Church Environmentalism Is Phariseeism

Today is the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time and we are in Cycle B for Sunday readings.  Today's first reading is from Deuteronomy 4:1-2,6-8.  Here it is.

Moses said to the people:
“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees
which I am teaching you to observe,
that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land
which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin upon you,
you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it.
Observe them carefully,
for thus will you give evidence
of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,
who will hear of all these statutes and say,
‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’
For what great nation is there
that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us
whenever we call upon him?
Or what great nation has statutes and decrees
that are as just as this whole law
which I am setting before you today?”

Today's Gospel is from Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23.  I repost that.

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem
gathered around Jesus,
they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals
with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. 
—For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,
do not eat without carefully washing their hands,
keeping the tradition of the elders.
And on coming from the marketplace 
they do not eat without purifying themselves. 
And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,
the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. —
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,
“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders
but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” 
He responded,
“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:
This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.
You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”

He summoned the crowd again and said to them,
“Hear me, all of you, and understand. 
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.

“From within people, from their hearts,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.All these evils come from within and they defile.”

I emphasized in bold some points that I'll make in a minute.

Progressive Social Justice Crowd - Pharisees?

In LifeSiteNews, Michael O'Brien makes some interesting and relevant points in his article touching upon "new phariseeism".  He makes the case that none of us can claim any righteousness on our own, and that the Pharisees were experts on substituting their own customs for authentic Mosaic law.  They then adhered to the former while trashing the latter.

He draws the analogy between that tendency and the tendency of the "social justice" crowd to minimize the importance of matters pertaining to life and sexual morality, substituting their own progressive causes.  And heaven help the poor pro-life person who looks askance upon Obamacare or the Dream Act.  I could regale one and all of the hissies that have been lobbed in my direction by these new Pharisees when I won't jump on their bandwagons.  I am tempted sometimes not to point out the questionable alliances in which they embroil themselves in search of their progressive utopias.  Not to worry, though, as I usually succeed in conquering those temptations to the chagrin of some.

It seems that some "illegal immigration" devotees have taken to fasting for their cause.  According to Catholic Culture, the first bunch ended their fast with public recognition from not only Cardinal McCarrick, but "usual suspects" such as Nancy Pelosi, Al Sharpton, Tom Perez.  The list of organizations sounds like a "who's who" if dissenters.  But Cardinal McCarrick glories in his squalid associations.  I have picketed at least four of these throughout the years.  I wonder how many of these would fast for the end of abortion?  Wait!  What am I thinking?  Are not Pelosi and Sharpton two of the biggest proponents of child-murder?  So why does a Prince of the Church associate himself with these modern pharisees?  Do we really need to ask that question (owing to obvious answer)?