Response to Climate Change - Full Report
Climate Change - Mapping an Australian Catholic Response, August 2007Rev Dr Charles Rue, Coordinator Columban JPICoz
Columban Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation Australia (JPICoz)
Cross reference to Columban Centre for Peace Ecology and Justice (PEJ)
Climate Change is on many people's lips. Scientific logic has convinced some while others have been shocked into reflection by fickle weather conditions from New Orleans to the Australian outback. There is plenty of information out there for those who want to hear so what can the churches add? In a word, faith teachings can help people to identify their central values and motivate them to change their ways. The following 25 points give ways to step back and look at our thinking and acting as regards climate change. They lead to a four part message for us to be Truth Tellers, Spiritual Visionaries, Just and Compassionate and Social Activists .
1. Four parts of an Australian Catholic Faith Response to Climate Change
2. The See-Judge-Act Approach
3. Evidence for Climate Change
4. Three Australian Books on Climate Change
5. Climate Change Impacts in Australia are severe
6. A Response that embraces Compassion for Earth
7. Responses to Climate Change from the Australian Bishops
8. Traditional Resources which help in making a Catholic Response
9. A Spiritual Journey embracing the reality of the natural world
10. Past Climate Events led to Social Upheaval and New Spiritual Stories
11. Denial, anger, blame, bargaining before reintegration
12. Being climate Truth-Tellers without fear
13. Climate-sceptics use religion is promote their positions
14. Religion can either reinforce or transform the status quo
15. Pope John Paul II and Catholic Environmental Ethical Principles
16. Particular Moral Issues related to Climate Change
17. Morally Questionable Solutions to Climate Change
18. Renewable Energy Sources offer available morally acceptable solutions
19. Other moral issues related to climate change
20. Life style and church institutional choices showing greater moral integrity
21. Social Activism on Climate Change by believers from many faiths
22. Climate Change and the evolving Catholic Story
23. An expanded belief system and behavioral agenda for Catholics
24. Climate Change Prayer
Four parts of an Australian Catholic Faith Response to Climate Change
• The REALITY of human induced Climate Change is accepted with gratitude to science for its truth telling
• The painful IMPACTS of Climate Change for humanity and Earth are with us now and, to our sadness, increasing
• As a matter of moral integrity, political, economic and religious leaders must act urgently to help all people radically REDUCE EMISSIONS of human-induced greenhouse gas
• A religious response to the major issue of our day can deepen FAITH PERCEPTIONS while HELPING SOCIETY to forge solutions. Vatican II Church in the Modern World Nos. 1, 10 and 43.
The See-Judge-Act Approach
• A Catholic response can use the SEE-JUDGE-ACT method created by Joseph Cardijn for Young Christian Workers (YCW) in the early 1900's, conscious of being responsible. Ruben, Indian YCW leader, the world cannot afford foe the church to be late in addressing the environmental crisis. CathNews 1 Aug 2007.
• John XXIII 1961 Mater and Magistra ‘reduction of social principles into practice ... no paralysis'
• John Paul II wrote about analysis of the reality of structural sin and structural evil as an enlightened basis for effective action
• Latin American Bishops, 1968-2007, Medellin to Aparecida, reaffirmed their pastoral model of action reflection for half the world's Catholics
• Praxis = reality/response
Evidence for Climate Change
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) did 4 Reports in 1990, 1995, 2001 and 2007 for the UN Framework on Climate Change.
• Three IPCC summaries 2007 www.ipcc.ch look at 1/ the physical science 2/ impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, and 3/ mitigation.
• Rio Agreement 1992, Kyoto Protocol 1996, new negotiations 2012 are UN sponsored international agreements. The USA and Australia committed not to environmentally harm other nations by ratifying Rio
• Australian Data from Government Greenhouse and Metrological websites are excellent sources. The best outcome means reducing greenhouse gases 80% by 2050. www.bom.gov.au/climate www.greenhouse.gov.au
• Businesses Councils and NGOs host many websites www.cana.org www.climateinstitute.org.au www.planteextinction.com www.acfonline.org.au www.greenpeace.org.au http://www.panda.org/climate/
Three Australian Books on Climate Change
• Tim Flannery The Weather Makers: The History and Future Impact of Climate Change. Melbourne: Text, 2005. Every library needs a copy. Tim goes from climate history, through paleo-evidence over 3 billion years, explains natural cycles, examines the options from renewable energy sources, and opens up spiritual messages for those with ears to hear. For example, his book describes the atmosphere variously as the Great Aerial Ocean, an aerial blood stream, and an organ of inter-connection.
