Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
July 25, 2001
Letters
Bishops wrong on global warming
I object to the U.S. Catholic bishops' conference putting their seal of approval on global warming. This is a scientific debate and nothing in theology training confers scientific expertise on the bishops. Consider the following:
•Global warming proponents refuse to look at the temperature measurement evidence. Even though computer models have projected an extreme temperature rise, the actual temperature measurements do not bear this out.
•Satellite measurements have not shown warming on a global scale. Weather balloons have not shown global warming and studies of tree rings have not borne global warming out. If you exclude urban centers from surface measurements there is no global warming. An example of this is the replacement of Denver as a weather station by Denver International Airport. If you look at the comparative temperature readings on the weather report on the evening news, DIA is usually colder than Denver, showing the effects of urbanization.
Seventeen thousand scientists and engineers have signed a petition stating that the evidence for global warming is unconvincing and have advocated that the Kyota Treaty be rejected because of the harsh economic requirements that would be imposed solely on the United States. Ninety-five senators have also rejected the treaty (95 to 0).
Dr. William M. Gray, the foremost hurricane specialist from University of Colorado, also does not believe in the United Nation's models.
The website http://www.greeningearthsociety.org/ contains studies and weather records from around the earth.
Robert R. Prudhomme
Denver
Editor's note: For a copy of the U.S. bishops' global climate statement, visit online http://www.nc-cbuscc.org/sdwp/international/globalclimate.htm
Medjugorje's message is prayer
This is in reply to Christopher Brust's letter in the July 4 Register. In Wayne Weible's 1989 book on Medjugorje, he writes of the problems the Bishops' Conference has had, beginning with the Bishop of Mostar. The Bishop was a strong advocate of the apparitions. For some reason he became upset with the Franciscan priests in that village and said that all that was happening there was being perpetuated by them.
Bishop Zanic established the first commission on Medjugorje. To make a long story short, the Vatican dissolved his commission and established a new one. The Bishop of Mostar was asked not to involve himself further in the matter and to maintain silence. Against Vatican orders he continued to make inflammatory denunciations.
In a public audience with dozens of bishops, the Holy Father was asked if they should permit their parishioners to go to Medjugorje. His response is widely reported: "Why do you even ask the question? If they are converting, praying, fasting, going to confession and doing penance, let them go to Medjugorje."
The Croation visionary Vicka had an audience with the pope. He told her if he were not the pope, he would be in Medjugorje.
Last October I went on a pilgrimage there. I felt I had been on a weeklong, beautiful, spiritual retreat. On Oct. 13, I witnessed the "Miracle of the Sun." God wants us to believe his Mother's messages. We must pray, pray, pray, as the Blessed Mother Mary has asked us to do.
Magdalen Mauldin
Littleton
Rifle shooting a tragedy for all
So often in our community, events and issues are seemingly viewed in the context of a single community — that somehow, the killings in Rifle are a "tragedy for the Hispanic community" when of course, it's a tragedy for all of humankind. I suppose that's why I was at the Mass at the Cathedral for the Rifle victims. Although we Coloradans do — and should — celebrate our unique cultures, I think it's important that we can all come together to worship as Catholic Christians.
A reporter from the Post asked me how I enjoyed the "Spanish Mass." But it really wasn't a Spanish Mass — it was in Spanish, English, and Latin. With a Bishop from Mexico, a priest from Africa (I believe), a German organist, and a Korean cantor — a wonderful example of our Universal Church.
One aspect of attending Mass in one of the downtown parishes that I really love is that you have a cross section of humanity represented at every service — young, old, wealthy, homeless, Asian, Anglo, Hispanic, etc. Perhaps when we truly learn to worship as one family, recognizing that "divine spark" in each one of us, senseless tragedies like the one in Rifle will become a thing of the past.
Ross Jacobsmeyer
Denver
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