Flooding Follows The Human

The old world in the east has lost most of its trees . By comparison the new world in the west still has a plentiful amount. The reason for the difference, according to anthropoligists, is that man settled in the east before migrating to the west. And so the trees were cut and the rivers were channelled and diverted. The recent flooding in China, Burma, India and Southeast Asia are the results of denuded land and the flood plains of rivers being inhabited with surplus people.

Our own Midwest is now experincing the same dynamic. The ongoing channelling of the Mississippi River , draining of wetlands , clearing of the Great Plains of natural grasses for crops and housing developments in flood plains have all contrbuted to the "500 year floods". The scourge of surplus humanity leaves its footprint in ever closer and closer high water marks.

Too, too many people.

Urgent Message To Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced yesterday a new $100 million fund for "...early, unorthodox health innovations in a search for tools to fight global epidemics."

Hey Bill and Melinda, stop right there! First, the most important epidemic to stop is the growth of world-wide human population. Secondly I'm happy to report, we already have a cure for it. It's called birth control. It comes in both medicinal and in paraphernalia. So if you really care about humans and the quality of life keep it simple. Less is better.

Whither The Withering Catholic Church?

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced a $ 600 miliion settlement with 500 victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy dating from decades ago. This dwarfs the 552 similar claims in Boston that were settled for $85 million. There were other suits and there are more coming. Surely not all the abused youngsters have come forward probably because of shame. The Church has had to sell some of its base of real estate to meet the tab. This is all happening at a time when competing, more liberal Christian faiths have eaten away at the Catholic membership.

So what has the Church done to meet the dual challenge of falling patronage and a systemic fault that attracts the wrong kind of demographic for its clergy? Nothing has been changed. Artificial birth control and abortion are still forbidden. And the clergy can't marry nor can women become priests. Meanwhile the liberalization of other faiths and the liberalization of the legal system will continue to take its toll on the Church. Nothing lasts forever. This includes ways and customs of religious practice.

Benedict XVI & Catholic Church: Out Of Touch

Pope Benedict XVI and app. 100 European bishops took a group photo in Rome this past weekend. There were no women in the picture. The occasion was the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. That agreement marked the founding of the European Union. Benedict commented on the stagnant birth rate of Europeans and by implication it's effects on the church and European society in general.

Pope Benedict said, " Besides putting economic growth at risk, it can also cause enormous difficulties for social cohesion and above all favor dangerous individualism and is careless about the future."

That's an interesting selection of criticisms. His first alarm is about jeopardising " economic growth". One would think that Benedict would trust in God rather than trust in growth to underpin the church. Then he mentions "social cohesion". Is there anything more historically divisive than competing religions? And then he scolds and warns against "dangerous individualism". Well these dangerous individuals brought about the enlightenment of scientific explanations as an alternative to the teachings of the Bible. Most scientists don't deny the existence of a god, but their alternative scientific language allows a dialogue between competing followers of religion to carry on an alternative , less inflammatory conversation about this subject. Effectively the scientists are a kind of peacemaker.

If the Pope really wants to help to grow his flock, why not allow his clergy to marry? That would certainly attract a more trustworthy and fecund type. In general, Pope Benedict should concentrate on a quality flock rather than on quantity. That would mean that only people who can afford children should have them. Those that can't afford children should not have them and serve god in another way. The church has to have a message that resonates with the timeless realities of life.