholic News Service. “A draft document of guidelines governing the USCCB’s financial investments includes wider limits on where money would be invested and advances a policy of engagement on corporate practices that impact human dignity.”
McElroy “questioned why there was little mention of fossil fuels in the document, describing the section as being ‘weak,’ given that the Vatican and Pope Francis have encouraged divestment from such energy sources as needed to slow climate change,” Zimmerman reported:
He said that fossil fuel investments were extensively discussed by the working group that prepared the guidelines. The group decided, he said, “it’s not possible now to achieve a complete end” to fossil fuel investment and determined it was best to give financial advisers working with the USCCB “room” to determine which investments were appropriate….
The above comes from a Nov. 17 report from Catholic Vote.
i didn’t know he had a degree in petroleum engineering
Yes, it’s a BS.
Does the good bishop intend to help fund the heating and electricity bills for poor families as our ‘green’ energy costs continue to go sky-high? I mean out of his own pocket? Didn’t think so.
Who is us auditing fuel oil and fossil based electricity as those go sky high
Take this fwiw.
A local parish made a real big deal about installing solar panels on the Church and support buildings. But, ended up cutting down about a dozen beautiful old eucalyptus trees that had been on site for hundreds of years. The cutting was done to allow for better sunlight penetration of the roofs.
I just dont think these folks know what they are about.
Easier to make a big fuss over fossil fuels or solar panels then go out and do missionary work or outreach to the Faithful. This same place took three years to install a “coffee bar” too. Sheesh.
Where was this parish? If it was in Australia, yes cutting down the Eucalyptus trees would be sad. But here in California they’re considered an invasive species and have arguably caused more harm than good.
As soon as McElroy doesn’t rely on fossil fuels for anything, only then will he have credibility. Let’s count: He uses a car (gasoline), he flew in an airplane to the meeting (jet fuel), he uses electricity (coal), he enjoys backyard BBQs (charcoal). Give it up, you ideologue.
Anonymous,
More to the point, why not ask him to “Give it up, you hypocrite, poseur and know-it-all”? His doctoral degrees are in theology and political “science”. The latter may be good training for this politician in a cassock, but what expertise do they convey about geology, extractive activities and climate change? McElroy answers that climate change and what we must do about it—in part—implicate moral theology analyses; and his theology doctorate earns him the right to offer solutions and time-frames for action. I have no problem with granting him that much.
But he seems to want a lot more. If you’ve read what he says at USCCB meetings and in other forums, he acts as if his solutions and time frames are the ONLY ones faithful to the Church’s social justice teaching. He’s a one-man infallibility machine! No other reasonable—but not identical—solutions and/or time frames are morally acceptable. Only his own reflect authentic Church teaching.
It is ok to use product (such as gas or medicines) and avoid investing in the companies who make them. That is not hypocritical. You can be a consumer and not be an investor.
If you were going to avoid investing in a drug company because the make contraceptives or abortion pill and used another medicine of theirs it is not hypocritical.
In addition to the unsolicited pontificating on behalf of his brother bishops, Bishop McElroy should probably get out of his car, back off on the pizza and cheeseburgers and start riding his bike and walking to work. Good for the environment and good for his health.
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/bishop-mcelroy-voting-faith-and-conscience
No oil! Stop baptisms and confirmations! Drive a Tesla (like HIs Excellency?) and ignore the inconvenient truth that more than 60 percent of our electricity comes from fossil fuels. Feel-good environmentalism makes you feel good and who cares if China and Russia skipped the global climate conference. Preach the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. If someone persists in using fossil fuels, they should be denied Holy Communion. Get with it people.
I should have known better than to expect a science based based response from the CCD commentariat.
Bishops, including the Pope, and the Church are to teach regarding matters of faith and morality, not science. It seems that, in recent years, some prefer to pontificate on politics and scientific speculation more than on doctrine and intrinsic evils. And, Sara is correct, where do you think most of our electricity, including that for electric vehicles, comes from?
Science has implications for faith and morality. Otherwise, the Church would have nothing to say about the beginning of life or it’s end. She would have nothing to say about the immorality of polluting the water supply or drug abuse. She would have nothing to say about the age of the universe or how many days it took to be created. Need info on?
YFC your “science” is political propaganda…nothing else
YFC – It’s not so much the “science” as the lies and liars.
The current mandarins running instiutional science have zero cred with me. Fauci’s repeated lies on the efficacy of masks and the Wuhan lab gain of function testing we funded. As and old guy, I suffered thru 50 plus years of lies from the eviro doomsday creeps shouting their predictions about famine to KILLER BEES and the coming ice age by 2020 or is it the melting polar caps by 1990?
Our current institutions breed skepticism and disdain from the non credulous such as myself. Your snarky comment just shows that you are part of the problem.
I wasn’t aware that the UScCB issued a statement on killer bees.
global warming is hooey
Climate change is certainly a lot of hot air ;)
This is about what the USCCB invests in.
