For years liberals have used a supportive national news media who intimidate anyone who dares question their global-warming agenda. Now these liberals believe Pope Francis has endorsed their ideological imperatives through Laudato Si. His encyclical elevates their agenda to dogma.
Those who analyze this encyclical through the perspective of politics see this as a gift to the American left. Liberals will use this paper to silence the conservative Catholic vote. Your position on global warming is not just wrong, it's immoral. Conservatives also see the damage this will do.
Last Tuesday, before the document was released, Rush Limbaugh argued "Essentially, what this papal encyclical is saying is that every Catholic should vote for the Democrat Party....That's what it is. How else do you interpret it when the pope comes out and sounds like Al Gore on global warming and climate change?"
As we've reported, on Fox News Sunday, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of the District of Columbia, was asked about Limbaugh’s remarks. The cardinal shot back “one of the great blessings of America" is that "we're all allowed to speak our mind even if we don't have all the facts. Even if we don't have a clear view of what the other person is saying."
With all due respect, it is Cardinal Wuerl who doesn't have a clear view of what the other person is saying.
Laudato Si has unleashed an enormous national (and international) discussion. As many theologians have expressed so passionately, this is not -- NOT -- a political document. The essence of this encyclical transcends politics. It is, at its heart, a spiritual message calling on humanity to show greater reverence for nature -- and not as Gaia but as a gift from God. Were the focus there, and there alone, it would be a message that could be embraced by every conservative, and conservatives would be well advised that is is something everyone should.
Sadly, the document trends, needlessly and annoyingly, into the political arena, with ideological pronouncements that will allow the political left to manipulate the conversation. They'll pounce on them in order to claim the moral high ground alongside the scientific high ground.
Thus Rush is correct. When next I read that some left-wing political leader is using this encyclical to further his political agenda, it will be my fervent hope that Cardinal Wuerl will respond by telling him that doesn't have all the facts, and doesn't have a clear view of the intention of Laudato Si.
