Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Agenzia Fides) - The Philippine bishops' conference called climate change a “matter of social justice” and cited "Laudato Sì", Pope Francis' recent encyclical on the climate change, as a call for Catholics and Christians to be "passionate about the environment".
In the text published on July 20 and sent to Agenzia Fides, the Filipino Bishops invite all the faithful and people of good will to focus on the next World Conference in Paris, to be held in December 2015 on the issue of climate change and their effects.
"Laudato Sì" teaches us that the core of the matter of climate change is justice". The Bishops also said that "the notion of the common good also extends to future generations". The text also stresses the concepts of "sustainable development" and "intergenerational solidarity" and says: "Once we start to think about the kind of world we are leaving to future generations, we look at things differently; we realize that the world is a gift which we have freely received and must share with others". "We can no longer view reality in a purely utilitarian way – say the Bishops - which efficiency and productivity are entirely geared to our individual benefit. Intergenerational solidarity is not optional, but rather a basic question of justice".
The Bishops have committed to organize pastoral formation on the issues of environment, in order to ensure an adequate understanding of the problem and give correct guidelines for "collective discernment": reflection on the common good of the ecclesial community "should influence policy makers and translated into action", they conclude. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 21/07/2015)
