Usccb: Fast February 3Rd For Food Insecurity/climate Change

[brandelynmarie]

First Friday: US Catholics asked to fast, reflect on climate change


The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is asking Catholics to “fast” on Friday, February 3, by limiting their food spending to the allotment on the USDA Modified Thrifty Food Plan--about $18 for a family of four.

The theme of the February First Fridays for Food Security initiative is food insecurity and climate change. “Food insecurity is also a serious problem globally and is often intensified by climate change,” states a USCCB flyer. “According to a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization, climate change will significantly affect the availability of water for growing food and for crop production globally. This will disproportionately affect poor people in rural areas whose livelihoods are closely connected to agriculture and natural resources.”

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=13194

[Papist]

[img]http://www.audi-tt.ru/forum/phpBB2/images/smiles/facepalm.gif[/img]

[fides' Jack]

[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1328197685' post='2379573']
[img]http://www.audi-tt.ru/forum/phpBB2/images/smiles/facepalm.gif[/img]
[/quote]

this

[missionseeker]

I live in rural Florida where two years ago winter was so bad that hundreds of thousands of workers were unable to work for four months. These are people who are paid little and by day anyway. It was a devastating thing. In Alabama and Georgia and Mississippi it was similar. The climate change thing is not completely absurd, as the climate does change, though it is usually in cycles. I don't think there is anything wrong with what the bishops are asking.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='missionseeker' timestamp='1328209504' post='2379666']
I live in rural Florida where two years ago winter was so bad that hundreds of thousands of workers were unable to work for four months. These are people who are paid little and by day anyway. It was a devastating thing. In Alabama and Georgia and Mississippi it was similar. The climate change thing is not completely absurd, as the climate does change, though it is usually in cycles. I don't think there is anything wrong with what the bishops are asking.
[/quote]

no, nothing 'wrong' with it, but considering all that's happening with the HHS & Obama's administration, I would think it prudent of them to fast for something slightly more pressing...

[missionseeker]

I would imagine that they've had this thing planned for a long time already. They probably plan these things at one of their councils. I would think that for HHS stuff, there would be additional things they ask the faithful to do.

[missionseeker]

this is actually the link on the USCCB's website. It's two above the February Fast. [url="http://usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/index.cfm"]http://usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/index.cfm[/url]

[Laudate_Dominum]

What's wrong with being concerned about climate change? What's wrong with having a sense of stewardship for the Earth and concern for the poor? Too many "global warming is a hoax" types among Catholics imo.

[Tony]

[quote name='Laudate_Dominum' timestamp='1328217836' post='2379748']
Too many "global warming is a hoax" types among Catholics imo.
[/quote]

you're right, global warming is a scam, not a hoax

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='Tony' timestamp='1328218905' post='2379760']
you're right, global warming is a scam, not a hoax
[/quote]
I'd call it a physical science observation based on many independent lines of empirical evidence. Maybe you're talking about something different?

What I mean by the term:

[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming"]Wikipedia: Global warming[/url]
[url="http://www.skepticalscience.com/docs/Guide_to_Skepticism.pdf"]The Scientific Guide to Global Warming Skepticism[/url]

I make a distinction between the science of climate change and the politics of climate change. I suspect that a lot of controversy and confusion stems from a failure to make appropriate distinctions. The legitimate scientific evidence is what matters, period.

Edited February 2, 2012 by Laudate_Dominum

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='Laudate_Dominum' timestamp='1328219753' post='2379771']
I'd call it an physical science observation based on many independent lines of empirical evidence. Maybe you're talking about something different?

[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming"]Wikipedia: Global warming[/url]
[url="http://www.skepticalscience.com/docs/Guide_to_Skepticism.pdf"]The Scientific Guide to Global Warming Skepticism[/url]
[/quote]

Perhaps the liberal response that global warming is a problem from which there is a lot of money to be made while restricting freedom.

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='Brother Adam' timestamp='1328220016' post='2379772']
Perhaps the liberal response that global warming is a problem from which there is a lot of money to be made while restricting freedom.
[/quote]
Okay, the politics of climate change. Doesn't address the science. Also, that can go the other way. The (industry funded) think tanks that originate the majority of anti-climate science talking points have a vested interest in generating fear, uncertainty, and doubt on the matter. Naomi Oreskes' [i]Merchants of Doubt[/i] documents this phenomenon quite well. Anyway, I think this illustrates precisely why it is best to make the distinctions. "Politics advances by debate and everyone's opinion matters. Science advances by evidence and nobody's opinion matters." ETA: But anyway, insinuating that the liberal response (whatever that is exactly) is based on greed and anti-freedom ideology doesn't invalidate the science and doesn't really address the projected impacts of climate change.

