It’s official. Pope Francis released his long awaited, controversial, and much debated encyclical on the environment. The central issue being addressed is the threat of global warming to the environment and its impact on the poor, the family, and the world’s economy. Undergirding his thesis is humanity’s need to protect and take care of creation. Before its ‘official’ release, the world was presented with a ‘leaked’ version that accelerated discussions on the issue. Religionists, politicians, and scientists were offering their take on the impact of Francis’ encyclical on the climate change debate.
Jeb Bush, Roman Catholic and recently declared Republican candidate for the presidency, disagrees with his pope’s position on climate change. He declared, “I hope I’m not going to get castigated for saying this by my priest back home…religion ought to be about making us better as people and less about things that end up getting into the political realm. Those words are eerily reminiscent of the late John F. Kennedy’s declaration to a gathering of Protestant ministers in Houston, Texas in September, 1960 as he sought to convince the electorate that as a Roman Catholic, he will not run the country according to the teachings of his church, but rather on the basis of the country’s constitution. He was cruelly assassinated in Dallas, Texas before the on-looking world three years later.