Laudato Si' Animators response to Bishops' Pentecostal Pastoral Letter

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Source: Laudato Si' Animators

In order to ensure the proper care of our common home, we must become a "we" that is ever wider and more co-responsible, in the profound conviction that whatever good is done in our world is done for present and future generations. #LaudatoSiWeek

The Pope's tweet on 18 May, reminds us that we all have a part to play in the recovery of our world. This emboldens us to present our response to the Pentecost Pastoral Letter on the Environment by the Bishops of England and Wales.

We very much welcome their Letter. It brings the urgency of the environmental crisis to the mass of Catholics at grass roots level. It urges us all to action, pointing out that there are a great many resources available, and suggesting areas in which we can make the right choices, for instance in diet, energy, travel and waste. This promoting of environmental action from our bishops is much appreciated by Catholic activists.

We would have liked to have seen reference to the Vatican's Laudato Si Action Platform, which is being officially unveiled on 25 May. Like Vatican ll, the Action Platform is somewhat 'revolutionary' by Catholic Church standards, and needs explanation and encouragement. It is a bold initiative whose success is very much dependent on the backing of our bishops.

We would also have liked to have seen mention of and praise and encouragement for the work already being done by Catholics to reverse environmental damage. This support would be some thanks for what can often be thankless activities and would encourage others to take up the cause.

We are surprised that no specific mention is made of the Laudato Si' Encyclical, which is the umbrella under which Catholics have most recently become mobilised for environmental action. The Encyclical has been acclaimed by people of goodwill worldwide, yet many Catholic parishes in the UK know very little about it, because they haven't been made aware of its importance.

Laudato Si' obliges us to confront our treatment of the millions of species that we share the planet with. Indeed, the Vatican, because of Laudato Si', now urges us to consider how we have treated other creatures when we examine our consciences. It is disappointing that the Letter makes no mention of our fellow creatures and the respect and love we owe them as part of our Christian duties.

Because the Liturgy is of paramount importance in the life of the Church, it would have been heartening to have some commitment from the bishops to considering how the Liturgy could better reflect our greater awareness of our Christian duty to the natural environment.

And because it is our fervent hope that the Laudato Si' Encyclical reaches every Catholic home - the success of the Encyclical depends on this - we would have liked the Letter to have urged parish priests and parishioners to set up parish green teams and to develop parish Environmental Policies. It is proving difficult in many parishes to get the approval and support of the clergy for environmental action. We welcome the appointment of Environmental Leads in many Dioceses and hope the bishops will soon have an Environmental Lead in every Diocese, which will be a great help towards getting parish priests to back local action. We look forward to the Leads working with existing networks such as the National Justice and Peace Network, Cafod and our own Laudato Si' Animators.

We would like to end by repeating our appreciation of the bishops' Letter, which shows a concern for the environmental crisis and a commitment to playing a role in repairing the damage. Our response to the Letter is offered with humility, and we trust will be humbly received.

Laudato Si' animators UK have all been trained by the Global Catholic Climate Movement, based at the Vatican. The group worked with Journey to 2030, CAFOD and Justice and Peace networks to present 'Global Healing', an online Lent course with the Bishops' Conference films and speakers which reached around 900 people. The handouts and recordings have been very well received and 30 people went on to undertake the Animators' training this year. Diocesan networks have been formed, working with existing networks.

LINKS

Bishops of England and Wales Pentecost Letter on Environment - www.indcatholicnews.com/news/42221

Laudato Si Animators - https://laudatosianimators.org/