"Church prelates at Copenhagen like Rowan Williams and Desmond Tutu spread climate fears, tiresomely echoing secular European conventional environmentalism." -- IRD President Mark Tooley
WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Church leaders who journeyed to Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Summit (COP-15) are expressing dismay after the conference produced little in the way of tangible results.
A delegation that included Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and other church officials preached and marched during the 11-day meeting, demanding stiff restrictions on free markets and vast global wealth redistribution.
The Institute on Religion and Democracy has published a paper by Dr. Cal Beisner on the environmental task facing Christians called: "What is the Most Important Environmental Task Facing American Christians Today?" It is available free for download at
www.TheIRD.org
Mark Tooley, IRD President, commented:
"Church prelates at Copenhagen like Rowan Williams and Desmond Tutu spread climate fears, tiresomely echoing secular European conventional environmentalism.
"Harsh prophecies of climate catastrophe need to be weighed against the impact on still-developing nations. Environmental fears should not excuse perpetuating poverty.
"The primary religion on display at the Copenhagen summit often resembled Earth worship. Christians are called to guard God's creation while not deifying the Earth or prioritizing nature over humanity.
"Whether waving hammer-and-sickle flags or calling for a worldwide one-child policy of strict population control, many activists in Copenhagen seemed more self-absorbed than actually concerned about helping the poor.
"Archbishop Williams professed to witness to God's hope, but once there, he merely echoed secular rants about endless environmental degradation.
"There is much to celebrate in the past generation: America and other Western nations now have cleaner water, air and land. How can we help other nations work for both a clean environment and economic growth without peddling apocalyptic fears?"
The Institute on Religion and Democracy, founded in 1981, is an ecumenical alliance of U.S. Christians working to reform their churches' social witness, in accord with biblical and historic Christian teachings, and to contribute to the renewal of democratic society at home and abroad.
