The modern world's case against Pope Francis

The pope's contribution to the debate is welcome. But its implications should trouble the modern liberal.

Pope Francis
(Image credit: REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito)

It's impossible not to be impressed with the theological and moral seriousness of Laudato Si', Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment. Whether it's politically and economically wise is another matter.

The pope makes a powerful case for a profound change in how "every person living on this planet" thinks about the natural world and the place of humanity within it. Above all, he wants us to adopt an "integral ecology" that views the planet as "our common home" — a home that deserves to be treated with humility and respect, instead of as an object to be used for our selfish ends. If the human race learned to do that, to be more than "masters, consumers, [and] ruthless exploiters," to resist putting "blind confidence in technical solutions," then we just might restrain our insatiable appetite for development — the economic motor that pollutes the planet's air and water, fueling climate change and threatening to harm everyone, but especially the most vulnerable among us: the world's poor.

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Damon Linker

Damon Linker is a senior correspondent at TheWeek.com. He is also a former contributing editor at The New Republic and the author of The Theocons and The Religious Test.