Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor - Photo:bigstock.com
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has made a new commitment to work towards a more sustainable Church with the launch of the 2021-22 Social Justice Statement Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor. President of the Bishops Conference, Archbishop Mark Coleridge, says the Statement responds to the inter-related and complex crises of the pandemic, the ecological crisis, the economic crisis, hunger, and threats to peace and security. The Statement outlines key aspects of the Church’s social teaching, which in dialogue with lived experience, the wisdom of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the insights of science, offer a foundation for the Church’s active engagement with these critical issues. The Bishops state, 'We do not have to understand all these signs of the times completely and with certainty before responding. Our faith provides wisdom sources that can help us to take our next steps now.'
The Social Justice Statement offers tangible evidence of commitment in the Australian Church to inspire engagement and effective responses amongst the Catholic community.
In the media launch of the Social Justice Statement, Bishop Vincent Van Long, chair of the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service, said: 'Pope Francis wants the whole Church globally to act with a greater sense of urgency.' Pope Francis invites the Church to be guided by the integrated social and ecological vision of Laudato Si'. Bishop Long also stated: '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 to urge the whole Catholic community to join them.' He said, the Bishops Conference is committed to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform which is an invitation by Pope Francis to a seven-year journey towards total ecological sustainability. Bishop Long announced the renaming of the Office for Social Justice as the Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace, affirming those connections.
For decades, Columban Missionaries have been leading advocates of the need for an alliance of efforts for justice and peace with ecological integrity. Columban Fr Michael Gormly, in his 2000 article for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Office for Social Justice, 'Our Quest for Ecological Integrity,' says an integrated approach to the concerns of our times is not an optional extra. Fr Gormly said that Catholic tradition clarifies 'a unique and spiritual perspective' to the challenges we face and declares 'that religious faith makes a difference.'
The Social Justice Statement offers tangible evidence of commitment in the Australian Church to inspire engagement and effective responses amongst the Catholic community.
The Bishops state, 'As people of prayerful contemplation, dialogue, and action, we commit to right relationships in our covenant with God. In transitioning to sustainable and just economic systems and practices, we commit to partnering with the work of the Spirit in renewing the face of the earth.' In the prayer issued with the Social Justice Statement, we are invited to pray on Social Justice Sunday, August 29th: 'Send your Spirit upon us, Lord, to renew our sight, to restore our hearing, and to reclaim your reign of justice for all people and peace for creation.'
Sr Caroline Vaitkunas RSM is a team member of the Columban Peace, Ecology & Justice office in Australia.
