Suggestion of Creation Care insertion into Canon Law

Jul 23rd, 2018

Source: Vatican Insider

A new canon to be inserted in the Code of Canon Law, dedicated to the "grave duty" of the Christian faithful not only "not to harm" but also to "improve" the natural environment, has been suggested by a Cardinal. This is the proposal that Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, President Emeritus of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, intends to make to Pope Francis. He announced it during the meeting entitled 'Dialogue on Catholic Investments for the Energy Transition', held in Rome on 12 July 2018. The meeting was an opportunity for discussion - behind closed doors - between representatives of Vatican institutions, foundations and Catholic organisations committed to implementing responsible investments for a just energy transition.

Cardinal Coccopalmerio told Vatican Insider that: "The Code of Canon Law, at the beginning of Book II, at canons 208-221 under the title 'Obligations and rights of all the faithful' presents a list of these obligations and rights, and for this reason outlines an identikit of the faithful and of their life as a Christian. Unfortunately, nothing is said about one of the most serious duties: that of protecting and promoting the natural environment in which the faithful live."

"My proposal", the Ambrosian cardinal continues, " would be to ask the Pope, on the part of the Department for Legislative Texts, to insert into the canons I have just mentioned a new canon that sounds more or less like this: "Every faithful Christian, mindful that creation is the common house, has the grave duty not only not to damage, but also to improve, both through everyday behavior, and through specific initiatives, the natural environment in which each person is called to live."

The cardinal says he has been Inspired by the Laudato si' encyclical and the clear words that Pope Francis recently addressed to the leaders of major companies in the oil, gas and other energy-related businesses. Pope Francis supports a Catholic Program of Disinvestment - sponsored by the Global Catholic Climate Movement -which calls on Catholic institutions to publicly make a commitment to disinvest from fossil fuels and thus assume a prophetic role in relation to the dominance of these fuels in the global economy.

Catholic institutions are taking on a leadership role in disinvestment from fossil fuels. Among many others, Catholic banks - with a balance sheet of 7.5 billion euro - and Caritas Internationalis announced disinvestment on 22 April 2018. The president of Caritas Internationalis, Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, said: "The poor suffer greatly from the climate crisis and fossil fuels are the main drivers of this injustice. That is why Caritas Internationalis has decided to stop investing in fossil fuels. We encourage our organisations, other groups, and Church institutions to do the same."

There will be an announcement of further disinvestment from fossil fuels on 13 September 2018, in the leadup to the Global Climate Action Summit on 2 - 4 November 2018.

https://insidethevatican.com/