  Tuesday, December 23, 2008  Ecology and Autonomy  Yesterday,
the Pope spoke of the need to recognize and defend something
called the "ecology of man." Significantly, the occasion was the
"traditional exchange of Christmas greetings with prelates and
members of the Roman Curia." What attracted media attention was,
of course, not so much explanation of our duty to be responsible
stewards of the rest of the planet; apparently that's taken as
platitudinous, which it isn't. The antennae went up for his
remarks on gender theory.   "It is not outmoded metaphysics,"
Benedict XVI affirmed, "when Church speaks of the nature of the
human being as man and woman, and demands that this order of
creation be respected." He said it has more to do with "faith in
the Creator and listening to the language of creation, the
contempt of which will lead to the self destruction of
humanity." The Pope warned against the manipulation that takes
place in national and international forums when the term
"gender" is altered. "What is oft