In the meantime, Jesus Christ is still the one Savior of the world from whom come grace and truth and the power to become children of God to those who believe in His Name (John 1); for us who are born again from above by water and the Holy Spirit (John 3:5), who feed off His Flesh and drink His Blood for eternal life and resurrection on the last day (John 6:51-58), and in whom the the Father and the Son make their dwelling when one keeps the Father’s word (John14:23). But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. (M t6:33). This is what I was baptized to live, ordained to preach, teach, and sanctify, as were all other clerics and all Christians who serve the God who teaches us: you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1Peter 2:9)
I feel like this is such a non-story that the purpose must be to feed the McElroy haters.
no, I know of no one who hates Bishop McElroy. To critique his statements about issues on which he is not an expert is not hatred. Just because people disagree doesn’t make those on either side of an issue “haters.”
How long have you been reading comments here?
That was an honest question.
For a couple of years, at least. And, I’ve seen those on “both sides” of many issues stoop to name-calling and unfairly judging the motives of the “other side.”
Here’s another honest question, where’s the evidence of hatred of Bishop McElroy?
It would be helpful to be more civil in our disagreements and cool the heated accusations (especially of the motives of others).
Thank you for answering. I have been reading comments here and being horrified by some of them for over a decade. “Haters” are critics in today’s parlance and if you have been reading a couple of years, I am sure that you have seen lots of criticism of Bishop McElroy.
.
There have been very hateful comments about Bishop McElroy here. Just on this article, he is accused of conspiring to destroy the Church, being a hypocrite, a poseur and a know-it-all, etc…you can read them.
If you want to, you can use the search to find other articles and read the comments there.
But that was not the point. They point was ‘this is so not important.” The website is from San Diego so maybe it has more importance there.
Ha…no…McElroy feeds his ‘haters’ just fine on his own….it does seem, thankfully that bishops in his class (Cupich, Mahoney et al) are being given less of a voice more and more, as the USCCB either closes ranks on these guys or descend fully to the ‘irrelevant’ category.
Just read some of the comments here: “insufferable pomp,” “someone take our Bishop,” “these are not bishops, but Democrat hacks.” That last one right there shows you where most of the commentariat here is coming from: that is, their Republican-party affiliation precedes their Catholicism. I happen to disagree with the proposal that the Church divest from fossil fuels, but if I am really earnest about my disagreement, I’d call or write the Bishop’s office.
and you’d get no response.
Do it anyway. Send your comments to the USCCB-I think you could send it to the public affairs office or general. If you use the form on the website, you should get a response.
Well, now that he has removed that terrible “no communion for pro-abortion politicians” issue, it is time for some real religious work – no fossil fuels.
How do priests in the San Diego diocese tolerate this insufferable pomp?
Some retire
Now that’s Thumbs Up funny.
The Bishop could achieve more if he asked us better questions. Does burning coal to make electricity contribute to global warming? Yes, then let’s try to reduce the use of coal over the next few years. Does burning oil/gas contribute to global warming? Yes, then let’s try to reduce the use of oil/gas over the next few years. Does the use of solar and wind technology to produce electricity reduce the need for coal/oil/gas? Yes, so let’s increase the use of those technologies over the next few years. Why not increase investments in new technologies and reduce investments in old technologies over the next few years to help speed up the process of change? He may be on to something, but just irritates some people who would be upset if he saide the sun came up this morning.
Bob One is wrong as usual “s. Does the use of solar and wind technology to produce electricity reduce the need for coal/oil/gas? Yes, ” this is a giant lie. But Bob One cares little for truth. No McElroy is not onto anything he is a leftwing propogandist. Bob One has not problem shutting down fossil fuel industries throwing hundred of thousands of people out of work so as its for the “common good” to keep the lie of climate change moving forward. I am truly hoping for a schism so will no longer have to be in a Church with people like McElroy, YFC and Bob One.
Well bohemond, you don’t need a schism to leave the Church that includes Bob One, Bishop McElroy, and myself. All you have to do is declare yourself an apostate and you’ve done it all by yourself.
YFC Your church replaced the Cross with rainbow flag
Sorry no it didn’t and there are no rainbow flags in my church. Sorry to disappoint.
bohemond, 374,000 people work in solar generation and 187,000 in fossil fuel electric generation. We are talking about a transformation that will occur over a ten or more years, not next week. If, in the sunbelt, new houses and reconstructed houses were required to have solar on the roof, think of the oil and coal we would not use. Coal-fired electric plants are closing down because they are not efficient. By the way, the climate is changing.
Bob One – Wind and Solar power together contribute less than 4% of our US power. Windmills generate much noise and kill birds. And we all know what LA is like in the summer. (Wind? Wind? What wind!) (And, wind power? What wind power?) And solar power panel output decreases radically after a dozen years or so…So a good suggestion for Bob One and his like thinking friends, is that they turn off their power (well, let’s allow one light bulb per household). That way, the rest of us can have power, thanks to the sacrifices of Bob. (And don’t forget to clean out your fridge, Bob, when the power goes off). Also, please, Bob, trash your computer and auto. You will be much healthier walking that 12 miles to work, and it will be pleasantly totally black at night, for a long good night’s sleep (and Bob, don’t forget to snuff that candle!) China thanks you Bob and friends, for proposing to totally kill US factories, and our economy. Oh, what Patriots!
