Editor’s note: This series takes a deeper look at Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical ― On Care for Our Common Home, Laudato Si’
Why should we care about this anniversary? Maybe because anniversaries become useful when we use them to ask questions like, “Have we listened to Pope Francis, and is the temperature of the Earth really increasing?” Compared with a decade ago, more Americans say protecting the environment and dealing with global climate change should be top priorities (PEW Research Center, Funk and Kennedy, How Americans see climate change and the environment in seven charts, 4/21/20).
Today, we find more dioceses developing Action Platform Plans; cities Climate Action Plans and Green Heart Projects (Louisville, Kentucky); and greater education on environmental issues, notably by our Catholic religious sisters. Also, there are more creation-care groups. One global example is the Laudato Si’ Movement, and two local examples are Tri-State Creation Care and Congregations Acting for Justice and Empowerment. Please see the “What can we do?” section below for more.
The Laudato Si’ Movement, formerly Global Catholic Climate Movement, was founded in 2015. Today, it is active on six continents and helps in spirituality, lifestyles and sustainability. Its executive director reminds us this year about:
- Laudato Si’ Week (May 22-29);
- Season of Creation from September 1 to October 4;
- the Laudato Si’ movie;
- recommends a larger turnout and better results at COP27.
Tri-State Creation Care formed in 2015 to plan for its first speaker, Maryknoll Sister Janet Miller. This group provides information on protecting land, water and air, and promotes renewable energy. It annually holds a conference, plus about nine presentations. Its 2022 conference focused on sustainable agriculture for a livable, healthy planet. On Oct. 1, it will have poet laureate Matthew Graham read nature-based poems at Seton Harvest Farm. Also, it plans to initiate "EVs for EVV," an Evansville ride-and-drive event for electric vehicles.
CAJE was founded in 2003. Listening sessions are held in the member congregations annually in September; and in November, topics are chosen in the Community Problems Assembly. Topics include, but are not limited to, affordable housing initiatives; safe neighborhoods; a jail-diversion program; justice in care for mental-health patients, including those with autism; and advocating for the provision of NARCAN for administration by first responders. Every spring, CAJE holds its Nehemiah Action, inviting those "in power to come before member congregations to address the specific problems of the community.
Earlier this year, Bishop Joseph M. Siegel celebrated the Diocese of Evansville’s annual Rogation Mass, which celebrates the importance of farming. Also, Deacon Jim Rush from the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana wrote an article published in the April 3 issue of the Lafayette diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Moment, headlined, “Catholic community strives to honor creation, becoming advocates for the environment.” Deacon Jim writes about the seventh commandment, Thou shall not steal, which is what we’re doing to our global neighbors and future generations. Earth Day was April 22; its theme was “Invest in our planet.” Arbor Day was April 29.
We want everyone to feel good that we’ve achieved two huge milestones:
- “The world has finally stopped using leaded gasoline…..” (Camila Domonaske, NPR, 8/30/21), and
- “We saved the ozone layer. We can save the climate” (David Doniger, NRDC, 4/17/19).
Excellent precursors to “Laudato Si’” include:
- “The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility,” by St. Pope John Paul II (12/8/89);
- “Renewing the Earth,” by Catholic Bishops, USA (1992); and
- “Care for the Earth,” by the Indiana Catholic Conference (May 2000).
What can we do? Visit:
https://ourcommonhome.org/ic4c/
https://catholicclimatecovenant.org/
https://www.usccb.org/resources/renewing-earth
https://www.nrdc.org/experts/david-doniger/we-saved-ozone-layer-we-can-save-climate
St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us.
Dr. Tom Cervone is a deacon at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Evansville, Indiana with 50 years of experience in ecology. He graduated from St. Bonaventure University, a Franciscan University. Sister Maureen Houlihan, D.C. is a support sister on the Seton Harvest Farm started by the Daughters of Charity in response to the Communities - Care of Mother Earth. This CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Farm grows all natural produce for shareholders and the poor. Nicole Cervone-Gish, Ed. MS. is an award winning ELL (English Language Learner) teacher, who lives in Evansville, Indiana with her family.