I have always been a Christian, raised in the Catholic tradition. I have also always been interested in the environment.
I have always been a Christian, raised in the Catholic tradition. I have also always been interested in the environment.
From an early age I was fascinated by the wildlife in the pond in the park behind our house – newts, frogs, sticklebacks, even the scary looking leeches were of interest. I used to love nature trails at school, and was first drawn to the concept of ecosystems on a camping trip with primary school. When I went to secondary school, I was very lucky to encounter the inspirational Judy Hudson, who taught me biology. Thanks to her gifted teaching and enthusiasm I ended up studying it at university.
I wasn’t the best of biology students and left with a mediocre degree. But during the three years I was at York, ecology and biodiversity were my favourite courses and I still continue to be passionate about the subjects. And it was as a student that I realised loving nature goes hand in hand with politics.
Thirty years ago, I learnt about vanishing species, the distortions of world food production that created more poverty than it resolved, how pollution was destroying important habitats. I became a vegetarian when I realised how much more land is required to rear cattle than to grow crops.I’m not one for joining parties but ever since I have supported many environmental campaigns, and been sympathetic to green ideals even if I’ve never been able to live up to them.
Back then, climate change was known about but barely discussed and I only really started paying attention to it in the last 10 years. I have to confess that whilst I want to stop global warming, I can’t claim to be the greenest person on the planet. I’m still a vegetarian, cycle a lot, and haven’t flown since 1997 (though that’s due to lack of funds rather than ideology). However, I feel the cold and so the heating is on far too much in our house, we drive too often and our default is to use supermarkets rather than search around for local produce. And, because the future scenarios being modelled by scientists are often terrifying, I often find myself ducking the issue because I don’t want to think about where our planet might be heading.
Which is why, as a Catholic, I welcome the Pope’s encyclical ‘Laudato Si’on care for God’s earth. I welcome it because it celebrates the wonder and beauty of nature that has inspired me all my life. I welcome it because it is produced by a man of faith but deeply rooted in the science that has always fascinated me. And I welcome it because it is a vital political document that tasks each one of us with the duty of protecting our planet, whilst enabling people of all faiths and none to unite in a common cause. I think I need such a call to jerk me out of my complacency, reminding me to do more to keep this beautiful world safe for future generations.
I’m still delving into the paper, and will provide a more detailed review over the next couple of days. But in the meantime, I’m celebrating the publication of this beautiful blend of science, faith and humanity that recognises the links between caring for planet and people.
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© Virginia Moffatt
Virginia Moffatt is the Chief Operating Officer of Ekklesia.