As an investment strategy, most people want to invest in growth industries like wind and solar, and avoid industries in decline like coal and other fossil fuels. Purely as a return-on-investment question, investing in Industries growing rapidly from a present 4% market share to one that will surely be 40 or 60% or more makes Bishop McElroy correct on that basis alone, let alone on the environmental aspects.
Do you have a degree in economics, YFC?
wind and solar don’t succeed without government subsidies. they are unreliable sources of energy. we’re not abandoning fossil fuels anytime soon. how about democrats give everyone a pot of gold and a leprechaun and a flying unicorn while they’re at it?
No degree no degree. I’m just an elitist remember?
Funny, isnt it, that when presented with actual logic or fact, rather than refute the logic, they attack the person raising the point.
Go ahead. Invest in industries inin decline. What do I care?
hmmm.. iinteresting stat. I’m not a big believer in stats as I can find some other comparisons. Ack this is no electric generation only.
per the brookings institute fwiw. 2019, In 2019, nearly 1.7 million people worked in fossil fuel industries, which include extraction activities such as mining, electricity generation, utility construction, pipelines, and other related manufacturing.
I do support renewable energy. I’m just realistic about it and don’t think we should eliminate fossil fuel tech anytime soon. If renewables really are viable, tech and the market will drive it and not government overreach and mandates as you’ve noted.
Man made climate change is nonsense.
I suppose you double majored in climatology and virology?
Bob One and his crowd would eagerly shutdown an industry that sins against his god of the climate
Please, someone take our Bishop.
Since he’s from the Bay Area and liberal Democrat (is that redundant? are there any other kind anymore?) Congressperson Jackie Speier decided not to run, or stand, for re-election, there is an opening.
Clergy are not supposed to run for political office, but, given the amount of the bishop’s politicking, maybe…
Not a chance, thank you.
We should be grateful he is just worried about “climate change”. In Australia, Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane has ordered all clerics in his archdiocese to receive vaccination by December 15. No conscience exemptions.
I will keep saying it over and over again these are not Roman Catholic bishops they are Democrats hacks plain and simple. If you want to see a real Roman Catholic prelate look no farther than in His Grace Cardinal Burke, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, Archbishop Cordieone, Bishop Schneider, not many but they stand for the Holy Faith.
McElroy simply can’t be bothered with such trivialities as prices, wages, cost of living. He lives a womb-to-tomb sort of socialism. Oops, make that ordination-to-cremation.
Are these Bishops as you we’re, afraid of the final judgment and damnation? 50 years and they are still at it, destroying what is left of the Churche.
Excuse me I meant Church my typo.
Bishop McElroy is correct. The sooner there are fewer vehicles and industries powered by petroleum the better. A hospitable planet is necessary for spreading the Gospel and saving souls.
The ‘planet’ was anything but ‘hospitable’ in the first, second and third centuries and the Gospel spread just fine…
Complete and utter nonsense….
his ecological concerns are misplaced
his entire diocese is one good earthquake
away from having canals, pipelines and
reservoirs crumble.
san diego county imports over 80% of its water
from norcal y colorado rio
Anyone with a modicum of knowledge of chemistry and physics knows the energy content of oil and coal is unbeatable given its low cost and ease of transport. The environmental impacts have largely been mitigated and will continue to improve.
The world’s large population and longer, healthier lifespans was enabled by cheap, abundant energy. When this is outlawed, as is currently underway, this will necessarily lead to the premature deaths of those who will no longer be affordably fed, housed or clothed, and will consign billions into living shorter, less healthy lives. Millions of those on the margins will die at the hands of this green dictatorship.
This is Jonestown on a global scale. It is evil. It is an attack on life. It is of the devil. And it must be resisted.
True cheap energy lengthened lifespans. But continued pouring of carbon into the atmosphere will shorten it. We need cheap energy that doesn’t put greenhouse gases into the air. But hey, that’s just science.
“But hey, that’s just science” ba ha ha more leftist snark from the LGBT elitist.
I hope you’ll let my bank know that I’m an elitist. I think they think I’m one step away from overdrawing.
What does money have to do with being an elitist?
Despite your bank balance.,.,your views align perfectly with ruling oligarchs….
Mr Bill:
you make WAY too much sense
certain individuals round these parts
can’t handle that much truth
Shame on you Bishop! Get your elitist nose out of politics with your radical agenda. This is disgraceful.
He has nothing to be ashamed of and neither do you.. It is not disgraceful. If you want to share your opinion on how the USCCB should invest it’s money, contact them.
I have always found church leaders to be open to the laity providing they are respectful and not rude or mean or insulting or arrogant. (They are humans and humans have a natural aversion to those things.)