Church leaders call for compensation and climate justice, 2

(Continued from Feb. 1, 2023)

BY FR. SHAY CULLEN 

THE PAPAL encyclical has inspired many to join The Laudato Si Movement (LSM) of committed lay people, priests, religious, and hopefully bishops. Working together with many organizations, they are committed to saving the planet by raising awareness and inspiring action to reduce global warming and CO2 emissions. 

The objectives are “To urge political, business and social leaders to commit to ambitious climate action to solve this urgent crisis and keep the global temperature increase below 1.5 degree Celsius (relative to pre-industrial levels). They can be found at www.Laudatosi.org

The one group they overlooked to mention by name is the bishops of the world. They need to be inspired, motivated and challenged to act and help save the creation from global warming. Sadly, not all bishops in the USA support Pope Francis on his stand in Laudato Si. Many are silent and some misleading on climate change, says a research by Creighton University in Nebraska. 

If bishops around the world took up the call of Pope Francis and began their own environmental-changing project in their diocese and plant at least 1,000 tree saplings and care for them, that would be a great contribution. They could teach by example and encourage every parish to have its own tree planting project. They could offer a prize for the best effort. 

The bishops and priests can roll up their sleeves and get out of the comfort of their palaces, rectories and cloisters and lead the people in planting trees. It’s a powerful way to teach the Gospel values and inspire and unite a parish. Action for climate justice is a great encouragement to the youth and the next generation so that they will see life-giving forests. If bishops are called leaders, then they should lead by example. In the Philippines, a few brave courageous bishops have stood for human rights and justice and sacrificed themselves for the sake of the poor and exploited and got arrested and charged. We need many more bishops to build faith and follow the example of Jesus of Nazareth and courageously take a stand for the environment. 

It is a matter of faith, too, as Jesus taught that truth, goodness, love and action for justice will overcome evil. The willful pollution and causing a climate crisis against the creation is evil. We must act. As St. James said, “Faith without action is dead” (James 2:26) When people act together to do good and help each other, that is faith in action. 

The forests give life, oxygen, water and protection from storms and landslides. Trees are fantastic absorbers and digesters of the CO2. They give off clean, healthy oxygen in return. Planting trees is an action that communities and school children can do together. If the bishops and priests in a diocese were to join them in a tree planting project, the people would not faint in shock. They would applaud and be inspired to do even more to save the “common home.” This year, instead of buying a cut tree for Christmas, plant one instead. (preda.org)/PN