Fr. Dwight Longenecker (@dlongenecker1) tossed a provocative one-liner onto 𝕏 recently!
“The most prevalent and insidious heresy in the church today is meliorism.”
Fr. Dwight Longenecker
I had to bite because I had no understanding of Meliorism, whatsoever!
Fr. Longenecker
Fr. Longenecker is a Catholic convert, priest, public speaker and author of multiple books, articles, blog. He is American and was raised Evangelical Christian. After a degree from a fundamentalist University in the US, he studied theology at Oxford University and was later ordained as an Anglican priest. In 1995 he was received into the Catholic Church. He returned to the US 2006, where he was later ordained as a Catholic priest. His parish is in South Carolina.
Fr. Longenecker is prone to the odd…provocative comment!
Meliorism
Fr. Longenecker confirmed that Meliorism is the philosophical belief that: "the idea that progress is a real concept and that humans can interfere with natural processes in order to improve the world" [Wiki] and that the ‘heresy’ is if a person thinks human beings are the drivers of human improvement — to the exclusion of God.
(The Editor reminded me that one can hold subconscious/poorly understood views which are theologically incorrect, without willfully teaching heresy.)
Early Proponents
According to Wikipedia (…the font of all knowledge!) early proponents of meliorism included the three gentlemen in the title photo above: Messrs. Lester Frank Ward, William James, and John Dewey. “Meliorism, as a conception of the person and society, is at the foundation of contemporary liberal democracy and human rights and is a basic component of liberalism.”
Ward strongly opposed the laissez-faire approach to government and regarded education as the primary mechanism of continued human progress. Ward anticipated the development of modern governmental responsibilities (the welfare state), planning, and the expansion of formal education as a funnel for maximum participation by citizens in public affairs.
Dewey contended that the purpose of education should not revolve around the acquisition of a pre-determined set of skills, but rather the realization of one's full potential and the ability to use those skills for the greater good.
Later, Max Roser expressed a melioristic position saying that all the next statements can be true at the same time: "The world is much better. The world is awful. The world can be much better."
These views are fundamentally humanist and exclude the necessity of God.
Old Gods & New Religions
Gaia entrusts Erichthonios to Athena
As belief in God diminishes, humans will often revert to the “Old Gods” such as Gaia — the ancestral mother of all life, Mother Earth — or channel their fervour into some ‘new’ religion. The most recognizable cult is Climate Change. The followers believe that Fossil Fuel is the Devil Incarnate.
Saint Greta…
The related cult is Environmentalism: “MAN BAD: NATURE GOOD.” Their path to redemption is population reduction — a version of human sacrifice which includes abortion, infanticide & euthanasia.
In his TED Talk, Bill Gates mentions a 10% population reduction — but genocidal granny & WEF darling, Jane Goodall, wants the Earth’s population to be reduced by ~ 7.5 BILLION people!
Then there are the associated religions of Identity Politics, Gender Issues, and DEI [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion] which considers the Heterosexual White Male as the ‘Evil One.’
Meliorism in the Church?
(Note: Fr. Longenecker made NO indication as to what specific teaching/s he considers to be Meliorism.)
What I wondered about was the Holy Father’s 10-year dedication to Climate Change & the Environment. Pope Francis signed Laudato Si in 2015, Laudate Deum in 2023 (reviews below) and planned to address COP28 — the climate conference in Dubai, late 2023.
on Laudato Si
on Laudate Deum (part I)
on Laudate Deum II
Pope Francis was unwell during COP28, so Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, delivered the speech on his behalf. That address left much to be desired, but at least the final sentence removed the possible accusation of Meliorism!
“And with God’s help, let us emerge from the dark night of wars and environmental devastation in order to turn our common future into the dawn of a new and radiant day.”
The Holy Father’s speech
In the 1715-word COP28 speech, Pope Francis used the word “GOD” three times and “PRAYER” & “SIN” once each:
“…in which he praised God for those who forgive…” [“he” being St. Francis of Assisi]
“…because the destruction of the environment is an offence against God, a sin…”
“I too…with the heartfelt urgency of a prayer, want to leave you with this message…”
The leader of the Catholic Church did not mention Jesus; Christ; Holy Spirit; Mary; Mother; grace; pray; redemption; penance; salvation or soul — not even once. The Holy Father made several comments which could be categorized as melioristic:
“…the future of us all depends on the present that we now choose.”
