The ‘Cry of the Earth’ – a call to action for all Catholics: upcoming webinar

By Corinne Fagueret, 14 September 2021
Speakers at the Edmund Rice webinar on climate change (L to R) Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, Archbishop of Suva Peter Chong, Pacific Conference of Churches General Secretary Rev. James Bhagwan and Rev. Mata Havea Hiliau, Moderator-Elect Uniting Church NSW/ACT. The conversation will be facilitated by Sr Jan Barnett rsj. Image: Supplied.

 

This Friday 17 September, 5pm AEST, join Bishop of Parramatta Vincent Long and Archbishop of Suva Peter Chong for an important webinar organised by the Edmund Rice Centre.

In the run-up to the global climate summit (COP26) in November 2021, the world’s top Christian leaders – Pope Francis, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, have released an unprecedented statement calling on people of all faiths to act in order to halt the devastating impacts of climate change.

This statement arrives on the heels of a major report from the United Nations’ climate science body warning that climate change is accelerating, almost entirely driven by human activity.

The statement also follows the release of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference Social Justice Statement 2021-22, Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor, which commits all Australian bishops to a seven-year journey towards seven Laudato Si’ Goals.

“We are facing an ecological crisis and Pope Francis wants the whole Church globally to act with a greater sense of urgency,” said Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, chair of the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service.

“In Australia, passionate individuals, religious institutes, schools and organisations have been working on ecological issues for a long time. I want to affirm and thank them all, and urge the whole Catholic community to join them.”

Friday’s webinar will see Bishop Long joined by Archbishop of Suva Peter Chong, Pacific Conference of Churches General Secretary Rev. James Bhagwan and Rev. Mata Havea Hiliau, Moderator-Elect Uniting Church NSW/ACT, for a conversation facilitated by Sister Jan Barnett rsj.

As the choice of speakers suggests, this webinar will have a special emphasis on the urgency of addressing climate change for our Pacific neighbours who are already experiencing the destructive impacts of rising sea levels and more intense and frequent storm surges.

Most importantly, Friday’s webinar will aim to inspire many more of us into advocating for urgent and stronger climate action by Australian and global leaders.

When: Friday 17 September 2021, 5pm AEST

What: Upcoming webinar: ‘The Cry of the Earth – COP26 and the Pacific: a Call to Action.’

Registrations are essential: https://www.erc.org.au/webinar_cop26_climate_and_the_pacific_a_call_to_action (a Zoom link will be provided after registration).

For more information contact: Contact Corinne Fagueret, cfagueret@edmundrice.org.  Phone: 0421 831 889.

 

Download the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor here.

Read more about, and download the statement on climate change by Pope Francis and other Church leaders here.

Find out more about the Season of Creation and how you can participate here.

Corinne Fagueret is the Coordinator Pacific Calling Partnership at the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice & Community Education.

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