Advertisement

Let’s Speak Out for Victims of “climate injustice”: Catholic Bishops in Southern Africa

The Johannesburg building. Credit: South Africa Council of Churches/Facebook

By Magdalene Kahiu

Johannesburg, 02 September, 2023 / 9:24 pm (ACI Africa).

Members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) are, in their message for the Season of Creation 2023, advocating for victims of “climate injustice”.

In their Thursday, August 31 statement, Catholic Bishops in Botswana, Eswatini and South Africa say people need to work together “in prayer and action” to conserve the environment.

“We are called to join the river of justice and peace, to accept that climate and ecological justice issues matter, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity,” SACBC members say.

They add, “We are summoned to join the convention by reflecting on the river of justice, not only for humanity but for all creation."

To achieve justice for the environment, the Catholic Bishops say humanity needs "to repent of our ecological sins, change our attitudes and actions."

Advertisement

They call upon Christians to “take action to heal the damage already visible through natural disasters.” 

“We need to care for the environment, by using the earth’s scarce resources responsibly and carefully, reducing the use of non-degradable items, undertaking recycling, and appreciating the beauty of the environment," SACBC members say in their message for Season of Creation 2023, observed under the theme, “Let Justice and Peace Flow.”

They say that all people of God "must work together on behalf of all Creation, in prayer and action." 

SACBC members underscore the need to "strive to be this mighty river that preserves creation God has entrusted to us," 

"We must advocate a Gospel of Life to all creation,” SACBC members say in their reflection for the first week of the annual Season of Creation. 

More in Africa

Pope Francis meets Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

Pope Francis to Speak about Ethics of Artificial Intelligence during June G7 Summit

Read the article

Season of Creation is an ecumenical celebration for prayer and action for the environment.

It is observed from September 1, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron of animals and ecology.

Magdalene Kahiu

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.

Trending

You may also like

With the incense burned from the newly blessed fire, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, incenses the "Stone of Anointing," located at the entrance of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, where, according to tradition, the body of Jesus was anointed and prepared with aromatic oils for burial. March 30, 2024. / Credit: Marinella Bandini

"The mother of all holy vigils": Jerusalem Basilica is First Place to Announce Easter

In the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, the church of the Lord’s resurrection, the Easter Vigil is held on Saturday...

Fire Fighters at the scene of the fire. Credit: Antonio Muchava, Sowetan

“Deeply disturbed”: Southern African Bishops on Utterances Downplaying Fire Tragedy

Members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) have denounced utterances that downplay the impact of the August 31 inferno on a building...

Credit: SACBC

“Your pain is our pain,” Bishops in Southern Africa Condole with Ondo Diocese in Nigeria

Catholic Bishops in Southern Africa have expressed their solidarity with the people of God of  Ondo Diocese in Nigeria following the massacre of dozens...