• Mark Diesendorf Greenhouse Solutions with Sustainable Energy, Sydney: UNSW Press 2007. Mark presents a practical, science based and detailed way to act now to deploy a bundle of available renewable energy sources, including supplying base-power equal to that of a coal fired station. He answers objections to climate change and weighs up energy options. His book is based on up to date science and hopeful in that it maps some ways forward.
• Guy Pearse High & Dry: John Howard, climate change and the selling of Australia's future Melbourne: Penguin Viking 2007. Pearce has been a Liberal insider for more than a decade. From a political and economic viewpoint, his work builds on Flannery's scientific work and the alternative energy question addressed by Diesendorf. He presents a two fold agenda: expose the lies Australian voters have been sold, and, raise the alarm about the urgency and what is at stake as climate change kicks in. He presents five steps as a way forward: argue that deep greenhouse gas cuts are affordable; be aware that the public is ready to cut emissions; business is ready to back climate policy changes; demand that the media better expose past lies and detail the real threat climate change poses; forge a face saving way forward for both the liberals and labor that urgently builds effective policies onto existing initiatives.
Climate Change Impacts in Australia are severe
• Water - less rain in the south but more in the tropics, more intense storms, cyclones as far south as Sydney, more severe droughts and floods, ground water decline
• Higher Temperatures - drying soil, more deserts, more intense and frequent bush fires, shrinking snow fields, high increases towards the Pole
• Sea - levels rising (heat expansion major), sour PH waters, coastal erosion, species change, corals bleach
• Infrastructure failures - energy demand increases, road and rail disruptions, wrong building designs, water supply, urban utilities
• Biodiversity - extinction of species as habitat changes, wetlands loss, invasive species, limited time and migration corridors, tree loss
• Food Production - planting and fruit budding seasons change, irrigated bread basket decline, less live-stock carrying capacity
• Health - More dengue and pathogens in northern hot humid environment, disease travel south, heat-wave stress deaths, food shortages and diet
NB! Local impacts will be greater than Australian averages.
A Response that embraces Compassion for Earth
· John Paul II in his 1990 Message wrote: in a profound sense the earth is suffering (Hos 4:3) and greenhouse effect has now reached crisis proportions as a consequence of industrial growth, massive urban concentrations and vastly increased energy needs ... the Resulting meteorological and atmospheric changes range from damage to health to the possible future submersion of low-lying lands. He continued, no peaceful society can afford to neglect either respect for life or the fact that there is an integrity to creation.
· In a 2000 joint statement with the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople John Paul II again wrote on the earth's suffering.
· Brendan Byrne "Creation Groaning: An Earth Bible Reading of Romans 8:18-22", ref. ACR?
Responses to Climate Change from the Australian Bishops
• The Australian Catholic bishops established Catholic Earthcare Australia (CEA) in 2002 as their agency in environmental matters.
• In November 2005 CEA organized a 3 day Conference on Climate Change and presented a position paper for discussion. More then 300 international and local scientists, theologians, activists, lay and clerical came together. www.catholicearthcareoz.net
• The Catholic agencies Caritas and ACSJC fostered eco awareness in the 1990s but have shown limited commitment since.
• A few small dioceses and some diocesan J&P offices have been active on Climate Change, notably, Adelaide and Townsville
• CEA has sponsored an ‘energy and ecological' audit to be used for Catholic owned buildings and institutions
• It has co-authored books in some Catholic Education offices in the various States, notable Queensland, which present faith based education for the environment.
Traditional Resources which help in making a Catholic Response
• Scripture - It witnesses to Earth's design and God's wisdom imbedded in the Earth (Job 38:2). If you would learn more, ask the cattle, seek information from the birds of the air (Job 12.7).
• Wisdom - Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good United States Catholic June 2001, revised 2007 www.usccb
• Liturgy - Norman C. Habel ed., Readings from the Perspective of Earth Sheffield, UK: Academic Press; the Earth Bible Project.
• Interpretations - Correct wrong interpretations of the command in Genesis for man to ‘dominate' all living creatures V care for like the Lord Caliph.
• Revelation: John Paul II Audience 30 Jan 2002. For those who have attentive ears and unveiled eyes, creation is like a first revelation, which has its own eloquent language: It is almost like another sacred book whose letters are represented by the multitude of creatures present in the universe.
