The "Pollution" of Christmas

At a time when the "Christmas wars" are raging -- the current argument du jour seems to be the (implausible) one that, in fact, we are not seeing a scrubbing out of "Christmas" from the "season" -- Pope Benedict XVI weighed in the other day with an interesting take.  As the Washington Post reports, "Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday that Christmas festivities have been polluted by consumerism and suggested that assembling the Nativity scene in the home is an effective way of teaching the faith to children." 

The use of the word "pollution" is an interesting one here, I think.  Do any of my MOJ colleagues or MOJ readers write or know much about environmental law?  Does the word evoke any special meanings for you?

The Pope continued:

"In today's consumer society, this time (of the year) is unfortunately subjected to a sort of commercial 'pollution' that is in danger of altering its true spirit, which is characterized by meditation, sobriety and by a joy that is not exterior but intimate," the pope said in his traditional Sunday blessing.

My colleague and friend John Nagle has written and thought a lot about the idea of "pollution."  Check this out.