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Archbishop Blair on Caring for God’s Creation: ‘Our Common Home’

7/27/2016

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From the New Haven Register's Faith Matter's Column on May 27, 2016
“Laudato Si’ — On Care of Our Common Home” is the title of Pope Francis’ second encyclical letter. These two lyrical Italian words, taken from a prayer by Saint Francis of Assisi praising God for all creation, translate into English as “Praised Be” or “Be Praised.” They remind us of our personal responsibility to God to be good stewards of his creation.

Last summer, even before the encyclical was published, there was speculation — from scientists, environmentalists, politicians and others — about the “hardline” stance the encyclical might take on global warming and climate change. “Laudato Si,” however, proved to be more of a social encyclical than an environmental one.

Just as Pope Saint John Paul II advocated “integral human development” in the face of contemporary social evils, now Pope Francis calls for an “integral ecology” that addresses environmental issues in the larger context of economic, social, cultural, and moral questions. Although global warming is clearly a focus, our Holy Father is not trying to write a scientific exposition. Rather, he is drawing our attention to the obligation we have from God to be good stewards of life and of our planet.

As we see in the Book of Genesis, God entrusts the world he has created to us, and our stewardship has moral and ethical implications. Genesis also teaches that the human person exists in three fundamental and closely interconnected relationships: with God, with our neighbor and with material creation. We are intrinsically linked to each other and to all God’s creatures by unseen bonds that constitute a universal web of relationships. This entails a responsibility on our part for the common good, including the good of future generations.

These relationships, Pope Francis says, are broken by the sin of “presuming to take the place of God and refusing to acknowledge our creaturely limitations,” (66). Moreover, our increasing manipulative power over nature has objectified it and diminished our reverence. As a result, “our common home is falling into serious disrepair … and we can see signs that things are now reaching a breaking point,” says the Holy Father (61).

Increased awareness and a resolve to remedy the situation lead to everyday things like recycling, turning off unneeded lights, reducing plastic and paper use, carpooling, separating refuse, participating in Greater New Haven’s clean-up and preservation efforts, caring for other living creatures, and any number of socially-conscious steps that improve respect and protection for what God has created and entrusted to our stewardship.

Pope Francis writes that such efforts “benefit society, often unbeknown to us, for they call forth a goodness which, albeit unseen, inevitably tends to spread” (212).

“Laudato Si” is an urgent reminder that care for our “common home” is a profound moral responsibility shared by us all.

The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Hartford.
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The Right to Water

4/7/2016

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Turning on the faucet, and having clean water come out, is a luxury that is easy to take for granted. The crisis in Flint, Michigan has helped us realize that safe, clean, water is a precious resource, even in the United States.  Over the last few month, Connecticut has also been talking about water, but not because it is toxic. Bloomfield’s water has been so well cared for that it is attractive to massive water bottling companies.  Niagara Bottling has been working with the Metropolitan District Commission to create a water bottling plant in Bloomfield.  This California- based corporation would bottle an enormous number of bottles a day- 1.8 million gallons, so much that concerned citizens are calling this a “water raid.”
 
Bottling this much water a day will have an effect on all of Connecticut, not just Bloomfield.  Recently, Senate Bill 422 was approved in the committee and needs to go to the floor for a vote.  According to the concerned citizens and environmental advocates: SB422 would
“Prioritize state residents in a drought and prohibit the export of water out of state in any Drought Emergency. Residents will be cutting water use while water bottling companies will be shipping it out-of-state. The DPH will step in only when our reservoirs are down to 10% capacity. Revise our state drought plan to protect residents. The only way to protect Connecticut's water while its state water plan is being developed is to pass SB422. (Clean Water Action, http://tinyurl.com/water322)
 
“ Without legislation, it will continue to be "open season" for corporate raids on our water. Who gets to decide the future of our water?  SB22 would put a moratorium on large water sales and level the playing field for water rates and special sewer charges for ALL customers. Help protect Connecticut's water. Urge your state representative and state senator to support SB422.”(Bloomfield Citizens,  http://tinyurl.com/water4716)
 
As Catholics, we believe that water is a fundamental right. Caring for creation is one of the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching.  The next month will be a critical time to learn about the Niagara deal and help Connecticut form just policies around water usage to protect this sacred resource for both the present and the future.  

​There will be Department of Energy and Environmental Protection public hearings, legislative visits, and an email campaign that will be happening as part of the Bloomfield Citizens actions.  If you would like to stay up to date on this issue or be a part of advocating for a just water plan for Connecticut, please contact Sarah.Hillier@aohct.org
 

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World Water Day

3/22/2016

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Today, March 22, is World Water Day!  Catholics believe that everyone has a right to water: It is a right to life issue. "The right to food, like the right to water, has an important place within the pursuit of other rights, beginning with the fundamental right to life. It is therefore necessary to cultivate a public conscience that considers food and access to water as universal rights of all human beings, without distinction or discrimination.” (Caritas in Veritate, §. 27)  
 
Throughout today, consider learning about issues related to water, praying for those who are experiences problems with their local water, and taking action.

Across the globe, we hear stories of water...
Read Drop by Drop. It is an engaging story that helps children understand important lessons of how to work for justice and peace and to help those in need. The story is about a girl named Sylvie and how her village needed water.  After reading Drop by Drop, see how you and your parish can donate to Catholic Relief Services.