• Gift of Life: Position Paper on Climate Change, 2005 Australian Catholic Bishops, We believe that the Earth is a gift from God, valuable in itself, and that human life is irrevocably linked with the Earth. Catholic faith believes that the cosmos displays the goodness, beauty and power of God. www.catholiceartcareoz.net
• Climate Change: the challenge to us all Father Sean McDonagh, Dublin: Columba Press, 2006 www.rainbowbooks.com.au McDonagh emphasizes that Climate Change is not just one environmental problem among a host of other social or even environmental problems. It is foundational. He names it as a priority mission for the Church since promoting the flourishing of the life in all forms is salvific. Sean details the major climate change challenges for believers and the responses so far across the Christian churches. Believers must make a credible church response to the science of Climate Change - neglect is a sin.
A Spiritual Journey embracing the reality of the natural world
• Archbishop John Bathersby: The entire life of Christians is an exploration into Christ. Each generation pushes back ever so slightly the envelope of his mystery ... One of the most significant developments in Catholic understanding of the Christian mission in more recent times is its embrace of creation in all its beauty and vitality.
• 2000 John Paul II Speech to Agriculturists, Within the movement of nature, tranquil and silent but rich in life, there continues to palpitate the original delight of the Creator.
• St Thomas Aquinas taught that Earth's diversity opens a spiritual path to appreciating the fullness of God's own self which it helps reveal and which humans can experience.
• St Athanasius of Alexandra ‘The Word of God became man so that we might become God. (54:3)'.
Past Climate Events led to Social Upheaval and New Spiritual Stories
• 13th century BC climate change, Abram flees Ur, leads to First Covenant
• 4th century AD climate changes following atmospheric dimming (maybe volcanic) led to crops failures and migrations including the barbarian invasion of Europe.
• The 5th century response of the Irish missionaries, including St Columban, to recivilise Europe, the followed by the rise of Islam as itinerant tribes built stable settlements
• 14th century warming and plagues led to social disorder, and then a new Christian era begins
• 21st century climate crisis! What new social and resultant new spiritual order might evolve? Might it combine compassion for Earth and People as indicated by Pope John Paul II? Might a new spiritual era delight in humbly learning from and living with God's gift of Earth?
Denial, anger, blame, bargaining before reintegration
• Dr Kubler Ross wrote on death and dying. The pattern of life we knew is dying as the planet warms. Do we respond with denial, anger, blaming others and bargaining? Or do we commit ourselves to vote for and create a new pattern of living that carries moral integrity?
• The Great Climate Swindle (ABC TV 14 07 07) presented a tired litany of deceit aimed at sowing confusion and delaying action.
• Climate Change: the challenge to us all Father Sean McDonagh, Dublin: Columba Press, 2006 www.rainbowbooks.com.au McDonagh emphasizes that Climate Change is not just one environmental problem among a host of other social or even environmental problems. It is foundational. Earth's life systems are threatened so a priority mission for the Church is to promote the flourishing of the life at every level. To neglect making a credible church response to the science of Climate Change is a sin against life, a sin against humanity and a sin against the author of all life.
Being climate Truth-Tellers without fear
• Rome April 2007 Cardinal Martino, head of the Pontifical Commission for Peace and Justice, invited 80 delegates to gather data, including climate skeptics (Hong Kong Examiner 27 05 07; The Tablet 5 May 2007).
• A scientist detailed the 2007 IPCC Reports concluding with a simple message, Reverse human induced Climate Change or bear the consequences. Face the truth.
• Several political leaders appealed to churches to offer moral criteria to help with judgments and motivation for action. UK's Milliband called for a new ‘Environmental Contract' similar to history's Social Contract.
• Bishops and their representatives present wanted to build a pastoral response to Climate Change in their local communities and to actively enter the public debate. Some called for a Papal encyclical on the environment and a common statement on Climate Change by church leaders.
• Near half of the participants in Rome presented the climate-skeptics' litany: climate change is merely the result of natural cycles; the IPCC uses models that is not real science and its scientists are self serving; make the poor nations rich so they can afford to adapt to Climate Change; blame China's factories and Indonesian forest fires; nuclear energy, clean coal and bio-fuels [GM?] are the best alternatives etc.
Climate-sceptics Use Religion is promote their positions
• Sadly, the climate-sceptics' litany deliberately plays on people's good will and Christian compassion to peddle lies - carbon taxes rob the poor; puny humans cannot alter providence; carbon release is God's will etc.
• Cardinal Pell, ‘Beware religious zealots from the church of climate change' Telegraph 18 02 07, has supported the sceptics.