“Let us once more recognize our limits, with humility and courage, as the sole path to a life of authentic fulfilment.”
“What is the way out of this? It is the one that you are pursuing in these days: the way of togetherness, multilateralism.”
“It is a matter of establishing global and effective rules…”
“…it is essential that there be a breakthrough that is not a partial change of course, but rather a new way of making progress together.”
“The remedy is good politics:”
“Choose life, choose the future!”
“the future of us all depends on the present that we now choose”
“May we be attentive to the cry of the earth…”
One might argue that Pope Francis took the canny approach of avoiding ‘religiosity’ when talking to a world-wide, secular audience. Possibly — but there was no essential difference in his approach to the COP28 speech as to his encyclicals, Laudato Si & Laudate Deum.
Souls
I think it fair to say that the Holy Father’s prime job is to save souls, rather than saving the environment. So, where was the evangelization here — the Good News of Jesus in this situation?
The message of Hope for the world?
…of Redemption?
…of God?
Kevin Hay
You can follow Kevin on 𝕏 @kevinhay77
APPENDIX:
The FULL TEXT of Pope Francis’ address to COP28 as presented by Cardinal Secretary of State Parolin is below. (To see the original Vatican document, please click on the image after the text.)
Mr President,
Mr Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Distinguished Heads of State and Government,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Sadly, I am unable to be present with you, as I had greatly desired. Even so, I am with you, because time is short. I am with you because now more than ever, the future of us all depends on the present that we now choose. I am with you because the destruction of the environment is an offence against God, a sin that is not only personal but also structural, one that greatly endangers all human beings, especially the most vulnerable in our midst and threatens to unleash a conflict between generations. I am with you because climate change is “a global social issue and one intimately related to the dignity of human life” (Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum, 3). I am with you to raise the question which we must answer now: Are we working for a culture of life or a culture of death? To all of you I make this heartfelt appeal: Let us choose life! Let us choose the future! May we be attentive to the cry of the earth, may we hear the plea of the poor, may we be sensitive to the hopes of the young and the dreams of children! We have a grave responsibility: to ensure that they not be denied their future.
It has now become clear that the climate change presently taking place stems from the overheating of the planet, caused chiefly by the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human activity, which in recent decades has proved unsustainable for the ecosystem. The drive to produce and possess has become an obsession, resulting in an inordinate greed that has made the environment the object of unbridled exploitation. The climate, run amok, is crying out to us to halt this illusion of omnipotence. Let us once more recognize our limits, with humility and courage, as the sole path to a life of authentic fulfilment.
What stands in the way of this? The divisions that presently exist among us. Yet a world completely connected, like ours today, should not be un-connected by those who govern it, with international negotiations that “cannot make significant progress due to positions taken by countries which place their national interests above the global common good” (Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’, 169). We find ourselves facing firm and even inflexible positions calculated to protect income and business interests, at times justifying this on the basis of what was done in the past, and periodically shifting the responsibility to others. Yet the task to which we are called today is not about yesterday, but about tomorrow: a tomorrow that, whether we like it or not, will belong to everyone or else to no one.
Particularly striking in this regard are the attempts made to shift the blame onto the poor and high birth rates. These are falsities that must be firmly dispelled. It is not the fault of the poor, since the almost half of our world that is more needy is responsible for scarcely 10% of toxic emissions, while the gap between the opulent few and the masses of the poor has never been so abysmal. The poor are the real victims of what is happening: we need think only of the plight of indigenous peoples, deforestation, the tragedies of hunger, water and food insecurity, and forced migration. Births are not a problem, but a resource: they are not opposed to life, but for life, whereas certain ideological and utilitarian models now being imposed with a velvet glove on families and peoples constitute real forms of colonization. The development of many countries, already burdened by grave economic debt, should not be penalized; instead, we should consider the footprint of a few nations responsible for a deeply troubling “ecological debt” towards many others (cf. ibid., 51-52). It would only be fair to find suitable means of remitting the financial debts that burden different peoples, not least in light of the ecological debt that they are owed.
Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to speak to you, as brothers and sisters, in the name of the common home in which we live, and to ask this question: What is the way out of this? It is the one that you are pursuing in these days: the way of togetherness, multilateralism. Indeed, “our world has become so multipolar and at the same time so complex that a different framework for effective cooperation is required. It is not enough to think only of balances of power… It is a matter of establishing global and effective rules (Laudate Deum, 42). In this regard, it is disturbing that global warming has been accompanied by a general cooling of multilateralism, a growing lack of trust within the international community, and a loss of the “shared awareness of being… a family of nations” (SAINT JOHN PAUL II, Address to the United Nations Organization for the Fiftieth Anniversary of its Establishment, New York, 5 October 1995, 14). It is essential to rebuild trust, which is the foundation of multilateralism.
This is true in the case of care for creation, but also that of peace. These are the most urgent issues and they are closely linked. How much energy is humanity wasting on the numerous wars presently in course, such as those in Israel and Palestine, in Ukraine and in many parts of the world: conflicts that will not solve problems but only increase them! How many resources are being squandered on weaponry that destroys lives and devastates our common home! Once more I present this proposal: “With the money spent on weapons and other military expenditures, let us establish a global fund that can finally put an end to hunger” (Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti, 262; cf. SAINT PAUL VI, Encyclical Letter Populorum Progressio, 51) and carry out works for the sustainable development of the poorer countries and for combating climate change.
It is up to this generation to heed the cry of peoples, the young and children, and to lay the foundations of a new multilateralism. Why not begin precisely from our common home? Climate change signals the need for political change. Let us emerge from the narrowness of self-interest and nationalism; these are approaches belonging to the past. Let us join in embracing an alternative vision: this will help to bring about an ecological conversion, for “there are no lasting changes without cultural changes” (Laudate Deum, 70). In this regard, I would assure you of the commitment and support of the Catholic Church, which is deeply engaged in the work of education and of encouraging participation by all, as well as in promoting sound lifestyles, since all are responsible and the contribution of each is fundamental.
Brothers and sisters, it is essential that there be a breakthrough that is not a partial change of course, but rather a new way of making progress together. The fight against climate change began in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and the 2015 Paris Agreement represented “a new beginning” (ibid., 47). Now there is a need to set out anew. May this COP prove to be a turning point, demonstrating a clear and tangible political will that can lead to a decisive acceleration of ecological transition through means that meet three requirements: they must be “efficient, obligatory and readily monitored” (ibid., 59). And achieved in four sectors: energy efficiency; renewable sources; the elimination of fossil fuels; and education in lifestyles that are less dependent on the latter.
Please, let us move forward and not turn back. It is well-known that various agreements and commitments “have been poorly implemented, due to the lack of suitable mechanisms for oversight, periodic review and penalties in cases of non-compliance” (Laudato i’, 167). Now is the time no longer to postpone, but to ensure, and not merely to talk about the welfare of your children, your citizens, your countries and our world. You are responsible for crafting policies that can provide concrete and cohesive responses, and in this way demonstrate the nobility of your role and the dignity of the service that you carry out. In the end, the purpose of power is to serve. It is useless to cling to an authority that will one day be remembered for its inability to take action when it was urgent and necessary to do so (cf. ibid., 57). History will be grateful to you. As will the societies in which you live, which are sadly divided into “fan bases”, between prophets of doom and indifferent bystanders, radical environmentalists and climate change deniers… It is useless to join the fray; in this case, as in the case of peace, it does not help to remedy the situation. The remedy is good politics: if an example of concreteness and cohesiveness comes from the top, this will benefit the base, where many people, especially the young, are already dedicated to caring for our common home.
May the year 2024 mark this breakthrough. I like to think that a good omen can be found in an event that took place in 1224. In that year, Francis of Assisi composed his “Canticle of the Creatures”. By then Francis was completely blind, and after a night of physical suffering, his spirits were elevated by a mystical experience. He then turned to praise the Most High for all those creatures that he could no longer see, but knew that they were his brothers and sisters, since they came forth from the same Father and were shared with other men and women. An inspired sense of fraternity thus led him to turn his pain into praise and his weariness into renewed commitment. Shortly thereafter, Francis added a stanza in which he praised God for those who forgive; he did this in order to settle – successfully – an unbecoming conflict between the civil authorities and the local bishop. I too, who bear the name Francis, with the heartfelt urgency of a prayer, want to leave you with this message: Let us leave behind our divisions and unite our forces! And with God’s help, let us emerge from the dark night of wars and environmental devastation in order to turn our common future into the dawn of a new and radiant day. Thank you.
Click image to link to this Vatican document