Lay people take up Laudato Si challenge
A group of lay people inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical letter ‘Laudato Si’ is working to assist the Bishop of Kilmore to encourage awareness and promote collective care in response to the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis.
They are being supported in their endeavour by Bishop of Kilmore, Martin Hayes, who himself has spent the past week representing the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference at the COP26 environmental summit in Glasgow.
Bishop Hayes has particular responsibility for co-ordinating ‘Laudato Si’, meaning ‘Praise Be’, here in Ireland. He is also a member of the Council for Justice & Peace of the Bishops’ Conference.
“The planet is heating up. To do nothing is no longer an option. We must take decisive action if we are to keep the average global temperature of the planet at 1.5˚ Celsius,” says the group, who have named themselves ‘Kilmore Care of Creation’.
“At present, all countries combined are set for a 2.7˚ Celsius rise in global temperatures by the end of the century. For the sake of future generations and for our planet, we cannot continue on the path of ‘business as usual’.”
COP26 saw world leaders commit to pledges and stick to the Paris (2015) Agreement to try limit the rise in global temperatures and securing a global net zero by 2050. Among the goals are accelerating the phasing out of fossil fuel consumption, cutting methane emissions, curtailing deforestation, protecting and restoring natural ecosystems and financing those affected by climate change.
The Kilmore Care of Creation committee is chaired by Patricia Keenan.
They say an “important action” for each and every person is to hold politicians accountable to their commitments.
“Make your vote count, join a pilgrimage for climate action, participate in peaceful marches and pray that we take decisive action in responding to the cries of the earth, the poor and the youth.”
They add that there is much that people can do individually and that collectively has “enormous positive consequences” for the planet.
“We are protectors of this earth. We share one common humanity and live together on a common home. Let us work together to bring about a clean energy society, a new ecological culture, a world that provides for all in gratitude and joy. In the words of Pope Francis: ‘We have inherited a garden; let us not leave a desert for our children’.”