• In truth, climate-sceptics go against two decades of Catholic environmental teaching. To borrow a line from the Goons - I'ts not bats in the belfry. The bats have taken over the belfry.
• The Great Climate Swindle program could not refrain from making an indirect appeal to religious support when it prefaced one of its statements with ‘when the great cathedrals of Europe were built'.
• In Scripture Satan is called the Father of Lies.
Religion can either reinforce or transform the status quo
• Weber wrote that religion can either reinforce the status quo or challenge it to transformation.
• Positive role of Earth in the Christian Story -salvation, revelation, incarnation, sacramental signs, mysticism, life to the full etc.
• Theology - Thomas Berry and the New Story, Adelaide diocesan priest Denis Edwards etc
• Social Teaching Principles slowly taking on the environmental dimension. The Compendium a single paragraph on the climate. Charles Rue A History of Australian Catholic Attitudes to the Environment over 200 Years, ACSJC 2006. 1/ an almost exclusive Gospel focus on the human tended to distract Catholics from interest in the natural world, and 2/ perceived dangers of Modernism after 1900 narrowed priestly formation lessening abilities to show leadership on understanding the natural world.
• Fundamentalist notions about Scripture and science have given the church a bad name. This must be admitted, and corrected.
• There are self imposed Catholic limits to involvement in the secular affairs, offering prudential judgments but not dictating particular solutions. John Warhurst, The Church and Public Debate, 2004, ACSJC No 50.
Pope John Paul II and Catholic Environmental Ethical Principles
Moral integrity and spiritual foundations go beyond pragmatic knee jerk reactions when facing Climate Change to vision long-term aims and options. The 1990 New Year Message of pope John Paul II was foundational. Principles:
• the right of all people to a safe environment,
• the common good,
• the right to a safe environment,
• the precautionary principle,
• preferential option for the poor
• the rights of future generations,
• dismantle the social structures of sin as taught by John Paul II
• fair distribution of climate change abatement costs,
• solidarity with developing countries by sharing modern technology uninhibited by patenting laws,
• welcome environmental refugees, and
• respect for the wider earth community in preserving bio-diversity.
Australian Catholic bishops' Climate Change Conference November 2005 www.catholicearthcareoz.net detail implications for Australia.
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994. (cf. Nos. 2422-3, 198I, 2403, 2415).
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 2004. (cf. Nos. 26, 170, 454)
Archbishop Migliore, UN observer 2007 = climate change as a global issue
Particular Moral Issues related to Climate Change
• Authentic development/over-development - John Paul II. Centesimus Annus (1991) No 35-40; Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (1987) Nos 28-34; Redemptor Hominis (1979) No 8, 55, 90 and 92.
• Population and human foot print - John Paul II, On Social Concern No. 8, argued that A more responsible approach to population issues is the promotion of ‘authentic development,' which represents a balanced view of human progress and includes respect for nature and social well-being. Pressure on Earth's living systems arises from a combination of population and standard of living. Measuring a nation's ecological footprint (hectares needed to support a person) produces some surprising figures: Australia 21mill X 9htr versus India 1,100 mill X 0.2htr = 189 versus 220, not a huge difference.
• Global Solidarity - www.iied.org/pubs www.earthprint.com Sea Levels in Developing Countries WWF Policy Paper, February 2007
• National Security - Sir Jock Stirrup, UK Chief of Staff, December 2006, Climate change and growing competition for scarce resources are together likely to increase the incidence of humanitarian crisis. The spread of desert regions, a scarcity of water, coastal erosion, declining arable land, damage to infrastructure from extreme weather: all could undermine security.
• Environmental Refugees - Human Tide: the real migration crisis, Christian Aid, May 2007, www.christianaid.org.au
• Future Generations - this major issue receives little treatment in most books on climate change yet world economic/social/political order may become chaotic and icon like the Great Barrier Reef will be devastated.
• Biodiversity - Science in Society magazine www.i-sis.org.uk and NGO groups such as WWF and Greenpeace; Sean McDonagh Death of Life.
• Water - The Top Ten World Rivers at risk C M Wong et al, WWF, March 2007; Australian Prime Minister's Task Force.
Morally Questionable Solutions to Climate Change
Each of the following solutions can well be addressed with this formula: The ARGUMENT goes that ... HOWEVER ....
• A strong Economy will insulate Australia from action - HOWEVER Review of the Economics of Climate Change Sir Nicholas Stern's 2006 www.hm-treasury.gov.uk http://www.wri.org/ The Review shows that it is cheaper to act now on climate change rather than wait.
