Letters

New religion

Peter Donald

Contents - Dec 2009 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Benedict XVI: When God entered human history - Pope Benedict XVI Ut Unum Sint: Benedict XVI eases way for Anglicans wishing to 'cross the Tiber' - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Marriage: A Biblical defence of marriage: Africans take the lead - Babette Francis Victoria: Abortion evil: pro-life forces need to be united - John Morrissey Episcopacy: Church leadership responsibilities: an American case study - Phil Lawler Events: Melbourne - The Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (1962 Missal) How to get Vatican II back on track: a bishop's prescription - Bishop R. Walker Nickless (Sioux City, Iowa) Foundations of Faith: The Eucharist: what the Old and New Testaments tell us - Br Barry Coldrey Vatican II: Yves Congar, Vatican II, ecumenism: finding the right balance - Andrew Kania Saints: Saint Damien of Molokai: Robert Louis Stevenson's prediction fulfilled Letters: New religion - Peter Donald Letters: Stewardship - Peter Finlayson Letters: Greens and Church - Kevin Cains Letters: Climate change - A.R. (Tony) Grieve Letters: Lost opportunity - Maureen Federico Letters: Saint Damien of Molokai - Arnold Jago Letters: Women priests - Ken Bayliss Letters: Complementarity - Kathleen Wood Books: 111 QUESTIONS ON ISLAM: Samir Khalil Samir SJ on Islam and the West - Michael E Daniel (reviewer) Books: THE MASS AND THE SAINTS, by Thomas Crean OP - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: IMAGES OF HOPE, EUROPE TODAY AND TOMORROW, by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: This month's selection from AD Books Reflection: The sacrament of Christian marriage: a nuptial Mass homily - Fr Glen Tattersall

The report by John Morrissey (November AD2000) on the alarmist address on behalf of what amounts to a climate change 'religion' was most apt. I attended the speech, sponsored by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, which was advertised as 'an Australian Catholic response to climate change.'

The speaker, Fr Rue, quoted from papal documents out of context, attacked Cardinal Pell for his 'ignorance of science', and insulted all who disagreed. Indeed, personal attack seems typical of those who lack the scientific curiosity or knowledge to conduct a rational discussion.

Fr Rue displayed an unquestioning belief in the pronouncements of the IPCC (in reality a political body) and its unvalidated computer models whose predictions over the past 20 years have totally failed. He also declined to discuss scientific issues that are central to man-made global warming theory.

When it was pointed out that all four temperature data sets used by the IPCC showed no temperature rise since 1998, and falls since 2002, he still insisted global temperatures were rising.

The global climate movement is in essence an urban fundamentalist atheistic religion, an offshoot of secular humanism. An irrational belief system, it fills the void left by discredited Western socialism and failed Western Christianity.

Many observers suggest it answers a need for religion, with the carbon footprint symbolising human sinfulness and absolution obtainable by driving a hybrid vehicle or purchasing carbon credits.

Global governance, population control (including abortion promotion), redistribution of wealth, usually to the detriment of the poor and those in underdeveloped countries, are all part of the green agenda.

Australia's Professor Barry Walters, writing in The Medical Journal of Australia, advocates a $5,000 levy and an annual carbon tax of $800 per child while Professor Clive Hamilton, a local green activist seeking a parliamentary seat, believes the democratic process may have to be suspended to pursue the green ideology.

Commenting on climate change issues, Benedict XVI has cautioned that responses must be based on firm scientific evidence, not on dubious environmentalist ideology. The world needs to care for the environment but not to the point where plant and animal welfare is given priority over mankind.

The theory that mankind's contribution to increasing carbon dioxide levels is the main driver of climate change has been thoroughly tested and failed. It is time to put political correctness aside and base our actions on reason and evidence rather than ideology.

PETER DONALD
Balwyn, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 22 No 11 (December 2009 - January 2010), p. 14