Pope Francis recently released a new encyclical. Portions of it deal with environmentalism, global warming, and climate change. Naturally, this has prompted controversy.
It’s noteworthy that Francis didn’t merely make a passing comment on global warming during this or that sermon, but that he issued a papal encyclical on the matter. Encyclicals are much more formal and significant than remarks made during mass. They are letters written by a pope and sent to bishops all around the world. In turn, the bishops are meant to disseminate the encyclical’s ideas to all the priests and churches in their jurisdiction, so that the pope’s teaching reaches every church-attending Catholic.
All this leads to the following question: Where is Pope Francis’ encyclical concerning the rampant persecution that Christians—including many Catholics—are experiencing around the world in general, the Islamic world in particular?
To be sure, the pope has acknowledged it. On April 21, during mass held at Casa Santa Marta, Francis said that today’s church is a “church of martyrs.” He even referenced several of the recent attacks on Christians by Muslims (without of course mentioned the latter’s religious identity).
Said Pope Francis:
In these days how many Stephens [early Christian martyred in Book of Acts] there are in the world! Let us think of our brothers whose throats were slit on the beach in Libya [by the Islamic State]; let’s think of the young boy who was burnt alive by his [Pakistani Muslim] companions because he was a Christian; let us think of those migrants thrown from their boat into the open sea by other [African Muslim] migrants because they were Christians; let us think – just the day before yesterday – of those Ethiopians assassinated because they were Christians… and of many others. Many others of whom we do not even know and who are suffering in jails because they are Christians… The Church today is a Church of martyrs: they suffer, they give their lives and we receive the blessing of God for their witness.
The pope is acquainted with the reality of Christian persecution around the world. So why isn’t he issuing an encyclical about it? Such an encyclical would be very useful.
The pope could instruct bishops to acknowledge the truth about Christian persecution and to have this news spread to every Catholic church. Perhaps a weekly prayer for the persecuted church could be institutionalized—keeping the plight of those hapless Christians in the spotlight, so Western Catholics and others always remember them, talk about them, and, perhaps most importantly, understand why they are being persecuted.
Once enough people are familiar with the reality of Christian persecution, they could influence U.S. policymakers—for starters, to drop those policies that directly exacerbate the sufferings of Christian minorities in the Middle East.
Whatever the effects of such an encyclical—and one can only surmise positive ones—at the very least, the pope would be addressing a topic entrusted to his care and requiring his attention.
As recent as 1958, Pope Pius XII issued an encyclical that addressed the persecution of Christians. A portion follows:
We are aware—to the great sorrow of Our fatherly heart—that the Catholic Church, in both its Latin and Oriental rites, is beset in many lands by such persecutions that the clergy and faithful … are confronted with this dilemma: to give up public profession and propagation of their faith, or to suffer penalties, even very serious ones.
[…]
Missionaries who have left their homes and dear native lands and suffered many serious discomforts in order to bring the light and the strength of the gospel to others, have been driven from many regions as menaces and evil-doers…
Note that Pius does not mention the burning and bombing of churches, or the abduction, rape, enslavement, and slaughter of Christians. The reason is that Christians living outside the West in 1958 rarely experienced such persecution. In other words, today’s global persecution of Christians is exponentially worse than in 1958. Pius complained about how Christianity was being contained, not allowed to spread and win over converts… Keep reading
Marty says
Slightly off topic.
The immaculately Left Wing BBC Radio News has just broadcast this.
In Eastern France there has been what is believed to be a terrorist attack.
At least one person has been beheaded.
Wonder who’s behind it ?
Sergio says
True. The biggest problem that Christians are facing today is not global warming, but religious persecution.
ItsJo says
Good Post and SO true. What DOES IT MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER IS, IF YOU ARE BEING KILLED FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN? I WOULD THINK THIS POPE SHOULD BE ALERTING THE WHOLE WORLD OF THESE SAVAGE KILLINGS, AND DECLARING IT “A WAR AGAINST CHRISTIANS BY ISLAMIC/MUSLIMS, WHO ARE BARBARIC-AND IT NEEDS TO STOP.”
BTW: The Global (Faux) Warming is the Elitists’ way of “Collecting Cash From those who have some, to GIVE to THEMSELVES(as they are using this as a way of Setting Up Businesses(like Al Gore, who IS Invested in many of these businesses) to enrich THEMSELVES, and doling out to 3rd world countries who DON’T have the Money to KICK IN.” This Pope Needs to Wake Up, and Realize WHAT THE GREATER THREAT IS…..MURDERING BY ISLAMIC/Muslim Terrorists. But, he seems to IGNORE THESE FACTS. More worried “about the warm weather.” ……?
spot on says
Where is his encyclical on Christian persecution
Very good question…all we hear are crickets at the Vatican regarding Muslim atrocities on Christians. With respect for the Pope as leader of the Catholic Church, I must say that Pope Francis seems to think he is a liberal politician…and he is not good at it. Joining with Al Gore in the Global Warming debate while the earth has gotten cooler over the last 10 years is looney. An encyclical on this, no less. He said he held a “scientific” open conference on Global Warming and then refused to allow any scientist attend who had scientific evidence against Global Warming.
Pope Francis is dong great harm to Christians by not standing up for ME Christians. He is also doing great harm to Jews by staying quiet regarding Israel’s plight with their hateful Muslim neighbors and anti-Semitic Christians in the ME. He is also now doing great harm to the world by joining with the looney tunes that lie to everyone about Global Warming when there is no Global Warming. Using the changeable weather as a tool to address his moral precepts is wrong. He and his looney friends don’t have a clue about what the weather will be one week from now but they insist they know what it will be 100 years from now. These kind of loons did the same thing in the 70’s when it started getting cooler and they said we were going into an Ice Age. Yes…it got warmer for awhile and blew them out of the water.
