Republican lawmakers shrug off Pope Francis' climate message
Source: AP
Pope Francis' call for dramatic action on climate change drew a round of shrugs from congressional Republicans on Thursday, while many of the party's presidential candidates ignored it entirely.
"I don't want to be disrespectful, but I don't consider him an expert on environmental issues," said Texas Rep. Joe Barton, a senior Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee, in a comment echoed by a number of other Republicans.
Even Capitol Hill's many Catholics, despite their religion's reverence for the holy father, seemed unmoved by his urgent plea to save the planet. The reactions suggested that the pontiff's desire to translate his climate views into real action to combat greenhouse gases could fall flat, at least as far as the American political system is concerned.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, a Catholic who invited the pontiff to address Congress later this year, said the pope is not afraid to challenge thinking on various issues. "I respect his right to speak out on these important issues," Boehner said, but he demurred when asked whether Francis' views, made public in an encyclical released Thursday, might spur legislative action by the Republicans who run Congress.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/inhofe-popes-climate-encyclical-could-harm-poor-145738437--politics.html
Hope the Pope turns up the heat on these resolutely ignorant Republicans.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)Chasstev365
(5,191 posts)Maybe they should be denied communion for going against the teachings of the church? Just saying!
meow2u3
(24,766 posts)when it's the Republican "Catholics" who cherry pick the teachings of the Church as a weapon to use against Democrats!
Fortinbras Armstrong
(4,473 posts)At least as far back as William F Buckley's response to Pope John XXIII's 1961 encyclical Mater et Magistra -- "Mother and Teacher", "Mater Si, Magistra No!" Buckley et al were rejecting Pope John's call for economic justice and the rights of workers.
MBS
(9,688 posts)earthside
(6,960 posts)Nevertheless, the Pope is correct about global warming -- because the science and scientists have been saying so now for decades.
And ... of course, the Repuglicans are being hypocrites as usual.
starroute
(12,977 posts)They're not like fundamentalist Protestants. They don't feel they have to take the Bible literally. And the Jesuits in particular have a strong intellectual tradition.
Sure, there have been some missteps over the years. And they do have a bias towards theories that seem most compatible with their own beliefs. But their credibility level is generally pretty high.
pnwmom
(108,987 posts)reviewed by top scientists from around the world. It is the Republican climate science deniers who have no credibility.
Fortinbras Armstrong
(4,473 posts)He knows science.
tclambert
(11,087 posts)It only took 400 years. Hey, maybe Republicans will apologize about climate change in 400 years.
damnedifIknow
(3,183 posts)Most experts, such as climate scientists, believe we have very little time left to make changes that will avert the worst impacts of global warming. So actions that help speed up the transition to renewable energy, conservation of forests and biodiversity, and cuts to greenhouse gas pollution will help reduce the environmental consequences of climate change."
rurallib
(62,432 posts)before he gets their attention.
They have a god and an belief system and it doesn't involve jesus, it involves greenbacks.
PatrynXX
(5,668 posts)yes indeed. as the priest is shoved out the window loaded with money X_X
There are areas in the bible that state that it is our job to take care of the Earth he has given us. Republicans? They really aren't that Religious they use abortion to get votes thats it. Kinda like the Organization Christian Left. certainly more Jesus like than any Republicans I know.
rurallib
(62,432 posts)1) much like there was once an America to escape to they will be able to find and move to another very hospitable planet. Or
2) God will just fix everything one day Or
3) and I think their real fall back scenario - God will take them to paradise when everything goes down the crapper. This is the left behind story.
They are convinced one of those things will happen, so why worry about the environment?
LiberalLovinLug
(14,175 posts)at the extreme ends especially.
Evangelicals:
3 all the way. Ever since the Garden of Eden. Its all mankinds fault. We did it to ourselves. We dropped that first domino by eating an apple we weren't supposed to, and because of that horrible crime, its only a matter of time before the world goes to hell. But if you grab your Golden Ticket while alive from a Billy Graham approved religious experience, you skip to the front of the line when you croak and all the asshole-ish behaviour is forgiven and you are handed a massive solid gold mansion..like..forever.
Republicans:
Care mostly about money, and the power that one needs to acquire it. And will do anything, and say anything to get it. So W Bush pretends he's "born again". They do it because they can. Fundies are starved to hear anyone tell them that they are right. That they picked the right God and the right religion. Of course Dems play to the same field with Obama claiming to also be a good Christian and Hillary claiming that The Bible is her all time favorite book. But its the Repugs that milk it for all its worth.
Of course most fall somewhere in between.
PatrynXX
(5,668 posts)as in whatever church they belong to could be considered a renegade church. (like Mel Gibson's church or um LOL Sinead O Conners Church although I don't think she's really running one now but I have no idea. And I'm Lutheran so.... this sorta goes into interesting areas. Thats to say They were just fine with priests raping boys, but not if it costs them money. Rich men don't always go upstairs .
Liberalagogo
(1,770 posts)Of course the ones that are, they ignore also.
If the Pope had two advanced degrees in environmental sciences they would say, "The scientists I hear disagree"
tclambert
(11,087 posts)After all, Senator Snowball wrote a book on the subject, The Greatest Hoax: How the Global Warming Conspiracy Threatens Your Future. Inhofe even bases part of his opposition on the Bible. How can the Pope argue with that? Is the Pope gonna claim he's some sort of religious expert?
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)They are anything but holy.
hedda_foil
(16,375 posts)Snuff out their candles and cast them into the outer darkness unless they repent and atone for their sins against (you know whose) creation. That might put the fear of God into them. What do ya think?
Little Tich
(6,171 posts)Nihil
(13,508 posts)pampango
(24,692 posts)(profits and campaign contributions).
tanyev
(42,589 posts)I guess that leaves Koch lobbyists as the only ones that Republicans consider trustworthy experts.
marble falls
(57,136 posts)marble falls
(57,136 posts)What he really meant, "I don't want to be disrespectful, the devil's making me do it, but I don't consider him an expert on environmental issues," said Texas Rep. Joe Barton.
Maybe Joe Barton might explain his expertise, or who he does consider an expert.
rustbeltvoice
(430 posts)A secondary god is Mars, and there is the bitch goddess Success.
whathehell
(29,069 posts)not exactly shocked.
rock
(13,218 posts)Having started with their conclusion, anything that disagrees with it is simply discarded. Although the repiggies are hypocrites, they are 100% consistent at being that.
tclambert
(11,087 posts)on where my campaign donations come from, I will forcefully disagree with any and all scientists who disagree with Charles and David Koch."