Catholic Climate update

November 17, 2010

From the Director Preparing for Christmas: Reduce Holiday Carbon Footprint Before you hear from us again, we will have already celebrated the First Sunday of Advent.  For real?  Since Christmas is on a Saturday, this is about the earliest that we begin the Season of Advent.  And since next week is Thanksgiving, the weekly update will be taking a holiday.  One way to begin this season of preparation might be to consider ways in which we can reduce our holiday carbon footprint.  Here are some suggestions from US Catholic: In a survey conducted by US Catholic last month, 71% of those who responded agreed that greening Christmas would make it more spiritually fulfilling and focused on faith. This month US Catholic offers helpful ideas about how to “go green” this Christmas: from lights to gifts and everything in between.  “Since Christmas is a time when we put a lot of money into our economy, it's a good time to support more sustainable economic models, such as buying locally or choosing fair trade products.”  Additionally one can consider minimal number or  “no gifts” approach—sharing services, home baked foods, tickets to an event, favors, time, and charitable donations—as ways to reduce our Christmas carbon footprint.

From an Archdiocese  Los Angeles Sends St. Francis Pledge Toolkit to Parishes All 288 parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles now possess a Creation Sustainability Start-up Toolkit to help them begin the process of forming and developing a Creation Sustainability ministry.  Throughout October, pastors announced the formation of the new ministry and urged parishioners to join. Bishop Solis told a standing-room only assembly Oct. 10 at SS. Peter and Paul in Wilmington: "Next generations, be it rich or poor, can benefit from God's creation…Today is a very important day in the life of the archdiocese…Today we give thanks for the gift of creation of the environment. God gave it as a sign of love and we are the only stewards."  Following Bishop Solis’s presentation, all were invited to read the St. Francis Pledge together.  Auxiliary Bishops Zavala, Salazar, Wilkerson, and Curry also promoted the Creation Sustainability Ministry in the other pastoral regions of the Archdiocese.  Read more here.

From Catholic Charities of new orleans Oil spill-affected Families Still Needing and Receiving Aid The Archdiocese of New Orleans continues to respond to the needs of the fishing families and communities affected by the oil spill through the direct services of Catholic Charities and its affiliated ministry, Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana. Catholic Charities and Second Harvest have been on the ground providing help and hope in our response to the oil spill since the days immediately following the April 20th Deepwater Horizon explosion. Catholic Charities has provided: *Emergency assistance to 37,251 people* (14,738 families*) and distributed $845,100 in food vouchers from community grocery stores to affected families.  *Mental health counseling to 12,286* people.   *$317,651 in other direct assistance (rent/mortgage assistance, utilities, medication, etc.) and $31,267 in baby supplies (diapers and formula). Read more here and contribute here.

new resource From the Coalition Climate Change and Catholic Social Teaching How can climate change be understood in light of the 7 Key Themes of Catholic Social Teaching? Many people recognize that the issue of climate change relates to the seventh theme, Care for God’s Creation, which reminds us of our duty to cultivate and care for the gift of the Creation (Genesis 2:15). As the U.S. bishops observe, If we harm the atmosphere, we dishonor our Creator and the gift of creation, (Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good, 2001).  But it is also true that other principles of Catholic Social Teaching can help inform our consciences and actions as we face the question of climate change.  In light of this, the Coalition has created a resource that offers quotes from the Vatican and the U.S. bishops demonstrating how climate change involves and engages the six other key themes: Human Life and Dignity; Community, Family and Participation; Rights and Responsibilities, Option for the Poor; Right to Work; Solidarity; as well as Care for Creation.   Find the entire resource here. Looking for more on Catholic Social Teaching?  See this USCCB website for an activity that asks: “How well do you know your Catholic Social Teaching documents?”

Stories: International Philippine Bishops Speak Against Mining The Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro is protesting the city council’s resolution approving the application of two mining companies for permits to extract copper and gold in the countryside.  Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma said the archdiocese will formally file its protest before the city council and the mayor’s office that holds final approval in all small-scale mining applications. “We will protest that. I think all well-meaning Kagay-anons should protest that,” he told a Philippine news organization. Archbishop Ledesma said that all mining activities, whether legal or illegal, should be stopped because mining, being an extractive activity, destroys the natural environment.  Read more here. Ghana's Bishops Call for End to Surface Mining The Ghanaian Catholic Bishops Conference has advocated for the immediate abolition of surface mining because of its harmful social and environmental consequences.  In a communiqué issued by the Conference at the end of their annual plenary assembly in Sefwi Wiaso, the bishops acknowledged that mining has been going on in the country for a long time.  “But regrettably we cannot affirm that the advantages derived from the mining activities are in any way commensurate with their disastrous impact on the natural environment,” they said.  And furthermore: “We urge the International Community to insist on transparent, fair and accountable processes in the exploration and production of the oil as well as the management of revenues for the creation of wealth to enhance the quality of life of all people in the country.” Read more here.

Preparing for Lent  New Study Resource for Christian Simplicity The Passionist Earth & Spirit Center http://www.earthandspiritcenter.org/ has revised and improved their 7-week faith formation program of conversion for Catholic churches.  Lent 4.5 offers practical opportunities for people of faith to apply church teaching on Gospel simplicity to their everyday lives.  Why "Lent 4.5"?  If the Earth were divided equally among all of us, each person living on the planet would receive 4.5 acres. Now consider that everything you need - food, energy, home, clothing, appliances, gadgets - must come from those 4.5 acres.   Lent 4.5 offers a new way of observing Lent that helps us care for God's creation and bring forth a just society by taking steps toward using only our fair share of its resources. The program includes bulletin inserts, online resources, small group discussion course books, and an optional component for Catholic schools grades K-8. Download the flyer here.

Prayer for God's Creation Creator God, Help us to harness the wind, the water, the sun, and all the ready and renewable sources of power. Teach us to conserve, preserve, use wisely the blessed treasurers of our wealth-stored earth. Help us to share your bounty, not to waste it, or pervert it into peril for our children or our neighbors in other nations.                                          You who are life and energy and blessing,                                          teach us to revere and respect your tender world. --From Thomas John Carlisle, www.caritas.org