MCDONAGH: CLIMATE CHANGE: THE CHALLENGE TO ALL OF US
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 6:38 pmMCDONAGH: CLIMATE CHANGE: THE CHALLENGE TO ALL OF US
By Seán McDonagh Published by Columba Press, $23.95
Review by Reviewed by Michele Saracino
http://ncronline.org/node/28939
As he blends science and theology, McDonagh invites readers to “live lightly on Earth” as a way of Christian discipleship. These theological concerns carry over to his book Climate Change. He laments the church’s inconsistent engagement with global warming, particularly the lack of critique of global warming as a “life” issue. Again with scientific acuity, McDonagh demonstrates that similar to the current extinction spasm, climate change is a problem with many devastating effects, the likes of which we’re already experiencing: violent weather, disappearing marine life as ocean temperatures drop, and increased disease, not just because of melting polar ice caps but because of desertification too. Not least there’s the complex relationship between global warming and extinction. What are we doing to counter the negative impact of global warming on all of God’s creatures? We all need to change our ways.
On the ecclesial level, McDonagh directs us to the World Council of Churches’ significant publications on climate change. Catholic church leaders and the laity have taken steps to address the ecological crisis through the Catholic Climate Covenant.
Yet after reading both The Death of Life and Climate Change, it is fair to say that we all need to do more, and quickly. Ecological concerns must be woven throughout Catholic thought and ethics. Further, after recently reading Charles K. Wilber’s Catholics Spending and Acting Justly, I was impressed by his discussion of the effects of energy conservation on the market economy.
Sean McDonagh, SSC,
St. Columban's, Dalgan Park, Navan, Co. Meath.
tel 00353872367612
visit my blog at http://earthcaremission.wordpress.com
By Seán McDonagh Published by Columba Press, $23.95
Review by Reviewed by Michele Saracino
http://ncronline.org/node/28939
As he blends science and theology, McDonagh invites readers to “live lightly on Earth” as a way of Christian discipleship. These theological concerns carry over to his book Climate Change. He laments the church’s inconsistent engagement with global warming, particularly the lack of critique of global warming as a “life” issue. Again with scientific acuity, McDonagh demonstrates that similar to the current extinction spasm, climate change is a problem with many devastating effects, the likes of which we’re already experiencing: violent weather, disappearing marine life as ocean temperatures drop, and increased disease, not just because of melting polar ice caps but because of desertification too. Not least there’s the complex relationship between global warming and extinction. What are we doing to counter the negative impact of global warming on all of God’s creatures? We all need to change our ways.
On the ecclesial level, McDonagh directs us to the World Council of Churches’ significant publications on climate change. Catholic church leaders and the laity have taken steps to address the ecological crisis through the Catholic Climate Covenant.
Yet after reading both The Death of Life and Climate Change, it is fair to say that we all need to do more, and quickly. Ecological concerns must be woven throughout Catholic thought and ethics. Further, after recently reading Charles K. Wilber’s Catholics Spending and Acting Justly, I was impressed by his discussion of the effects of energy conservation on the market economy.
Sean McDonagh, SSC,
St. Columban's, Dalgan Park, Navan, Co. Meath.
tel 00353872367612
visit my blog at http://earthcaremission.wordpress.com