Energy

“Care for the environment represents a challenge for all of humanity. It is a matter of a common and universal duty, that of respecting a common good.” (466)¹

Taking our inspiration from the above quote, from The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, let us – you and I, our leaders, and all Americans – get out the red, white, and blue, wave it high because it is time for this great nation to accept the challenge – the challenge to lead the world into independence from non-renewable sources of energy and into clean air. Our great country has an abundance of talented and creative citizens, excellence of resources, the technical ability and the standing of the United States to lead the world in such an effort. We have the resources: we need the leadership.

What does independence from non-renewable energy look like? It looks like windmills blowing in the wind, solar panels glistening on rooftops, geothermal steam rising into the blue sky, hydroelectric dams and wave action, heat-based energy systems, uses of corn and other plants, and many more jobs in our country – to name a few of the exciting possibilities.

Individually and collectively with other countries, we could achieve colossal success developing renewable energy to replace, for example, the much hated gasoline that we have to depend upon. We’ve proved that we can pursue a monumental effort. For example, consider the war in Iraq. When the war is over, and we are still paying retirement and health care costs for the deserving servicemen and replenishing our war machine, it is estimated, the war will have cost us three trillion dollars. When we want to do something, nothing can stop us.

Then if we want to reduce our dependence on oil, gas, and coal, what must be done? When we think of those dwindling supplies of non-renewable energy resources, we tend to think about light bulbs and less fuel in cars, which is good. However, we cannot limit our efforts to an unorganized plan or just for the United States. We are dependent on how other nations also respond. “ A consensus among energy experts today is that national energy independence is an unattainable goal and, in any case, a foolish idea, because the world is too economically interconnected through trade in resources.2 We have to work urgently and in solidarity with other nations. This is a world problem.

What do we need to do now? Clearly energy resources are an issue for the coming election. We will have to form our conscience, balancing issues. It isn’t easy. We need to consider that the U.S. Bishops united declared, “Catholics are not single issue voters. A candidate’s position on a single issue is not sufficient to guarantee a voter’s support…both opposing evil and doing good are essential.”3 What do the bishops tell us about how we can decide between the intrinsic evil of abortion, for example, against say energy, health care, the war in Iraq and other compelling issues? The bishops tell us, “A voter should not use a candidate’s opposition to an intrinsic evil to justify indifference or inattentiveness to other important moral issues involving human life and dignity.”3 Political decisions, they say, require the exercise of a well-formed conscience aided by prudence, which is the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. The bishops do not tell us how to vote; they give us guidance in forming our own individual conscience.

“Only in dialogue with God does the human being find his truth, from which he draws inspiration and norms to make plans for the future of the world, which is the garden that God has given him to keep and till.” (452)1 God made it, and it was good.

1 http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html
2 Richard J. Green and Wil Lepkowski, “Forstalling Disaster,” America, March 31,2008, pp 9-12.
3 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.” November 14, 2007.