
	Each month Bishop Manning writes a Letter to the Catholic Community of Parramatta Diocese, which is published in 'Catholic Outlook', the official diocesan newspaper. To review previous letters from the Bishop visit the archive.
	July 2007 The Bishop's Letter Climate change a question of justice Bishop Kevin Manning, Catholic Outlook, July 2007. My Dear People, By the time this issue of Catholic Outlook goes to press, the meeting of the world's richest countries, the G8, will have taken place, and we will know what commitments the leaders of these countries have made, or not made, to respond effectively to the issue of climate change. Vatican conference When I heard Prime Minister Howard expanding on climate change as a key issue in the forthcoming election, I wished he could have been at the Vatican in April this year when a two-day conference discussed climate change and development. Among the Australians present were Bishop Christopher Toohey of the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes, who addressed the conference, and Rev Dr Charles Rue, a Columban priest. In a media release, Fr Rue reported on the polarised positions articulated at the conference. The "climate change sceptics" had the floor for a while which, in his opinion, "was a brilliant strategy by Cardinal Martino to let them shoot themselves in the foot. Their often-repeated litany of objections revealed the absurdity of their position". Church's role Bishop Toohey reminded the audience that we have a Christian duty to live simple, responsible lives, whether climate change is happening or not. But he also proposed ways in which the Church can encourage awareness of the issues among its members and can bring Gospel perspectives to the public debate. The moral and ethical dimensions of climate change were raised by two of the principal speakers, who spoke also of the Church's role in educating and motivating people for action. Social teaching A major address on the social teaching of the Church was delivered by Bishop Bernd Uhl, auxiliary bishop in Freiburg, Germany. Beginning with the Church's duty to scrutinise the signs of the times and Pope Paul VI's insistence on the just distribution of goods, Bishop Uhl established the principle that climate is a good which must be protected. Climate is a good because it is part of the work of God the Creator. It must be protected because the equitable sharing of resources is a question of justice: "God destined the earth and all it contains for all peoples so that all created things would be shared fairly by all mankind under the guidance of justice, tempered by charity." (Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Church N. 360) Climate and all that goes with it - pure air, drinking water, a safe place to live, sufficient supply of energy - is necessary for the exercise of those human rights that many take for granted. As Bishop Uhl said: "What good is dignity for the human being who is starving, freezing or thirsty? What good is freedom for the human being who can't move away? What good is a right to life for the human being who will lose his basis for existence through the threatening global climate change?" Urgency Our planet has arrived at such a stage that it is clear that social management of the earth's goods is no longer enough. We need ecological management too. That is the principle. The measures which need to be taken to give effect to this principle can be, and are being, debated. Whatever the appropriate measures are, urgency is required. I encourage you to do what you can to persuade politicians of the urgency of this question, which in its essence, is a question of justice. Bishop Kevin Manning, Bishop of Parramatta.

Each month Bishop Manning writes a Letter to the Catholic Community of Parramatta Diocese, which is published in 'Catholic Outlook', the official diocesan newspaper.

To review previous letters from the Bishop visit the archive.

July 2007

The Bishop's Letter

Climate change a question of justice

Bishop Kevin Manning, Catholic Outlook, July 2007.

My Dear People,

By the time this issue of Catholic Outlook goes to press, the meeting of the world's richest countries, the G8, will have taken place, and we will know what commitments the leaders of these countries have made, or not made, to respond effectively to the issue of climate change.

Vatican conference
When I heard Prime Minister Howard expanding on climate change as a key issue in the forthcoming election, I wished he could have been at the Vatican in April this year when a two-day conference discussed climate change and development.

Among the Australians present were Bishop Christopher Toohey of the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes, who addressed the conference, and Rev Dr Charles Rue, a Columban priest.

In a media release, Fr Rue reported on the polarised positions articulated at the conference. The "climate change sceptics" had the floor for a while which, in his opinion, "was a brilliant strategy by Cardinal Martino to let them shoot themselves in the foot. Their often-repeated litany of objections revealed the absurdity of their position".

Church's role
Bishop Toohey reminded the audience that we have a Christian duty to live simple, responsible lives, whether climate change is happening or not.

But he also proposed ways in which the Church can encourage awareness of the issues among its members and can bring Gospel perspectives to the public debate.

The moral and ethical dimensions of climate change were raised by two of the principal speakers, who spoke also of the Church's role in educating and motivating people for action.

Social teaching
A major address on the social teaching of the Church was delivered by Bishop Bernd Uhl, auxiliary bishop in Freiburg, Germany. Beginning with the Church's duty to scrutinise the signs of the times and Pope Paul VI's insistence on the just distribution of goods, Bishop Uhl established the principle that climate is a good which must be protected.

Climate is a good because it is part of the work of God the Creator. It must be protected because the equitable sharing of resources is a question of justice: "God destined the earth and all it contains for all peoples so that all created things would be shared fairly by all mankind under the guidance of justice, tempered by charity." (Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Church N. 360)

Climate and all that goes with it - pure air, drinking water, a safe place to live, sufficient supply of energy - is necessary for the exercise of those human rights that many take for granted.

As Bishop Uhl said: "What good is dignity for the human being who is starving, freezing or thirsty? What good is freedom for the human being who can't move away? What good is a right to life for the human being who will lose his basis for existence through the threatening global climate change?"

Urgency
Our planet has arrived at such a stage that it is clear that social management of the earth's goods is no longer enough. We need ecological management too. That is the principle.

The measures which need to be taken to give effect to this principle can be, and are being, debated. Whatever the appropriate measures are, urgency is required.

I encourage you to do what you can to persuade politicians of the urgency of this question, which in its essence, is a question of justice.

Bishop Kevin Manning,
Bishop of Parramatta.