EarthBeat Weekly: What are the church's priorities on a planet in peril?

What are the church's priorities on a planet in peril? Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change October 13, 2023   "We cannot do mission on a sick planet," declared Fr. Stan Chu Ilo during a public lecture on Monday at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.  The Nigerian priest and DePaul University professor also serves as the coordinating servant of the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network, and the North American coordinator of "Doing Theology from the Existential Peripheries," a project of the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. He was speaking on what he sees, from his various perspectives within the church, as "the five frontiers of mission and theology" — one of which he considers to be ecology. And while the five frontiers are not meant to be considered in any particular order of priority (the other four being politics, peripheries, wealth and hope), his assessment of the church's inability to thrive if the Earth doesn't thrive, too, rings true. That sounds like: If we don't cross the ecological frontier, none of the other ones are going to matter because we won't have a livable planet on which to pursue them. And to be honest, I often find myself reacting that way to non-climate news. But it's not really that simple (and that's probably why Ilo didn't suggest any particular order).  We humans tend to like organized lists of priorities with clear steps to take first, second, third. We want to know what is the most important and deserving of our attention. But when it comes to pursuing ecological and social justice — and justice in our communities and institutions — it doesn't work that way. It's not a competition. The same systems of power and forces of oppression that keep the planet in peril are also active agents at the edge of every frontier about which Ilo spoke. And when we restore right-relationship in one context, it positively affects other realities across the landscape of the church and world today. These five frontiers for mission and theology don't lead us in five different directions, but rather lead us inward toward a common goal. They bring us closer together and closer to a world in line with God's will. I keep thinking about that concept as I follow NCR's ongoing coverage of the Synod on Synodality happening in Rome Oct. 4-29, alongside planning EarthBeat's coverage of the ongoing climate crisis, including Pope Francis' new exhortation Laudate Deum that was released on the first day of the synod. In an interview with NCR staff reporter Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami said that in response to Laudate Deum, the Miami Archdiocese would continue to implement "greener" and "energy-efficient" practices in parishes and schools.  Fr. Emmanuel Katongole, a professor of theology and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame, told her, "I want to see workshops at all parishes so that everybody, every Catholic, every Christian becomes literate on this document." Read more: Theologians and scientists praise, critique Pope Francis' climate exhortation But just as we can't do mission on a sick planet, we can't heal the planet or implement church teaching on care for creation from a community that doesn't know how to work together. Embracing the integral ecology about which Francis so often speaks requires that we learn how to be a synodal church at all levels. To effectively understand and address climate change, all voices must be present, acknowledged and heard. And to effectively live out a gospel message focused on peace and justice in the world, we can't keep thinking in terms of hierarchy — be that in the way the church is run or the way justice issues are prioritized. What else is new on EarthBeat: Environmental faith groups laud pope's climate exhortation, US bishops offer quieter response by Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service In Laudate Deum, Francis commends the U.S. bishops for having "expressed very well" in a 2019 declaration the "social meaning of our concern about climate change." Yet U.S. bishops are better known for activism that focuses on voicing opposition to abortion and LGBTQ rights efforts. Survey: US religious groups do not view climate change as a crisis by Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service A new Public Religion Research Institute survey found that 31% of Hispanic Catholics, 22% of white mainline Protestants and 20% of white Catholics agree climate change is a crisis. Illinois parish dedicates prairie restoration project to St. Francis by Megan Peterson , OSV News Birds whistled, grass rustled and many bumblebees buzzed at an Illinois parish Sept. 24 for the dedication of a prairie restoration project to St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology and animals.  Praise for Pope Francis' new letter, and a belief in 'the superpower of hope' by Chris Herlinger Pope Francis' new climate apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum has given four representatives of sister congregations at the United Nations much to think about — and to praise. They shared their thoughts with GSR. Did Pope Francis just add to the church's teaching on animals? by Charles C. Camosy, Religion News Service Laudate Deum is a move in the right direction. But we aren't there yet. Catholic concern for nonhuman animals, in our technocratic times, still has a long way to go. What's happening in other climate news: These are the places that could become 'unlivable' as the Earth warms — Scott Dance for the Washington Post Climate change the 'most common' reason for portfolio exclusion — Sylvia Pfeifer and Attracta Mooney for Financial Times US government agrees to help restore sacred Native American site destroyed for Oregon road project — Claire Rush for the Associated Press Editorial: Pope Francis is right. World leaders have a moral imperative to abandon fossil fuels — The Times Editorial Board for the L.A. Times Exxon Mobil Strikes $60 Billion Deal for Shale Giant — Clifford Krauss for The New York Times Climate crisis will make Europe’s beer cost more and taste worse, say scientists — Ajit Niranjan for the Guardian Final Beat: NCR's Fall Membership Drive is going on now. NCR Forward membership helps support our operations, and assures that newsletters like this one are free of charge. Membership also comes with some great benefits. Find out more about becoming a member here. Thanks for reading EarthBeat! Stephanie Clary Environment Editor National Catholic Reporter sclary@ncronline.org Instagram: @stephanieclaryncr Twitter/X: @scherp01   Featured Advertisers       Advertisement