• Technologies to do with Clean Coal, Carbon Capture and Storage have priority - HOWEVER Guy Pearce High and Dry 2007 explores the deception and distractions raised by Australian governments and vested interests to avoid addressing long-term solutions to climate change. Special IPCC Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) 2005. Clive Hamilton Scorcher: the dirty politics of climate change Blach Ink 2007.
• Biofuels will fill the gap and preserve our way of life - HOWEVER Its pursuit is an expression of climate denial that both uses suspect gene-technology and ties up food producing land. Eric Holtz-Gimenez ‘Peasants, Higher Food Prices - and a Crutch for the Petrol Economy' Le Monde Diplomatique 03 07 07. Columban DVD Unjust Genes www.columban.org.au Biodiesel Association of Australia
• Carbon Credits and Carbon Trading will let the markets solve the problem - HOWEVER The energy and other environmental problems exemplify market failure which is anathema to neo-liberal economics. Carbon credits don't grow on trees wrote Wendt Frew SMH 24 05 07 and 07 07 07 on the risks of profiteering in carbon trading leading to a credibility gap for its promoters. Clive Hamilton of The Australia Institute writes of 7 tests for effective carbon trading SMH 31 05 07 including putting a real price on carbon.
• Nuclear Energy will be a clean technological solution - HOWEVER False promises of Nuclear Power www.nuclearspin.org Medical Association for Prevention of War www.mapw.org.au Nuclear Power: no solution to climate change, 2006, sponsored by several environmental groups and recently updated. www.foe.org.au Australia and the Nuclear Option, May 2007, Lewisham High School students http://www.cecnsw.catholic.edu.au/clri
Renewable Energy Sources offer available morally acceptable solutions
Mark Diesendorf Greenhouse Solutions with Sustainable Energy 2007 argues for a bundle of renewable energy sources. Renewable energy stands at 8% in Australia. cf. Clean Energy Future Group 2004. ACF Australia's Climate Change Strategy: the Real way Forward 2003. Renewable Energy: A Contribution to Australia's Environmental and Economic Sustainability, June 2006 http://www.rega.com.au/reports.htm Issues to explore include:
• Energy Efficiency - the private sector is beginning to invest in this as a part of carbon trading mechanisms, initiatives in private homes www.apo.org.au
• Base-load - Deisendorf 2007 has a chapter specifically on how renewables can handle base load energy demand.
• Building Sector - Green Building Council Australia promotes the 4* - 6* green star rating of all buildings, houses, apartments, offices, factories and institutions. www.gbcaus.org cf Australian Greenhouse Office
• Transport Sector -Chris Riedy of the Institute of Sustainable Futures UNSW has published up to date material
• Agriculture - The CSIRO has introduced Australian farmer to new practices in the past decade which have increased the carbon carrying capacity of soils. ‘Edible Earth' July 2007 issue of New Internationalist looks at ecologically sustainable agriculture not only for food but also as a ready sink for carbon. www.newint.org
• Food - The amount of food eaten, its packaging, greater variety, home grown, the distance its travels as ‘food miles' all impact on greenhouse gas emissions. http://www.phaa.net.au/documents/August07.pdf
Other moral issues related to climate change
• Sharing abatement costs - land clearing credits are letting Australia off the hook internationally, but, it is a one off ‘fudge' aimed at appeasing the local electorate.
• Overseas Aid Budget - AID/WATCH in cooperation with the Mineral Policy Institute and Economy Network developed 12 recommendations for the government's Export Finance Insurance Corporation (EFIC). In part it asked for 1/ Carbon impact disclosure of whole-of-institution targets, and 2/ Phasing out support for fossil fuel projects leading to a moratorium. www.aidwatch.org.au Debra Jopson SMH 28 05 07 wrote that much phantom aid never leaves Australian shores; Dave DeFusco Program to encourage ‘green' industry in developing countries http://environment.yale.edu
• Green jobs - Several unions, following in the tradition of Jack Mundy of Green-Bans fame, argue that green jobs will make for long-term employment. Conversely, the forestry division of the CMFEU union has held owners and the nation to ransom.
• Creating a Green Economy is the way of securing the future chosen by many European nations, notably in Scandinavia but also on the Iberian Peninsula.
• NYMBY (not in my backyard) exemplifies a selfish culture of ME NOW.
Life style and church institutional choices showing greater moral integrity
• Individual choices - people have power over some of their personal choices such as their type of house, car, food etc and about how they power their home eg buying a renewable energy package for one's home goes beyond buying green power which often only transfers the problem elsewhere, even off-shore.
