The following comes from an April 14 Daily Caller article by Michael Bastach:
California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer went after a Catholic priest in a Wednesday hearing for supposedly questioning the pope’s statements on the dangers of man-made global warming.
“So do you disagree with the pope when he says that climate change is one of the biggest issues,” Boxer asked Father Robert Sirico of the conservative Acton Institute.
“I’m very grateful for your defense of the pope. Perhaps not in all of his magisterial authority and the cherry-picking of this or that,” Sirico tried to respond before being interrupted by Boxer.
“I can ask you what I want,” she said. “Do you disagree with the pope on climate change, it’s a simple yes or no.”
Boxer, who is Jewish, was trying to get Sirico to say he disagreed with the pope on global warming.
“When the pope says things that have to do with science, he does not speak from the magisterial authority of the church. When he speaks on moral issues, such as abortion and contraception and the like, then he speaks on magisterial authority,” Sirico responded before again being interrupted.
“So who’s cherry-picking?” Boxer said. “You’re saying that when the planet is facing all these problems, it’s not a moral issue.”
“I never said that,” Sirico said. “Where did I say that? Could you give me that quotation, senator?”
“You just said it, sir,” she said. “Sir, you receive money form the Koch brothers, from Exxon, you disagree with the pope… I think you ought to have a talk with Reverend Nelson.”
“Who is by the way, not a scientist,” Sirico responded.
Boxer was referring to the the Presbyterian minister who also paneled the hearing. Nelson told Congress he’s worry about global warming’s impacts and encouraged policymakers to push more wind and solar energy onto the grid.
“[T]here is no greater measure of God’s abundant provision than that of the energy provided by the sun and wind,” Nelson said, according to his prepared remarks.
The Acton Institute promotes the ideas and the interests of the wealthiest 1%. It is to conservative Catholics what liberation theology is to radical Catholics. Both viewpoints are extreme and to be avoided. Jesus was neither a capitalist or a socialist.
He wasn’t? Capitalism and socialism are not opposites. Rather, freedom and socialism are opposites. Capitalism is a subset of freedom and cannot exist except where freedom exists. Jesus said that the truth will set you free. Accept Christ as Truth, and you will have freedom, including the freedom to work and receive the fruits of your own labor. That’s part of the right to life. It’s also called capitalism.
In Jesus’ parable of the talents-Jesus sure sounds like an Investment Banker to me.
Baloney. I contribute to Acton and they do great educational work. You should check out their PovertyCure project. They understand free enterprise and how it can be used to better people’s lives in a morally responsible fashion. Regrettably, I’d have to say the pope does not.
And the relevance of Senator Boxer’s religion is?
Glad you asked? Alex Epstein who is in the video is of Jewish descent, too, and he thinks Barbara Boxer is wrong. He has had as much science or more than she has had, and notice how Senator Boxer told Fr. Sirico he should listen to Rev. Nelson, who is not a scientist either. I saw, too, how it looked as if one or two of Boxer’s aides mouthed in the background that Fr. Sirico was right about Nelson not being a scientist. I doubt the Jews for Life would agree with Boxer liberal abortion stand either.
The relevance? Humor. And, of course, irony. A secular Jewish marxist putting the screws to an orthodox Catholic priest over his supposed lack of fealty to the Pope. I swear, you can’t write this stuff.
Barbara Boxer and Pope Francis? Like politics, Globaloneyism sure makes Strange Bedfellows. But I’d call them Consenting Adults.
The same as Father Sirico and the Pope being Catholic, and the Senator attempting to set them apart in belief in an attempt to discredit both Catholics as the same time.
Much like the President of Brazil, she should be Impeached.
This article has what objective? There is a loony Priest who disagrees with science, which is true even if you don’t believe and a Senator who wants to make him look loony. This article is not about the faith, the church or religion in any way. The editors have overreached on this one.
And Barbara Boxer is a big fan of killing babies. “Climate change” is a mouse sneeze compared to that!
This article is not about the faith, the church or religion in any way…
So the pope, who was mentioned at least six times in the article, is not Catholic?
This article has what objective?
I’d say comedic relief. These days we could sure use some.
Fr. Sirico is far from crazy. Climate change has gone on all down through history, even before fossil fuel was used. Greenland was called Greenland as it was much greener and warmer.
We do have to conserve and find alternate ways of doing things, but even using corn for ethanol causes problems; it raises the price of corn for food for the poor. Our modern “windmills” make some country sides look uglier here in California, and the politicians — mostly Democrat – fight over where to put them.. There are no pat answers.
