POPE FRANCIS ISSUED his encyclical, Laudato Si, six years ago. Since then, a month-long Season of Creation has been celebrated in the Church from September 1 to the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4. The period is a special reminder of our commitment to care for creation. There is no dearth of studies, reports and literature on the topic of conservation, but whether or not our parishes and communities have joined in the spirit of the Laudato Si is a matter of deliberation.
It could be true that a lot of people are still oblivious about the Season of Creation because either they are not yet convinced of the seriousness of climate change or they believe that it won’t affect them any time soon. As the first step in remedying this, our diocese, parishes, and religious and charity organisations should help to draw up a plan for the Season of Creation that begins in three weeks’ time.
It could be argued that the reason the Church has paid insufficient attention to climate issues is that its hands are full with other projects this year: the Year of the Family, the Year of St. Joseph and the Year of Pastoral Conversion for parish renewal. But it could be equally said that this is an opportune time precisely because many parishes are in the process of drafting pastoral plans. Climate action and care for creation should find a place in parish renewal programmes. The fight against wasteful consumerism, and commitment to environmental protection, are entirely compatible with the Year of St. Joseph and Year of Family.
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has consistently decried what he calls “throw-away culture.” He has argued that society’s emphasis on consumerism and capitalism renders things or people deemed inconvenient as disposable. In Hong Kong, the efforts of the Church to respond to the call of the pope to end this culture have been unceasing. Ever since the outbreak of the pandemic, the diocese and its agencies, as well as numerous parishes and religious communities, have been involved in consoling people in distress and distributing essential goods to the needy.
More and more parish communities could take up similar projects and donate unwanted or surplus goods to the neediest. The practice greatly reduces the wastage of food, clothing and consumer items, and in doing so it has a positive by-product: reduction of individual carbon footprints.
A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions that comes from the production, use and end-of-life of a product or service. Individuals also create carbon footprints through the consumption of transport, housing and food. Various pious associations and other parish groups should involve themselves in raising awareness of the concept of carbon footprints among parishioners and the wider community.
You can reduce your carbon footprint by opting to walk or ride a bike instead of using a motor vehicle, or opting for a public transport system instead of a private car. If you’re a vehicle owner, you could consider leaving the car at home once or twice a week and travelling by bus or train instead. How much you buy, and the kind of foods you eat, also determine your carbon footprint.
If refusing to care for our common home is a sin of omission, does the careless generation of a large carbon footprint amount to another sin? This is a question every Catholic must ask. jose CMF
