To Every Thing There Is a Season–Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

What happens when the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics divest their portfolios from fossil fuels (and, of course, weapons of war)?  It appears that we’re about to find out.  In his letter to all Catholic Bishops, “Laudato Si,” Pope Francis urges all of the faith to take care of their environment by helping the phasing out of fossil fuels as soon as practically possible.

Is everyone happy to hear this?  Of course not.  Many captains of industry are incredulous that a man of the cloth, in this case, the man of the cloth, would step outside his purview of religion and offer instructions as to how to lead a good, moral life in the secular world.

Yet Pope Francis is unswayed by this rebuke.  He has plenty to say on humanistic matters that touch on the environment, and then continues right on into human rights, poverty, peace, and the equality of LGBTQs.

In its 1600-year history, the Catholic Church has never seen anything remotely resembling the practical compassion for humankind that has taken the form of the current pontiff.

To every thing there is a time , and a time to every purpose under heaven.

Maybe it’s time we all started taking care of one another.