Conference of Religious: A day on 'Ecology and the Church'

The conference panel

"Talk more with our finance treasurer re: how to make shifts into impact investments. Also, reflect more on Ecology and the Church - to lead to more justice."

"To care for creation, our common home, in small ways."

"The grace to see and notice the world around me. Deo Gratias."

These were commitments from some of the 50 religious at the end of a day they attended on 'Ecology and Church: Our vocation for prophetic action and investment for Our Common Home.' They represented more than 30 religious congregations and the event was held at the London Jesuit Centre in Central London on Thursday, 4 September.

The 'day of reflection, dialogue and action' was organised by the Conference of Religious (CoR), in collaboration with the Laudato Si Movement, Operation Noah, Just Money Movement and the Association of Provincial Bursars.

The day opened with a welcome from Sr Jane Maltby Rscj, Chair of CoR's Collaboration Team, and introductions from the two facilitators: Sr MaryAnne Francalanza fcJ, from the FCJ Centre for Spirituality and EcoJustice in London, and Bokani Tshidzu, Campaign Officer of Operation Noah, an ecumenical Christian charity that campaigns exclusively on climate change.

Sr MaryAnne Francalanza led the opening prayer, quoting from Psalm 18, the entrance antiphon of the Mass of Creation: 'The Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims the work of God's hands.' Pope Leo's message for the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on 1 September 2025 was quoted with the image displayed of a human footprint on Planet Earth: "On all sides, injustice, violations of international law and the rights of peoples, grave inequalities and the greed that fuels them are spawning deforestation, pollution and the loss of biodiversity. Extreme natural phenomena caused by climate changes provoked by human activity are growing in intensity and frequency (cf. Laudato Deum, 5), to say nothing of the medium and long-term effects of the human and ecological devastation being wrought by armed conflicts." Salesian lecturer in theology and musician Fr Martin Poulsom sang one of his compositions, 'Today is the Day', with the lines, "we are the generation that chooses to hope."

A video address from Dr Lorna Gold, Executive Director of the Laudato Si' Movement, called for the Church to respond to the urgent call in the encyclical Laudato Si' for ecological conversion and for sustainable investment. She warned of the "tipping points" in relation to the Climate Crisis and biodiversity but pointed to the growth of the Laudato Si Movement and Faith Invest as among "the amazing signs of the work of the Spirit" on the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si' and the Paris Agreement. She told the religious that faith can, "translate situations of despair into hope."

And hope was a key theme of a talk by Mark Campanale, Executive Director of Carbon Tracker. Despite warning that 75% of greenhouse gases are coming from the burning of fossil fuels and that the US, the world's largest exporter of fossil fuels, and other major exporters, are not indicating a transition to clean energy, there is a "renewable energy revolution" going on. He pointed to the development of solar energy -"by far the cheapest form of energy" - in Namibia, Chile and Jordan; and growing wind power in Uruguay, Kenya, Morocco and Brazil. He suggested, "this is a decisive decade" and "there is a battle between the US and the rest of the world over fossil fuels." He added that, "the UK is clear of the need to come off fossil fuels." Mark stressed that science is warning that there must be no new oil and gas development if we are to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as called for in the Paris Agreement. He urged support for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Martin Poulsom highlighted the importance of Catholic Social Teaching. In paragraph 49 of Laudato Si', Pope Francis says, "a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor." Human solidarity and ecological solidarity must go hand in hand. However, Martin felt, "the practice is a neglected bit of Catholic Social Teaching." He felt it important that Catholic institutions and communities are involved in this process, adding that this is "a fantastic opportunity for us as religious." Martin, a trustee of Operation Noah, gave the example of a lifestyle change of Salesian cars running on fossil fuels being changed to hybrid cars. And he called for religious congregations to consider climate-related impact investing of funds.

This was echoed by St Patrick's Missionary Society priest Fr Seamus O'Neill who reported that, inspired by Laudato Si' and Mensuram Bonum, his society has moved into using biomass energy from willow, and solar panels and a wind turbine for powering its main property in Ireland. It has made various impact investments in projects in Africa, involving climate smart agriculture, provision of seeds, fruit growing and poultry. Also, small-scale solar lighting for poor communities to provide light for young people to do schoolwork in the evenings.

Speaking from the US by video, Sr Susan Francois CSJP, her congregation's assistant leader and treasurer, said that her sisters have long committed to their investments being used "in the mission of justice, life and peace." She said they have been "willing to ride out ups and downs and stay true to their values."

Rosie Venner of Just Money Movement highlighted that, "money and finance are at the root of so much injustice." She pointed out the choice between a world "marked by inequality, tax havens, climate chaos, plastic pollution and fossil fuels" or "a fairer, greener world." And reported that financial institutions continue to bankroll climate change despite rapid increases in extreme weather events and their impacts, and thus delaying the low carbon transition. Last year's annual 'Banking on Climate Chaos' report found that in the seven years since the Paris Agreement was adopted, the world's 60 largest private banks financed fossil fuels with $6.9 trillion. Rosie invited individuals, families and Church communities to switch to banks "putting people and planet first". She acknowledged that religious have already been very committed to signing petitions to banks and some to street protests outside offending banks.

At a panel in the afternoon chaired by James Trewby, head of the Columban Justice, Peace and Ecology Team, Columban Sister Kate Midgley suggested, "there is no better time to follow a radical calling," and "we can't rely on our leaders and hierarchy to be part of the change." A Laudato Si' Animator, she has regularly supported climate vigils outside parliament with Christian Climate Action. Yet, there was a call for religious to consider a broad range of possibilities at micro and macro level for awareness and action promoting "ecological conversion." These included rewilding projects - as at St. Columban's near Birmingham which engages with local schools - installing heat pumps at properties and joining the Laudato Si' Action Platform.

Bokani invited religious to join the next Global Divestment Announcement on 4 November 2025, shunning fossil fuel investment; also, to invest in climate solutions and to ensure responsible stewardship of land to fight against climate change. She handed out copies of the Operation Noah booklet, 'Catholic Social Teaching and Investing in Climate Solutions,' which can be downloaded from their website.

The wealth of experience of religious congregations in hearing "the cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor," especially with poor communities in countries of the global south, was acknowledged throughout the day. At the end, participants' comments included:

"Privilege of being together with these inspiring people."

"We all can make a difference to bring about change and play a prophetic role."

"To care for the Earth is a call of TODAY."

Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, parish priest of Farm Street parish, celebrated Mass in the church for the Religious at the end of the day. The collect of the Mass for the Care of Creation read: "Grant, we pray, that docile to the life-giving beath of your Spirit, we may lovingly care for the work of your hands."

LINKS

CoR: www.corew.org/ and www.corew.org/news-events-blog/2025/9/4/upcoming-jpic-conferences-2025-amp-2026

FCJ Centre for Spirituality and EcoJustice: www.facebook.com/FCJSpiritualityCentreLondon/?locale=en_GB

Laudato Si Movement: https://laudatosimovement.org/

https://laudatosimovement.org/news/filipino-bishop-stop-financing-fossil-fuels/

Operation Noah www.operationnoah.org/ and www.operationnoah.org/catholic-social-teaching-toolkit/

Banking on Climate Chaos Report: www.bankingonclimatechaos.org/?bank=JPMorgan%20Chase#fulldata-panel

Big Bank Switch: https://justmoney.org.uk/the-big-bank-switch/

Good Money Week 6-12 October: https://goodmoneyweek.com/