We all would welcome an honest debate on scientific data regarding weather trends and gasses in the air we breath but there is no honest debate where politicians are concerned.
Draki says
Agreed, this is a great question. Where is the encyclical on it? Why is the environment more important than humans/christians being persecuted for their beliefs? I will admit that I am glad that this Pope authorized the killing of ISIS last year. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/pope-supports-force-islamic-extremists-article-1.1907547
Kasey says
But the politically correct must never blame ISLAM!
duh_swami says
Since there are a lot of Catholics, I suppose the Pope has some influence, but at the same time, not all Catholics are stupid or gullible. Not everyone shares his views that seem almost, hysterical or naive…There has been a long line of Popes, and not all of them were stand up guys, but somehow the Church survives…Weather that’s good or bad is a matter of opinion…..
Richie says
Few Catholics support this leftist Pope. They are stuck with a communist who cares more about pushing a Marxist agenda than Catholicism
Kevin says
The pope is stuck in liberation theology from South America and the 1970s.
The West and capitalism are his ogres. He’s just 45 years behind.
ploome says
Whos ays the Pope isn;t doing anything?
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican signed a treaty with the “State of Palestine” on Friday, saying it hoped its legal recognition of the state would help stimulate peace with Israel and that the treaty itself would serve as a model for other Mideast countries.
Vatican Foreign Minister Paul Gallagher and his Palestinian counterpart, Riad al-Malki, signed the treaty at a ceremony inside the Vatican.
…………….
Blitz2b says
@ploome,
No doubt it’s wrong to say Pope is not doing anything…. He is indeed doing ALL THE WRONG THINGS ! ! !
Nostradamus predicted this would be the LAST Pope….. I think Francis knows this so he is being ever so cautious about what he says about Islam…. Libya is only a stone’s throw away from St. Peter’s.
Francis fears being counted among the martyrs.
That is the truth.
KrazyKafir says
I suspect if the Pope actually addressed the issue of Christian persecution, and who is doing it, then he might be expected to do more than just mention it in passing. Seems spreading the word of Socialism is this Pope’s true calling.
celtic warriarcanada says
How UNLIKE The Apostle Peter whose Episcopal Seat the Pope Claims to inherit . Peter wrote two letters,to his persecuted Christian Brothers and Sisters . Both these Epistles are part of the New Testament Canon. Peter’s main concern was with the Spiritual well being of persecuted Christians in light of The Second Coming Of Jesus Christ as Lord and King . The Pope is more concerned with a Pseudo Science called global warming , a form of Gnosticism based on climate change myths and stories.With his Neo Marxist Worldview he fits in very well in the The New World Order.
Kepha says
Where’s the Pope’s encyclical against the persecution of Christians? Burned along with Jan Hus, Paul Crawar, William Tyndale, Guido de Bres, Patrick Hamilton, Louis de Berquin and others.
R.C. says
This anti-pope–is not a Biblical Christian–don’t expect him to defend Biblical Christianity.
veritas says
813 letters and Canonizations of the Martyrs of Otranto in Muhammmedan hands at the beginning of Pope Francis’ Pontificate in May of 2013. When are you going to get a clue Know Nothing.
ninetyninepct says
We always hear that God guides those who choose a new pope. This jerk is clear evidence that God sometimes screws up.
ninetyninepct says
PS: Will visitors to the big mosque in Rome now get loaner prayer rugs? Remember – females at the back of the building, including all Catholic Churches. Will the Baptismal Font be changed to the Beheading Bowl?
Blitz2b says
@veritas….
Whoop Dee do da…. Like this means anything to Islam, or it’s minions of death.
Suicide bombers declare themselves martyrs everytime they take dozens along with them to meet death, so why should it matter a nostril hair to them how many victims they slaughter be declared saints or martyrs?
A encyclical on persecution of Christians all over the Islamic world is what was needed, to make Christians aware, not pagan homage to ” mother earth”, and an encyclical to ensure that.
israeli says
I dont know if global worming is true – but the believe in it has many many positive effects – especially reducing air pollution and it gives power to poor people who live next to cancer causing factories to fight against the pollution – and it has many other good sides
That being said of course the pope should focus on his people being murdered like crazy –
global worming is important and im happy people finally are starting to take care of the environment – but the leader of the Christians should at least talk about chrsitians being killed ……… abd to be honest : he can do both !
spot on says
Reducing pollution is a good thing. The Global Warming movement has little to do with pollution and a lot to do with making more money for big government plus a few close friends of the President.
ItsJo says
Correct Post: It has Little to do with global temp’s, and A LOT TO DO WITH BEING A MONEY MAKING ENTITY FOR OBAMA/HIS ELITIST FRIENDS/AL GORE…..All of whom ARE invested in the businesses put together to MAKE MILLIONS …..like Al Gore, who “Found the MONEY TREE and IS INVESTED IN MANY OF THESE BUSINESSES.”
Angemon says
spot on posted:
“The Global Warming movement”
I think that the “official” term now is “climate change”. That way, they won’t look silly when they fail their next forecast.
Sid Debgupta says
The Roman Catholic Church has been complicit in the genocide of Serbs during WW2. Since most of the Christians in Syria and the middle-east belong to the Eastern Orthodox sect, the man who calls himself Francis has no sympathy for them. He would rather they perish.