Sisters joining with other faith groups to urge greater action on climate change.
The United Nations COP26 climate talks in early November may be half a world away, but the Sisters of Mercy Parramatta are taking local action and calling on the Morrison Government to take stronger policies to the Summit in Glasgow, Scotland.
On 17 October, they are taking part in a global multi-faith day of action called Faiths 4 Climate Justice, involving over 100 other faith communities across Australia and the world.
The Sisters have hung a banner saying Protect Creation, and are holding a virtual gathering online to express their concern about the destruction currently happening to our planet and its people, especially the poor, by global warming.
Congregation Leader, Sister Mary Louise Petro, said “As people of faith we believe that we have been given the beautiful gift of creation by our God and it is our responsibility to show our gratitude by protecting it.”
The science is clear. The world needs to keep fossil fuels in the ground if we are to limit global warming to a below 1.5 degrees temperature rise by the end of 2030. The IPCC’s recent report, Code Red, laid it out clearly. No citizen of Earth can hide from the effects of climate change, wherever they live. The record-breaking extreme weather events of 2020 in Australia and changes to our usual weather patterns will only get more severe and more unpredictable.
Sister Mary Louise has also joined with over 80 Bishops and Leaders of Religious Congregations around the world and signed a statement to the G20 countries meeting at the end of October prior to the COP26 in Glasgow to urge Governments to take stronger and swifter action on climate change.
With Pope Francis, the Sisters of Mercy realise that their responsibility within creation, and their duty towards nature and the Creator, are an essential part of their faith.
“We need to integrate questions of justice in understanding the environment,” said Sister Mary Louise, “so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor”.
We urge the Prime Minister to adopt meaningful plans to match the ambition of other nations like the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union, and to start implementing those plans immediately.
With thanks to the Sisters of Mercy Parramatta.