I don’t know whether Fr. Sirico isn’t crazy, but some people on this site clearly are. Ignore the data, the science, the visible evidence, and it will be to your peril. You are more afraid of ugly windmills than oil being burned into CO2, having been bought from, and enriching jihadi Saudi’s, who are killing Christians using our money? Seriously?
So what is YOUR answer to all this, Anonymous, without this country’s citizens losing good paying jobs in the coal industry, etc.? Does this government plan on providing for and training those already here that are losing their jobs, all the while they keep bringing in more people, some of whom are terrorists or want Shariah Law? What is the answer, Anonymous, since you are so smart?
There are lots more jobs to be had in creating a vibrant clean energy sector, one that uses and exports technology all around the planet. And those jobs carry little risk of mine collapses and black lung. I’ve never been clear how a Catholic can possibly justify morally, the purchase of oil from terroristic states, then pays for N endless war against them. The true cost of energy, when you take the war and “defense” spending into account is far greater than what we pay at the pump.
…maybe we should drill in this country, Anonymous, and cut the Saudis off completely. Become energy independent? The greenies would hate that, of course, their being more inclined to break the back of the United States….much like they are attempting to break the back of Holy Mother Church.
If the States actually led by that kind of example, that is being energy independent, supplying jobs for her own people, and using the profits to generously fund R&D efforts to find logical, sustainable alternatives, that would really be something.
But no. To your own peril only seems to matter now when facing down the physical. Counter gospel, friend. Seriously!
Exactly, Ann Malley. They fool no one.
A correction to my last post: Greenland was not all that warm when it was named though there were green parts of it; nevertheless, in the ancient past it had been a lot warmer than it is now. Anyone can google all this on line.
And anyone can google online how crazy climate change deniers are. Please, please do so. The planet hangs in the balance.
No one is denying that the climate changes. That is a no brainer. What to do about it without losing good paying jobs but still having clean water, air and so forth is the problem. Another thing, environmentalist never, or seldom, mention is how the residue from the estrogen in the birth control pill and some plastics that gets into our water ways is destroying our fish — deforming them sexually. There are non religious websites that record all this.
Jesus likely seemed crazy to many too, Anonymous. Your point?
Bob One:
I am a science and religion teacher. “Belief” is for matters of faith. One doesn’t “believe” science. One is convinced by current evidence and arguments from evidence or not, and that conviction is always contingent on what new evidence or new arguments may be forthcoming.
And in the matter of human relations: no one is ever brow-beaten into either real faith or conviction by false accusations of mental illness. Frankly, that’s Soviet tactics.
“Bob One”: You are incorrect. Father Sirico is hardly “loony” although your comments as to Senator Boxer are more correct than not. You try to use a debater’s trick of using ad hominum attacks to avoid the issue at hand. Global warming (yes, yes, they changed the name because it was not getting much political traction) is very debatable; that is, warming caused by actions of Mankind (not the historic change of weather, which may well be happening).
It is also a favorite trick of totalitarian governments to raise an issue (when out of power), demand to at least be heard, then, once in power, to demand total control, saying that all issues “have been settled.” Many in science disagree with the impact of Man’s life style on…
I wish all our priests were as ‘loony’ as Fr. Sirico! I’d pay cash money to see a real, open debate between Fr. Sirico and Sen. (don’t call her ‘ma’m’) Boxer. One where she can’t hide behind her elevated platform and elevated title. As to science, 1) there’s no such thing as ‘settled science’; 2) science is a reliable methodology, not Absolute Truth; and 3) computer model output is not data. Extrapolate at your own risk!
Let be totally clear Bob One believes whatever the liberal talking points are…he has proven that over and over….
Climate change or whatever the Left calls it these days is their “religion” just like abortion is also part of their sacraments. Why would Boxer who happens to be Jewish attack a Roman Catholic priest who is just telling the truth? Liberalism is a mental disorder just like Michael Savage has stated for over 20 years.
What is it with these Hillariesque female politicians and their finger pointing and interrupting? Good grief. It’s a harridan stereotype run amok. So too is the trained male add on of anyone who calls out Global Warming propaganda as “looney.”
The editors have not overreached on this one, but a good many “useful” individuals are happy enough to add their two cents of pop-culture bias.
Thanks CCD for reporting what you do!
Global Warming or Climate Change however the politicians want to hide or sugar-coat its current title is an immoral issue. Immoral not in this case on its unproven uncanny theories, but on how it is deceiving the greater public who take the politicians word for it. It is nothing but a scam by a few of the “elite” who like to pull the world strings to cheat and fraudulently extort more money from the rest of the less fortunate people and industries that end up milking their customers. The laughable part of it is, the “elite” won’t be able to take it with them, not even if there were gambling casinos in hell.
