Papal deer in the headlights: Francis contradicts papal policy on human fertility

In my July 26th column for the ROB’s Economy Lab feature in the Globe I point out that in his recent encyclical on climate change Pope Francis wants to suck and blow at the same time. The pope was right to make protecting human life a goal, a goal moreover that is entirely consistent with traditional Catholic doctrine. The problem? Fossil fuel use has been an indispensable factor making it possible for the Earth to support its teeming billions….and alternative energy technologies are nowhere near ready to displace them.