Youth explore links between religion, science and the environment
-28/07/06
An Christia
Youth explore links between religion, science and the environment
-28/07/06
An Christian symposium on the protection of the environment took place in Brazil last week, organised by the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. The gathering was part of the Orthodox ‘Religion, Science and Environment’ project, which aims to raise awareness of environmental action as a Christian responsibility.
The seven-day gathering was open to young people from different backgrounds, and focussed on the plight of the Amazonian rainforests. It was held on a ship sailing along the Amazon River.
The ecumenical symposium, which was supported by the Catholic Church in Brazil, was attended by Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo, Archbishop of Sao Salvador da Bahia, and by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, vice dean of the College of Cardinals, who delivered a message from Pope Benedict XVI to Patriarch Bartholomew.
In his message, the Pope thanked Bartholomew for ìyour valued support for the Brazilian Episcopateís commitment in Amazonia and your activity on behalf of the environment, the deterioration of which has grave and profound repercussions upon all peoples.î
Continued the Pontiff: ìThe task of highlighting an appropriate catechesis of creation – in order to recall the meaning and religious significance of its protection – is intimately connected to our duty as pastors, and could have an important impact on the perceived value of life itself and on the adequate solution of social problems.î
The Pope said he hoped the Amazon symposium would ìonce again draw the attention of peoples and governments to the problems and urgent needs of an area … so threatened in its ecological balance.î
The aim of the ‘Religion, Science and Environment’ project is to promote ìawareness of the grave problems threatening creation, and commitment to joint action among Christians and people of faith in attempting to solve them.î
The Ecumenical Patriarch has worked with indigenous Indian groups and environment campaigners in the Amazon forest region.
Observers say that the cooperation between Catholic and Orthodox leaders is also a sign of healing in the face of historic and more recent between the two Christian traditions.
The Pope, the Ecumenical Patriarch and Protestant and Anglican leaders have stressed the value of inter-faith cooperation on environmental concerns as a way of promoting honest dialogue and contact between religions.
The role of young people is also regarded as crucial to encouraging more concerted action among both faith and civil society groups.
A significant number of American evangelicals have also become committed on environment issues in recent years, though they are opposed by the majority of the religious right.
[Also on Ekklesia: Bishop’s sinful transport plea annoys car lobby and puzzled media; Brown backs Archbishop on the morality of climate change action; Non-nuclear energy strategy a ‘moral imperative’ say church leaders; UK Christian agencies act to stop climate chaos; Alternatives to nuclear energy a ‘moral imperative’ say church leaders; Archbishop of Canterbury signals a C of E eco-revolution; US says no in Montreal as churches warn Blair on climate; Christians to join climate protests; Australian churches line up to oppose uranium mining; Creation and the Environment: An Anabaptist Perspective; Planet prayers focus ecumenical climate change action; Church should go organic says Archbishop of Canterbury; Synod sings ‘halle-loo-jah’; Gold giant clashes with Chilean farmers and church groups]
Youth explore links between religion, science and the environment
-28/07/06
An Christian symposium on the protection of the environment took place in Brazil last week, organised by the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. The gathering was part of the Orthodox ‘Religion, Science and Environment’ project, which aims to raise awareness of environmental action as a Christian responsibility.
The seven-day gathering was open to young people from different backgrounds, and focussed on the plight of the Amazonian rainforests. It was held on a ship sailing along the Amazon River.
The ecumenical symposium, which was supported by the Catholic Church in Brazil, was attended by Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo, Archbishop of Sao Salvador da Bahia, and by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, vice dean of the College of Cardinals, who delivered a message from Pope Benedict XVI to Patriarch Bartholomew.
In his message, the Pope thanked Bartholomew for ìyour valued support for the Brazilian Episcopateís commitment in Amazonia and your activity on behalf of the environment, the deterioration of which has grave and profound repercussions upon all peoples.î
Continued the Pontiff: ìThe task of highlighting an appropriate catechesis of creation – in order to recall the meaning and religious significance of its protection – is intimately connected to our duty as pastors, and could have an important impact on the perceived value of life itself and on the adequate solution of social problems.î
The Pope said he hoped the Amazon symposium would ìonce again draw the attention of peoples and governments to the problems and urgent needs of an area … so threatened in its ecological balance.î
The aim of the ‘Religion, Science and Environment’ project is to promote ìawareness of the grave problems threatening creation, and commitment to joint action among Christians and people of faith in attempting to solve them.î
The Ecumenical Patriarch has worked with indigenous Indian groups and environment campaigners in the Amazon forest region.
Observers say that the cooperation between Catholic and Orthodox leaders is also a sign of healing in the face of historic and more recent between the two Christian traditions.
The Pope, the Ecumenical Patriarch and Protestant and Anglican leaders have stressed the value of inter-faith cooperation on environmental concerns as a way of promoting honest dialogue and contact between religions.
The role of young people is also regarded as crucial to encouraging more concerted action among both faith and civil society groups.
A significant number of American evangelicals have also become committed on environment issues in recent years, though they are opposed by the majority of the religious right.
[Also on Ekklesia: Bishop’s sinful transport plea annoys car lobby and puzzled media; Brown backs Archbishop on the morality of climate change action; Non-nuclear energy strategy a ‘moral imperative’ say church leaders; UK Christian agencies act to stop climate chaos; Alternatives to nuclear energy a ‘moral imperative’ say church leaders; Archbishop of Canterbury signals a C of E eco-revolution; US says no in Montreal as churches warn Blair on climate; Christians to join climate protests; Australian churches line up to oppose uranium mining; Creation and the Environment: An Anabaptist Perspective; Planet prayers focus ecumenical climate change action; Church should go organic says Archbishop of Canterbury; Synod sings ‘halle-loo-jah’; Gold giant clashes with Chilean farmers and church groups]