C'mon Bishop Malone: show some intellectual consistency

Richard Malone, bishop of the Diocese of Portland (which covers all of Maine), wrote an opinion piece in this weekend's Maine Sunday Telegram, addressing climate change, and arguing that the interests of "a global community for which we all must care" require us to deal with the climate crisis.

His arguments are cogent and strong. Pity they don't persuade him on another topic: same-sex marriage. Malone led the Maine fight against same-sex marriage, but his pontifications (sorry, bad pun) on climate change could easily be used to support same-sex marriage.

Let's take a look:

"Climate change is not just about economic theory or political platforms, and it should not be used for partisan advantage or influenced by interest group pressures. ... It is about the future of God's Creation and the one human family."

"Our call to strive for peace and to love our neighbors must be more and more linked with the need for environmental stewardship."

"People of faith, including Catholics, must recapture ancient teachings about the reverence for Creation and about solidarity with all people."

Yes, Bishop Malone, we must recognize that we are all part of the same web of life, one human family, with a need to move beyond selfish interests toward the needs of all peoples, striving for peace and learning to love our neighbors, and standing in solidarity with all people.

But let's not limit that effort to climate change - which, make no mistake, is literally vitally important. Let's strive, dear Most Reverend Bishop Richard, to meet those goals in all aspects of our lives, public and private.

That's not too much to ask, now, is it?