Across the United States, we hear stories of water...
Nestle Waters—the largest bottler of water in the world—is drawing millions of gallons of water a year from the San Bernardino National Forest. Nestle’s permit to remove this precious resource expired in 1988, at which point the Forest Service should have turned off the spigot.  Watch a four-minute documentary explaining the impact Nestle’s operation is having on the forest and demand that the company and our government ensure this shared public resource is protected for future generations.    —  Visit storyofstuff.org/movies/nestle/  for more information.
 
Across the state and in our backyard, we hear stories of water...
Niagara Bottling, a large California-based corporation, wants to  purchase 1.8 million gallons of water per day from greater Hartford's public supply so they can bottle it and sell it. Their plan is to manufacture 2.6 million single-use plastic bottles of water per day at a new Bloomfield plant. Connecticut residents are mobilizing to address the gaps in local review of water management decisions, not just in Bloomfield but in all the communities served by the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) . Learn more about this issue and write to you local representatives through Clean Water Action’s website:  http://tinyurl.com/water322.

For more information on this topic visit.


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Taking Action with the Global Catholic Climate Movement

10/19/2015

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We have partnered with the Global Catholic Climate Movement to raise awareness about the climate change crisis in the Catholic community. We urge world leaders to commit to ambitious climate action and solve this urgent moral crisis (for more information, see climate change facts and Catholic teachings on climate change). Pope Francis said:“On climate change, there is a clear, definitive and ineluctable ethical imperative to act.” If you agree, click “Yes” below:”
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Follow Pope Francis' Call to Take Action on Climate Change! 

9/23/2015

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This summer, a group of young adults from the archdiocese learned about Catholics Confront Global Poverty and decided to take action! In  late August, Claire, Adrian and Miriam visited Senator Murphy's office to advocate for current Catholics Confront Global Poverty issues of human trafficking, immigration reform, and climate change.      
Our Holy Father has called on us all to take urgent action in the face of increasing changes to our global climate in his recent encyclical "Laudato Si [Praised Be]: On the Care of Our Common Home". As Catholics, we cannot sit idly by when we see in the world around us the effects of changing weather patterns on poor and vulnerable people. Farmers in the dry Sahel region of Africa have shared with Catholic Relief Services that they are experiencing a much shorter rainy season, making it more difficult to grow the food they need.
In the near-term, the U.S. Congress must provide $500 million in this year's appropriations as a down payment to the $3 billion pledge our nation has made to the Green Climate Fund over the next 4 years. The Green Climate Fund is an international effort to help developing nations adapt to climate changes and mitigate their effects. Take Action Now: Send a message to your members of Congress and urge them to fully fund President Obama's $500 million request for the Green Climate Fund in this year's appropriation
CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION NOW!
"The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all." Pope Francis (23)

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Organizing for Mission in CT

8/12/2015

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Please join us on Saturday, October 3 for a day of reflection and action, "The Light Offered by Faith- Organizing for Mission in CT." 

The day, scheduled from 9 am - 3 pm at Holy Angels Church in Meriden, will explore the vision of Pope Francis, as expressed in his new encyclical, Laudato Si, and offer hands-on practical tools for strengthening ministry through relationship building.  

Presenters will include: Kevin M. Johnson- Adjunct Professor of Philosophy, Religion, and Theology at Sacred Heart University & President of The Inner Room; Arturo Iriarte and Mary O'Brien - community organizers and staff, Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry. The day is free and open to all; free-will donations accepted.  Download the flyer here.

Coffee and sign-in begin at 8:30, with the program starting promptly at 9 am. Lunch is included. Please RSVP by Sept. 26th to info.ocsjm.org or call 203-777-7279! 

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Waiting for the Pope to Speak

5/22/2015

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Two recent gatherings at the Vatican relate directly to the themes and content of Pope Francis' upcoming Encyclical, due out in just over a month. 

The first, a workshop entitled "Protect the Earth, Dignify Humanity: the Moral Dimensions of Climate Change and Sustainable Humanity," was led by the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences, Religions for Peace, and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The final report from this workshop calls for action to "address the challenges of human-induced climate change, extreme poverty, and social marginalization, including human trafficking, in the context of sustainable development."

The second meeting was that of Caritas Internationalis, the Church's worldwide humanitarian and development organization, which explored the theme, "One Human Family, Caring for Creation." In his opening homily, Pope Francis said: 

"We must do what we can so that everyone has something to eat, but we must also remind the powerful of the Earth that God will call them to judgement one day, and there it will be revealed if they really tried to provide food for Him in every person (cf. Matt. 25:35) and if they did what they could to preserve the environment so that it could produce this food." 

Pope Francis' encyclical on ecology has been called the most anticipated papal encyclical in the past 50 years, and excitement continues to grow as its release date nears. To read some of what people are saying, follow the links below.
  • Dan Misleh, Catholic Climate Covenant Executive Director in the New York Times
  • Dan Misleh in the National Journal
  • Lonnie Ellis, OFS, Covenant Associate Director in the Global Post
  • Dan DiLeo in the National Catholic Reporter
  • Our Sunday Visitor Editorial Board
  • Christiana Peppard, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Theology at Fordham University in the  Daily Beast
  • Vincent J. Miller, Gudorf Chair in Catholic Theology and Culture at the University of Dayton in America Magazine

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