In the latest encyclical, "Laudato Si'" [1], Pope Francis delivers theology with consequences, though apparently not the theology many of his critics espouse, and not the consequences those critics want to see derived under any circumstances from any source—earthly or supernatural.

For believers in Scripture, the belief has, or should have, profound consequences in our lives and for our world. That Pope Francis should give practical advice based on the values affirmed in and derived from Scripture is thoroughly reasonable. And the advice he gives is worth more than reflection; it is a call to action that we ought to heed.

In the 1980s, the Moral Majority aimed to realize its ideals, to put into practice and enshrine in law the values it held. And, still heard on occasion, the phrase 'family values', most often voiced by conservative candidates for elective office, signals not just the holding of private views but ambition to transform our society by political action in ways that foster certain social arrangements and bring significant changes to culture where advocates see a need for improvement in our moral lives. In brief, values entail action.

Critics of the Pope for overstepping his boundaries should realize that theological views, no less than most moral, legal, social and political ideas, have consequences. And recognizing those consequences and communicating them are most appropriate for a leader of a church to do.

The values of the marketplace promoting the use of resources, including people, as only means to the production of wealth are attractive, since they foster productivity and efficiency in economic affairs, but they also threaten to cause harm if we lose sight of other, even more important values.

If our only goals are strength, power, command over nature and humanity, material accomplishment or wealth, and if the virtues of hospitality, compassion, charity, love are demeaned, diminished or disregarded, we will probably end up in a situation akin to the state of nature Thomas Hobbes claimed is the reason why humans created government and the rule of law—a state in which there is a 'war of all against all'. The moral circle must now include our planet. We must not go to war with it, lest the Earth, though unconscious in its reactions, cause us grievous harm: we cannot as a species violate nature without courting extinction.

Many political obstructionists and deniers of science are telling the Pope to mind his own business, stick to theology, let us alone. As if theology has nothing to do with the conduct of our lives.

Rick Santorum put it this way: “The Church has gotten it wrong a few times on science....We probably are better off leaving science to the scientists and focusing on what we're really good at which is theology and morality.” [2]

And then, having rid themselves of a meddlesome Pope, they have an easier time telling the scientists that they are wrong.

In a speech he gave in Steubenville, Ohio, Santorum said, “I refer to global warming as not climate science but political science.” [3] No doubt he said what he meant, but what he meant is completely wrong.

Many who prefer not to be upset, prefer not to be called to action of any kind, expect the Pope to discourse only on some fine points of theology, which can then be kept safely in an intellectual compartment where they are believed to have no impact on daily lives or politics.

For those who do not see the warnings that nature is giving us, the Pope in his encyclical gives nature a voice. If we ignore the warnings and spurn the counsel and fail to act appropriately, nature will surely exact an awesome price.

References

[1] Encyclical Letter LAUDATO SI’ Of The Holy Father Francis “On Care For Our Common Home” 2015-05-24.

[2] WPHT “Talk Radio 1210, The Dom Giordano Show.” http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2015/06/01/rick-santorum-on-pope-franci...

[3] Brad Johnson (reporter). www.thinkprogress.org/ http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/02/21/429072/santorum-i-refer-to-g... Posted 2012-02-21.

Bruenig, Elizabeth Stoker. “Conservatives misfire on ‘pagan green’ pope’s encyclical” Al Jazeera America 2015-01-17, http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/1/pope-francis-environment.html

Heer, Jeet. “The Last Time Conservatives Dismissed a Major Encyclical, It Ended Terribly for Them” The New Republic, 2015-06-17, http://www.newrepublic.com/article/122056/last-time-conservatives-dismis...

Lu, Rachel. “Don't Lose Sleep Over Climate Change Encyclical” Crisis Magazine. 2015-01-05,
http://www.crisismagazine.com/2015/dont-lose-sleep-climate-change-encycl...