QOTD

Whatever is fragile, like the environment, is defenceless before the interests of a deified market.

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 18, 2015

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VATICAN CITY (AP) — In a sweeping environmental manifesto aimed at spurring concrete action, Pope Francis called Thursday for a bold cultural revolution to correct what he described as a "structurally perverse" economic system where the rich exploit the poor, turning Earth into an "immense pile of filth." 

Meanwhile, the US House of Representatives took another step toward granting the President "fast track" authority in negotiating a set of international trade deals guaranteed to further weaken the defense of the fragile the world over.

So it's a day of high contrasts.

This should be fun. 

The encyclical "Laudato Si," (Praise Be) is 191 pages of pure Francis.

It's a blunt, readable booklet full of zingers that will make many conservatives and climate doubters squirm, including in the U.S. Congress, where Francis will deliver the first-ever papal address in September. It has already put several U.S. presidential candidates on the hot seat since some Republicans, Catholics among them, doubt the science behind global warming and have said the pope should stay out of the debate.

Which Republican will shout "You lie!" at the Pope?