Download Position of the Catholic Church on Environmental Issues

Position of the
Catholic Church
on
environmental
issues
Australian Religious Response
to Climate Change (ARRCC)
Pope John Paul II
Humanity has become more
sensitive to the
“catastrophe” it is facing,
“we must therefore
stimulate and sustain the
ecological conversion.”
(17 January, 2001)
Desertification in the Sahel
Australian Catholic Bishops
“We now urge Catholics as an
essential part of their faith
commitment to respond with
sound judgments and
resolute action to the reality
of climate change.”
(November 2005)
Pope Benedict XVI
"Before it is too late, it is
necessary to make
courageous decisions that
reflect knowing how to recreate a strong alliance
between man and the earth."
(2 September 2007)
Pope Benedict XVI
 climate
change is a reality
 “The Church has a responsibility
towards creation, .... earth,
water and air as gifts of God the
Creator meant for everyone, and
above all to save mankind from
the danger of self-destruction.”
(1 January, 2010)
Vatican, carbon neutral since 2012
Holy See’s observer to the UN
“The scientific evidence for
global warming and for
humanity's role in the
increase of greenhouse
gasses becomes ever more
unimpeachable,” ....
(10 May, 2007)
Our Lady of Fatima, Kingsgrove
 Care
for creation
in Pastoral Plan
 Education via
workshop +
bulletin
 Energy efficiency
 2015, solar
panels on
presbytery roof.
St Charles Parish, Waverley


Implementing Catholic
Earthcare’s
environmental audit
tool
Will reuse, reduce and
recycle water, waste
and energy as well as
considering offsetting
carbon emissions
Rahamim Ecological Learning
Community, S’s of Mercy, Bathurst





Community
garden
Rainwater
harvesting
Join local climate
action group
Minimum use of
energy
Host workshops
Caloundra Catholic parish
•
•
•
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Seminar
series
Energy
audit
Energy
efficiency
Joining
actions with
local groups
Solar panels, Caloundra Catholic Ch
Solar panels
Mount St Benedict’s College,
Pennant Hills
St Ignatius College, Riverview,
Sustainability Festival
Pedal powered
electricity
Catholics participate in
mining protests
Pope Francis & Ecumenical Patriarch
of Constantinople, Bartholomew I
“We acknowledge in
repentance the wrongful
mistreatment of our planet,
which is tantamount to sin
in the eyes of God.”
(25 May 2014)
Vatican Secretary of State,
Cardinal Parolin
(States have) …. “a shared
responsibility to protect our
planet and the human family,
ensuring present and future
generations have the
possibility of living in a safe
and worthy environment.”
(23 September, 2014)
Pope Francis
Mankind has "slapped
nature in the face" …. “God
always forgives, we men
sometimes forgive, nature
never forgives. If you slap
it, it will always slap you
back.”
(16 January, 2015)