Lorna Gold addresses Southern Diocese Environment Network

Lorna Gold. Image: ICN/JS

The Southern Diocese Environment Network held its monthly meeting online this evening. The Southern Diocese Environment Network aims to "brings together Catholics and all our friends who care for creation to take action for our common home." The meeting began with a prayer for fundamental human rights, calling for climate action and a classless society in which there is no 'second or third-class citizens' or 'disposables'.

The guest speaker was Lorna Gold, Executive Director of the Laudato Si' Movement (LSM), who explained how the organisation aims to create sustainable communities, system change and nourish eco-spirituality.

Although predominantly a Catholic movement at this point in time, Gold emphasised the importance of all communities working together, and the multifaith and ecumenical partnerships which often follow. At its heart, the Laudato Si' Movement uses the Laudato Si' phrase: 'Together we respond to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor'.

The LSM serve local communities, but work as a network of 500 member organisations, 700 circles, 80 chapters and 22,000 certified animators across the world, predominantly outside of Europe. This was reflected on in the meeting. Gold discussed how leaders and those involved in the movement are often from African, Asian, and South American countries and are leading the charge to save the environment. This emphasises the importance of a global community and a common home, especially when the concentration of global power and money is still very much in Europe and America (however this is to some extent changing and there are key exceptions). Gold talked about the movement as "less about being a Catholic and more about coming together across divides and differences, within the framework of Catholic Social teaching." Laudato Si' is a universal message and LSM hopes to balance calling Catholics to environmental justice and making sure that non-Catholics can be involved and feel welcome in the movement.

LSM run two key annual campaigns, the Season of Creation during the month of September and Laudato Si' week. They also recently launched the Europe Be Faithful to Our Common Home campaign this year, a coalition of faith-based environmental groups which call on the EU to stay true to its founding values of human dignity and human rights, and to keep leading on climate issues.

The meeting ended with a prayer for COP 31.

LINKS

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

Southern Diocese Environment Network: https://environmentsouth.org/

Our Common Home: A guide to caring for our living planet www.humandevelopment.va/en/risorse/caroussel/la-nostra-casa-comune-una-guida-per-prendersi-cura-del-nostro-pi.html