Last week was taken up with the whirlwind tour of Pope Francis to the United States. At the cathedral in Washington DC, he canonized Junipero Serra, gave a speech to the US Congress, and gave another speech at the United Nations. The trip ended with a gathering on Family Life in Philadelphia. One of the things I take away from his trip is his call to be attentive to climate change and what we can do about it. I need to read his encyclical -- Laudato Si -- more closely and reflect on its implications. I don't think we can any longer just turn a blind eye to what is happening in our environment. With those who deny anthropogenic climate change, we all need to study the facts found in science, and then make serious decisions about our style of life.
In line with the research I am doing, I am reading the book Empowering Climate-Change Strategies with Bernard Lonergan's Method, by John Raymaker. The book gives a good overview of Lonergan's ideas of the thinking processes and how we come to making decisions. Lonergan was asked once if he were to start an institute, what would be its focus? Immediately he said it would be on "How do people change their minds?" This focus is pertinent to today since we find ourselves with a polarized politics and religion. How do we move forward to prevent further fragmentation? Perhaps we should think more in terms of collaboration and dialogue, a suggestion made by Cardinal Turkson, the one who drafted "Laudato Si," in a speech given here at Boston College last week. As the medieval adage goes: What pertains to everyone must be discussed by everyone. Global climate change might force us into such dialogue, if there is a change of mind and heart.
Another excellent article on Lonergan and climate change is by Richard Liddy. (Download here.)
In line with the research I am doing, I am reading the book Empowering Climate-Change Strategies with Bernard Lonergan's Method, by John Raymaker. The book gives a good overview of Lonergan's ideas of the thinking processes and how we come to making decisions. Lonergan was asked once if he were to start an institute, what would be its focus? Immediately he said it would be on "How do people change their minds?" This focus is pertinent to today since we find ourselves with a polarized politics and religion. How do we move forward to prevent further fragmentation? Perhaps we should think more in terms of collaboration and dialogue, a suggestion made by Cardinal Turkson, the one who drafted "Laudato Si," in a speech given here at Boston College last week. As the medieval adage goes: What pertains to everyone must be discussed by everyone. Global climate change might force us into such dialogue, if there is a change of mind and heart.
Another excellent article on Lonergan and climate change is by Richard Liddy. (Download here.)
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