Environmentalist Propaganda For the New Religion
Scientists and religious representatives discuss the keys of Laudato si'
MSGR. MARCELO SÁNCHEZ SORONDO
President, Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences
"We
must act together, so we can defend human dignity and uphold the
dignity of the Earth(??), as well as environmental justice and human
justice."
They are scientists and religious leaders from 15 countries and eight denominations. The International Seminar on Science and Religions for the conservation of the environment
united them all at the Shrine of Torreciudad in Spain. There, they
launched an ambitious Declaration on the Protection of the Environment.
The seminar revolved around Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudato si',
a year after its publication. They tried to find solutions to
challenges such as climate change, an issue that concerns everyone,
regardless of their religious beliefs.
HILLARY MARLOW
Director, Faraday Institute for Science and Religion
"I
think it's a really important occasion to get together scientists and
people from religious traditions. I think it's really important, when
we're talking about environmental issues, that we know what the science
is saying.”
NANDITHA KRISHNA
President, C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation
"This
place, the shrine of Torreciudad, is so beautiful. I mean, this is what
God wanted. And the big cities is what we got, what we gave Him, so I
think it's perfect. The venue is perfect. The atmosphere, the ambiance
is really perfect. I really feel that I am a part of the environment
over here.”
Pope Francis sent a message
to the participants in which he expressed his desire that the meeting
would serve to "promote joint efforts and a sense of solidarity."
MSGR. MARCELO SÁNCHEZ SORONDO
President, Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences
"We
must act together, so we can defend human dignity and uphold the
dignity of the Earth, as well as environmental justice and human
justice."
YONATAN NERIL
Rabbi
"I
think Laudato si' was received well by a lot of Jews (Ya Think!). I think a number
of Jews read it, including myself, and I was particularly impressed by
Pope Francis's discussion of the verses in Genesis, about dominating and
conquering the Earth, and of how we need to understand those verses in
terms of an ethic of stewardship, of how Genesis 2:15 says that God
placed the human being in the Garden of Eden to serve it. And that
therefore teaches that we have to be stewards of Creation.”
The scientists presented their graphs and statistics on climate change to show the seriousness of the issue.
In
addition to signing a declaration, they planted an olive tree at the
Shrine of Torreciudad as a symbol of the commitment by the various
religious traditions and scientific community in environmental
conservation. It is a commitment that promises to take root and bear
good fruit.
Captain Planet - Theme Song