• Voluntary restraint - a new form of Friday penance based on the virtue of deciding ‘enough'
• Energy audits of church institutional buildings have been developed by Catholic EarthCare Australia (CEA) www.catholicearthcareoz.net
• Religious Institutes - In Australia some Religious iInstitutes have taken a lead in implementing their own energy restraint and sponsoring church initiatives. Cf. Religious Leaders, Rome, Global Warming 2004 www.ofm-jpic.org/globalwarming Francis Rocca The Holy See is Going Green: Solar and Offsets www.religiousnews.com
• Universities - Catholic universities such as ACU, CIS and BBI offer academic courses connecting religion and environmental issues.
• Schools - Some schools have conducted energy audits and implemented recycling programs. Some Catholic Education Offices (CEOs) require education for the environment in their curriculum eg, Townsville On Holy Ground 2007.
Social Activism on Climate Change by believers from many faiths
• In a Federal election year, the Australian Catholic bishops can be encouraged from the pews to publicly build upon their 2005 Climate Change position paper.
• Question all Federal Election hopefuls on their policies that set up an equitable framework for citizens to take immediate and significant decisions on climate change for their businesses, jobs, homes and personal life.
• PolMin political lobby group www.polmin.com.au
• World Youth Day in Sydney 2008 (WYD2008) - WYD has included some environmental issues in its planning. The universal issue of Climate Change would be a worthy spiritual reflection leading to morally responsible action.
• Ecumenical action - 1993, the World Council of Churches (WCC) published Time of Peril: Test of Faith on the perils of Climate Change. Cf Canadian David Hallman's writings for the WCC.
• Inter-faith groups - Faith and Ecology Network (FEN) Sydney was organized by the Columban Centre fo Peace, Ecology and Justice. It issued a Statement on Climate Change June 2007 www.columban.org.au cf. A collection of Climate Change Statements from 16 religious traditions was published in 2006 by the Climate Institute. www.climateinstitute.org.au; Yale and Harvard university departments of religion and environment. http://environment.yale.edu/climate/working-groups/religion-ethics/current-climate-change-work-in-religion-and-ethics/
Climate Change and the evolving Catholic Story
• Development of Dogma was a broadening concept that grew with UK Cardinal Newman in the 19th century and taken up by Vatican II as church renewal in a new reading of the signs of the times.
• The Holy Spirit is indeed the principal agent of the whole of the Church's mission ... The history of humanity has known many major turning points which have encouraged missionary outreach, and the Church, guided by the Spirit, has always responded to them. John Paul II Redemptoris Misio Nos 21 and 30.
• 1996 John Paul II Address to the European Bureau for the Environment, We face a fundamental question ... both ethical and ecological ... How can one prevent disasters that destroy the environment and threaten all forms of life?
• 2002 Pope John Paul II's Peace Message we must undergo an ecological conversion.
• 2007 Pope Benedict XVI Peace Message humanity ... must be increasingly conscious of the links between natural ecology, or respect for nature, and human ecology.
• Cardinal Martino's closing address to the 2007 Roman Seminar, This reflection deepens doctrinal reflection as Gospel meets life in society ... the Gospel is always new, adapting as historical conditions change.
An expanded belief system and behavioral agenda for Catholics
Remembering that the aim is an 80% reduction nationally in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050:
• Be Truth Tellers: welcome knowledge about Earth's systems and the consequence of human induced climate change as advances in truth.
• Be Spiritual Visionaries: welcome changing patterns of climate as another chapter in cosmic revelation and a new turn in encountering God.
• Be Just and Compassionate: commit to challenging our economic structures that disrupt earth's ecological systems and cause climate change, opting to heal social disruption especially among the world's poor.
• Be Active: lead the way in creating news ways of living lightly on the earth for yourself and others.
Climate Change Prayer
God, Creator and Sustainer,
free us from ignorance about your gift of Earth.
Inspire us to act together in respect for your gift
and relate with humility to Earth's rhythms.
May we welcome the truth when scientists speak of climate change, and
reject false pathways designed to confuse.
Help us to urge our politicians to take urgent action and moral decisions in negotiating sustainable living.
Ground all our thoughts in your revealing Scriptures and the wisdom of holy women and men who have gone before us
to help build a new creation as followers of your Cosmic Son.
Give us a discerning spirit to work with the ecological and the human, uniting the social and the economic realities of this world, and a spirit of respect and compassion able to imagine pathways of harmony. Amen.
