How animators have responded to Laudato Si'

Source: GCCM

The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM), which aims to activate the world's 1.2 billion Catholics to tackle the climate crisis, runs an online course to educate and empower people to bring the Laudato Si' Encyclical of Pope Francis to life. The Laudato Si' Animators are mainly Catholics who have graduated from this course, and are keen to inspire others in parishes, schools and in the world at large to engage in dialogue and action on the current environmental crisis. We promote the messages in the Encyclical.

The Laudato Si' Animators UK (LSIUK) group was formed in August 2020. There are about 40 of us who receive the zoom meetings link, although not all attend every fortnightly meeting. Many have already shown a commitment to tackling the environmental crisis, and after 10 months of discussing it in the light of Laudato Si, it seemed a good idea to monitor the changes we have made to our individual lifestyles and to our action priorities.

So, we asked ourselves this question:

What are your personal priorities? Briefly state up to four.

16 people responded.

Praying

As Christians, we obviously put value on prayer, and seven of us felt that it was a priority to pray more. "But above all, praying in praise of creation and repentance for all the damage we cause" said one. "I use the LS Chaplet on my walks most days a week" said another. This refers to the Laudato Si' Chaplet, composed by GCCM. "Pray pray pray".

Reducing meat consumption

Ten of us make reducing meat consumption a priority, despite this not being given priority status by Church leaders. Animators are prepared to think for themselves!

So why is this a priority? Some answers:

"I have decided that my main focus should be on the welfare of God's creatures." And "Not to eat meat or fish of any kind, both for reasons of animal welfare and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, for we don't just need to get our emissions under control, but to see all creation as loved by God."

Discussing the issues and raising awareness

This is promoted by ten of us. It is seen as obeying "the call of God…which to me at this time is systemic change in the political life of the country and in the Church structures too - ongoing conversion at institutional and communal level alongside individual conversion."

Lobbying and campaigning

Eight of us see lobbying and campaigning as a priority.

One of us gives her reason: "Assertively contacting politicians and political candidates…clearly affects their thinking and so is a very impactful use of time".

Another commits to: "Lobbying, leafletting, writing and getting involved in plans for COP26". People are aware that governments and businesses must act to combat environmental degradation, and we must make sure that they do. The crisis has made campaigners of us, warriors under the Laudato Si' banner!

Driving less and walking and cycling more

Seven are committed to driving less and walking and cycling more. Different reasons were given: "I use the car less and walk more thus reducing carbon emissions."

"Similarly, the quietness of the last year has also encouraged me to take more reflective time in nature - to notice the plants and the birds on my daily walks and to bring the glory back to God". This feeling of enjoying nature was mentioned by others, including:

"This gives me the opportunity to observe the countryside, especially as the beauty of springtime has manifested itself in the trees, flowers, birds and insects". Another reason: "I have made an effort to maintain fitness by riding a bicycle". After all, we do have a duty to maintain good health, as our body is a 'temple of God', according to 1 Corinthians 6:19.

Reduce energy use, increase energy efficiency and use green energy

Four of us are making a big effort to reduce energy use and increase energy efficiency at home, along with changing to green energy. One person has, "heated the living room with an oil-fired electric heater, and turned off the gas fire". Another has, "improved loft insulation, had cavity wall insulation fitted and improved draft proofing" and "changed to a green energy supplier". A third has, "cut gas usage - bought an oil-filled radiator to heat one room to replace the gas fire, turned CH thermostat down to max 17 C and is installing an induction hob to replace the gas hob." One person, fired with zeal, has "been active in my parish (and in the village) to get people to switch to a green energy provider."

Shopping

Nine have made changing shopping habits a priority by buying local (4), shopping at smaller outlets (2), buying organic (1), buying only eco-friendly products (1), and growing their own (1). Note that by changing shopping habits, people have encompassed several improvements in lifestyle:

"I have also developed a larger vegetable garden along with a group of fellow gardeners with whom we share our produce. This also ensures that I have reduced plastic waste. It also opens opportunities to share my reasons for changing my way of life".

And: "Realising how much rubbish we produce by buying packaged produce, I now make a weekly visit to a small fruit and vegetable shop where the produce is not wrapped in plastic, and I can ask where it has been grown."

Eco-Conversion

Though only three say that practising and promoting eco-conversion is one of their priorities, it is obvious in reading the responses that actions are seen as part of the respondents' eco-conversion. This is a similar construct to cognitive behaviour therapy, and it works. St Ignatius of Loyola once said: "Act as if everything depended on you; trust as if everything depended on God."

Mending and Re-using

Mending and re-using is seen as a priority by two, above recycling. This is rarely mentioned as being more important than recycling, so again well-done animators for thinking for ourselves. One of those who chose this as a priority said:

"Fast fashion is wasteful in production and ends up in landfill even if we donate to charity shops; we all have more than enough and don't appreciate all we have - we can repair and reuse what we have."

Other Priorities

Six mentioned the benefits of working with established networks. three said learning more, two are committed to wasting less food, one to not flying and onone to living more simply. That just leaves composting and recycling, 1 person.

Perhaps not all of us compost, but I'm pretty sure that all of us recycle. Why haven't more people prioritised recycling? Probably because we are all doing it anyway with little effort. People have their own reasons for prioritising actions, which doesn't mean that they are not doing a lot more than that which they prioritise. In a way all the changes mentioned are indicative of living more simply, even though just one person mentioned it specifically.

A Deeply Inspirational Encyclical

These commitments show how dedicated the animators are. Animators are striving to implement Pope Francis' call to holiness, and isn't that what Jesus wants of us?

Being immersed in Laudato Si' has obviously brought about personal eco-conversion and changes of lifestyle and determination to campaign. The evidence of these responses shows the inspirational effect of the Encyclical, and we would urge those who haven't yet read it to do so.

Virginia Bell is part of the LSIUK Writing Group which composes short articles for Catholic parish and diocesan newsletters.

LINKS

Laudato Si Chaplet

LSIUK Facebook page