Edited February 2, 2012 by Laudate_Dominum

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Laudate_Dominum' timestamp='1328217836' post='2379748']
What's wrong with being concerned about climate change? What's wrong with having a sense of stewardship for the Earth and concern for the poor? Too many "global warming is a hoax" types among Catholics imo.
[/quote]

i'm not getting into that here - just kinda sad that if this was a scheduled thing per committee, why didn't they stop to think "uhm, huh, there might be more important things to fast for right now?"

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1328221203' post='2379778']
i'm not getting into that here - just kinda sad that if this was a scheduled thing per committee, why didn't they stop to think "uhm, huh, there might be more important things to fast for right now?"
[/quote]
Food insecurity and climate change are huge issues for many of the poorest parts of the world. It seems like a worthy enough intention to me.

[dominicansoul]

[quote name='missionseeker' timestamp='1328212365' post='2379698']
I would imagine that they've had this thing planned for a long time already. They probably plan these things at one of their councils. I would think that for HHS stuff, there would be additional things they ask the faithful to do.
[/quote]

i think for the HHS stuff, we're asked to pray, fast AND [i]flog[/i]

[4588686]

[quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1328211068' post='2379684']
no, nothing 'wrong' with it, but considering all that's happening with the HHS & Obama's administration, I would think it prudent of them to fast for something slightly more pressing...
[/quote]

The dangers of climate change pale in comparison to the horrors of female employees at Catholic hospitals being able to use the insurance they earn as a function of their job to attain birth-control.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Laudate_Dominum' timestamp='1328221402' post='2379779']
Food insecurity and climate change are huge issues for many of the poorest parts of the world. It seems like a worthy enough intention to me.
[/quote]

i don't disagree, L_D. i'm not saying "Don't ever talk/pray/fast" about this issue. I'm saying, "Let's talk/pray/fast about religious freedom, else we won't get to talk about why we think the other stuff is important". I don't think it's an either/or - but a both/and (lol, well, we [i]are[/i] Catholic!)...just a matter of priorities.

[4588686]

[quote name='Laudate_Dominum' timestamp='1328220323' post='2379774']
Okay, the politics of climate change. Doesn't address the science. Also, that can go the other way. The (industry funded) think tanks that originate the majority of anti-climate science talking points have a vested interest in generating fear, uncertainty, and doubt on the matter. Naomi Oreskes' [i]Merchants of Doubt[/i] documents this phenomenon quite well. Anyway, I think this illustrates precisely why it is best to make the distinctions. "Politics advances by debate and everyone's opinion matters. Science advances by evidence and nobody's opinion matters." ETA: But anyway, insinuating that the liberal response (whatever that is exactly) is based on greed and anti-freedom ideology doesn't invalidate the science and doesn't really address the projected impacts of climate change.
[/quote]

Sad day. Brother Adam has turned his back on the issues that Jesus actually championed in the Bible, caring for the poor and oppressed, and has elected instead to serve the power nexus of corporate manipulation and right wing politics. This is why Christianity is becoming irrelevant as a transformative ideology.

[4588686]

[quote name='Tony' timestamp='1328218905' post='2379760']
you're right, global warming is a scam, not a hoax
[/quote]

I hope you remember saying this 50 years from now. I hope you live to regret being this politically irresponsible.

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1328221810' post='2379784']
i don't disagree, L_D. i'm not saying "Don't ever talk/pray/fast" about this issue. I'm saying, "Let's talk/pray/fast about religious freedom, else we won't get to talk about why we think the other stuff is important". I don't think it's an either/or - but a both/and (lol, well, we [i]are[/i] Catholic!)...just a matter of priorities.
[/quote]
That's razzle dazzle. Here's kind of what I'm thinking about it: Maybe HHS stuff is happening too. This is a one day fast and perhaps this has been planned for a while. And I'm sure there are lots of different prayer intentions on different days. Nothing but HHS can be prayed for all of a sudden? Why is this particular intention being made fun of? Because caring about food insecurity and climate issues is "liberal?" I actually don't think that is true btw. [url="http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/catholic-teachings/vatican-messages/"]http://catholicclima...tican-messages/[/url]

But if they were saying to fast for popular issues like an end to abortion, or something else other than the threats to people in the third world, I doubt people would even notice, much less balk and trivialize the intention.

ETA: Also, what happened to all the piety about obedience and deference to the bishops around here? lol.

Edited February 2, 2012 by Laudate_Dominum