Catholic League President Says It's OK to Ignore the Pope

Bill Donohue, President of the Catholic League

Bill Donohue, President of the Catholic League, said this week that Catholics could reject Pope Francis' authority when it comes to climate change.

"For example, are we God's stewards? Are we supposed to take care of the Earth?  Of course, that's out of the Old Testament, it's out of the New Testament, it's totally unobjectionable." 

But, he continuted, there is no need to do anything about pollution because it is not mentioned in either Testament in the Bible.

"No one has ever said that air pollution is intrinsically evil.  So, people need to get up to speed on this."

what eye thynk:   Mr. Donohue has made his opinions way too easy to refute.

First, if we are "God's stewards," why wouldn't we care about climate change? And protecting the earth from the ravages of climate change would seem to fall under the auspices of "we are supposed to take care of the Earth."

Second, Jesus never said anything about pollution?  Of course, pollution didn't exist in 30AD:  but still, what a disappointing and amazing oversight on His part!  (Please note: He didn't say anything about sports either, but everyone seems to pray for their team to win. I wonder if Jesus hears those heavenly petitions and thinks, "Huh?")  FYI, Mr. Donahue, the word "marriage" isn't in the Bible either, so why do conservative "Christians" have a problem with same-sex unions?

And finally, the concept of the Holy Office of Pope as a committee of two is one with which I am not familiar; though it brings me to my biggest argument with Mr. Donohue: He seems to think he has the right to pick and choose which of the Pope's dictums he should obey; and, by virtue of his Catholic League presidency, he believes he has the right to guide his fellow Catholics in their obedience to the Pope.  

When I was growing up, the Pope was viewed as God's voice on earth, a descendant of Paul, His first Pope on earth.  The Pope's word was not questioned.  We all ate fish on Friday and women covered their heads at mass.  Those rules weren't in the Bible, they came from the authority of the Pope.

I wonder in which Testament Mr. Donohue found his authority?