I get a kick out of those innocents whose faith in science is so unshakeable that they forget that “science” once taught us such irrefutable “facts” as the one about molecules being the tiniest building blocks of matter. That “fact” was subsequently discarded in favor of the “fact” that the atom was the new King of Tiny — another “fact” that was later modified when it was noticed that atoms had components. Now we know that the components have components. I’ll stop with quarks, but you get the idea — or you should get the idea, namely, that “science” by its nature is subject to revision, and that those who loudly bellow their belief that global warming is “settled science” only reveal their ignorance and their fear that new…
The video illustrates Soft Tyranny in action! Anyone who thinks for himself and does not hop on the bandwagon and drink the Kool-Aid of this global warming hoax will have Hell to pay from the likes of Sen. Barbara Boxer.
Boxer Baiting
Boxer presents hyrself as Jewish, although whether she is ‘kosher’ (a pun) is for others of that Faith to offer insight.
Regardless – Babs is clearly trying to ms.apply Catholic Doctrine (Papal Infallibility – on Certain Matters related directly to Catholic Faith) – Testing a Priest to essentially Denounce the Pope Contrary to Catholic Doctrine…
– Because he dared disagree about the Science of a topic currently under debate, which in no way is a matter of Papal Authority
Galileo proved the Earth wasn’t the center of the Solar System, but thought the Sun the Center of the Universe
I Believe Earth is the Center of Gods Plan for Humanity – and its multitude of Sinners (I am one) Worth Saving I Hope.
(Part Deux) “. . . climate. However, true to historic form, the Totalitarians insist that they not be heard, and that now, the force of law be brought against them for “fraud” for not conforming to questionable science. This is bunk, and it is unconstitutional, as those attacking Exxon will ultimately discover (unless someone evil, like Hillary Clinton, becomes President and appoints Political Judges of the Lap Dog variety).
Oh yes, Fr. Sirico is very correct about the Pope. He is only a man, and speaks with no authority, when voicing opinions about science. No Catholic is obligated to believe anything Francis, and his nutter Vatican staff, say about Global Warming (as they deface the walls of the Vatican with monkey pictures).
Sirico did well. Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit would inform us of what to say when we are brought before authorities. Fr. Sirico has the Holy Spirit. Senator Boxer has a spirit, but not the Holy Spirit.
Sirco always does well. This is what we need more good and holy priests who speak out. Thank you Fr. Richard.
THANKS, Fr. Sirico
Pope Francis wrote the Laudato Si Encyclical with the United Nations Leadership who are all population controllers and would be happy to return the earth to “Adam and Eve” condition. The Pope is supposed to present Catholic doctrine not play scientist and economist. e.g. The encyclical condemns Carbon Dioxide — look it up. The cows are to blame– but who made the cows? Your research will tell you that the CD expelled by those nasty cows is actually recycled to OUR BENEFIT
THANK YOU Fr. Sirico, good job! Sorry you got attacked because of the confusion resulting from the Holy See of Rome publishing their feelings about climate change. I wish I could write the Holy See and explain how Global Warming = HOAX. Also I’d comment on how some off the cuff sharing of ‘feelings’ is creating confusion about Catholic Teaching out here in the Pews. We need a strong, clear leader to stand by traditions not a friend that shares what they personally think or feel. Love the Pope. Hate his socialist politics.
“FromThePew” is so right. In the words of a local priest/pastor, Global Warming is a great HOAX. And in the words of this former Chief Weather Observer [USAF], it indeed is a HOAX and a vehicle for control. As Fr. Sirico pointed out, this is prudential NOT magisterial!
Against the conservative Fr Sirico Boxer is a staunch supporter of the Pope’s secular stand on climate change. But I’ll bet Boxer t’aint a big supporter of the Pope’s stand on abortion, gay marriage, embryonic stem cell research, etc. Boxer must be a cafeteria Senator, eh!
Re: Global warming ~ it was warmer in the Middle Ages than it is now so how did that happen? . Thank you Father Sirico for your cool responses to Sen. Boxer.
The Boxers of this world will be boxed out at the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ King of Kings Lord God and Saviour in the not too distant future. Just look at the two serious earthquakes that too place in the last few days in Japan and Equador killing hundreds of people. These are the signs of the times. Our Lord God and Saviour is using these tragic events to warn mankind that the day of the Lord is at hand. Repent and pray for you do not know the day and hour that Jesus Christ will come back.