Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand’s chief, Julianne Hickey has been in Rome recently and was in meetings preparing for Pope Francis’ new encyclical Laudato Si’. She was able to give an input from the Pacific perspective where oceans are so important for the sustaining of life. Hickey was able to speak of what is happening to Read more
Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ quotes the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ statement on the environment which they published in 2006. Paragraph 95 of Laudato Si’ reads: “The natural environment is a collective good, the patrimony of all humanity and the responsibility of everyone. If we make something our own, it is only to administer it for Read more
In a new encyclical, Pope Francis has acknowledged “very solid scientific consensus” that humans are causing climate change that is endangering the planet. In Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home, released on June 18, Francis urged the world to embark upon a revolutionary ethical rethink and change of heart in its relationship with Read more
It’s time for New Zealand to take charge and be a leader in climate change negotiations, says Caritas in a submission on the Government’s climate change target. In its submission, the Catholic agency for justice, peace and development said the Government’s consultation document “too narrowly sees our climate change contribution as a financial cost to Read more
A Vatican official has disagreed with pro-life groups over the involvement in a climate change conference of people who have supported abortion. Pro-life sources had expressed concern that the Vatican partnered with United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and US economist Jeffrey Sachs at an April 28 summit in Rome. The summit was hosted by the Read more
The Vatican’s Secretary of State has warned there are no political barriers behind which people can hide from environmental and social degradation. Cardinal Pietro Parolin sent a message to a conference on “The New Climate Economy” in Rome. “When the future of the planet is at stake, there are no political frontiers, barriers or walls Read more
The Justice and Peace Commission for the Catholic Diocese of Auckland says that Thursday’s Budget offers welcome relief to vulnerable families. They have welcomed in particular the 2016 increases in family benefit rates and Working for Families payments for low income families. They also are pleased that money has been set aside for planting new Read more
Do the climate change deniers seem more ridiculous than ever? Gee, I dunno, is the pope Catholic? Actually, Pope Francis himself is making them look more ridiculous and isolated than ever. He’s poised to put his moral imprimatur on the scientific consensus about man-made climate change, with a much-anticipated summer encyclical, and this is driving Read more
Cardinal Peter Turkson says the Church cannot remain indifferent to the the plight of sinking pacific islands. He says he is sometimes approached by people telling him that he entered the seminary to save souls, not to “meddle” with political or scientific issues. “But I have bishops in the Pacific Islands telling me the land Read more
The Pope’s encyclical on the environment is now finalised and is being translated into different languages, with an anticipated release in June. Vatican officials made this announcement on April 28 at a one-day Rome summit on climate change. According to a report on the Crux website, the President of the Pontifical Academy for Sciences, Bishop Read more