The recently launched bishops’ pastoral reflection on climate change, The Cry of the Earth, calls for an ‘ecological conversion’ from everyone.
The bishops also urge all parishes to enrol in the Eco Congregation Ireland programme and to conduct a local environmental audit (see module one on this 
website).
Launching The Cry of the Earth in St Francis of Assisi Primary School, Belmayne, Dublin, on 10th November Archbishop Dermot Clifford said, “We are all stewards of God’s creation. As political leaders from around the globe meet in Copenhagen next month for the UN Framework Conference on Climate Change to decide on a new global climate change deal, the Bishops of Ireland wish to raise awareness of our vital responsibility toward sustaining the environment.
“We need to protect the environment today and on behalf of future generations. Our response needs to be at an individual, community and governmental level. The Cry of the Earth, with an accompanying DVD, has been sent to all parishes and is available on www.catholicbishops.ie. It reflects on our Christian responsibility towards the environment and outlines the scientific analysis of climate change, the theological and ethical principles as to why we as Christians have a duty to respond, and practical advice as to how we can act now to sustain the environment.”
Archbishop Clifford continued, “When the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, published his encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, in July he reminded us that the ‘environment is God’s gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole’. The Church has a responsibility towards creation and she must assert this responsibility in the public sphere.”
The Cry of the Earth has been sent to Catholic parishes throughout the country. It is also available on www.catholicbishops.ie in English, Irish and Polish.
The pastoral asks parishes to establish groups to discuss various actions, such as:
- conduct an environmental audit of the parish
- increase use of renewable energy, recycle more, waste less
- raise awareness in the parish of our carbon footprint
- show solidarity by supporting Trocaire’s Climate Change campaign
- enrol in the Eco-Congregation Ireland environmental programme
- include the theme of care for God’s creation in homilies, prayers of the faithful and examinations of conscience.
Columban missionary priest, Fr Sean McDonagh, said at the launch, “On 3 November last the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-Moon, addressed 200 religious leaders at a Celebration of Faiths and the Environment at Windsor, London. He implored religious leaders to make their voice heard in the run up to the Copenhagen Conference in December. He told them ‘you can inspire, you can provide, you can challenge your political leaders through your wisdom and through your followers.’
“The Cry of the Earth is an attempt by the Irish Bishops to respond to the challenge of climate change by drawing on the wisdom of contemporary science and our faith tradition which is rooted in the Bible and the witness of the Church down through the ages. The Cry of the Earth marries science, good theology, prayer and action. It calls for an ‘ecological conversion’ from everyone, especially in the way we use fossil fuel. This is a timely challenge one month before the Copenhagen Conference.”
Professor John Sweeney, Director of the Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units, NUI Maynooth, also spoke at the launch. He said, “Belief in global climate change is not a matter of faith. The evidence that the planet is undergoing rapid climate change is factual and beyond scientific dispute. In terms of causation, for almost all the world’s atmospheric scientists, the debate about the human contribution to climate change is now over.
“It is urgent that tackling the greatest challenge facing humanity this century be confronted by all sectors of society. How we do this raises difficult ethical and moral problems, not least in terms of how we assist the most vulnerable peoples and nations, many of whom are victims of our actions. It is here that religious leaders can provide principles to guide decision makers.
“This document emphasises the need to change our mentality towards the natural world, to respect the integrity of nature and to turn away from excessively consumptive lifestyles. These are very basic Christian principles shared with all faiths and call on us to extend a helping hand to our neighbour by recognising there is another way to share the planet.
“In the lead up to the pivotal Copenhagen conference, where the nations of the world will grapple with the difficulties of reaching a consensus on sharing the burden of greenhouse gas emission reductions, today’s pastoral reflection is a welcome initiative to remind us that scientific and political action should be underpinned by Christian principles.”
Mr Justin Kilcullen, Director of Trocaire, the Bishops’ overseas aid agency, said “Climate change is not a distant threat. It is a daily reality and the people that are being hit the hardest are the poorest in the world. The Cry of the Earth is especially relevant ahead of the Copenhagen Conference. At this summit world leaders need to agree to take responsibility for the impact of climate change and commit financial support to developing countries to help them cope with its devastating effects.
“The role of the Catholic Church will be critical in the run up to Copenhagen, to remind world leaders of their moral duty to support those whose lives have already been devastated by climate change and commit to the lifestyle changes we all need to take for the common good.”
To see the full text of speeches at the launch of The Cry of the Earth, see http://www.catholicbishops.ie/features/1586.