By editor - 19 June, 2016
Courtesy: Independent Catholic News http://www.indcatholicnews.com
Four religious congregations have announced that they are selling their investments in coal, oil and gas companies as the moral case against fossil fuels continues to build.
The first-ever joint Catholic divestment announcement marks the commemoration of the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si, which calls on the responsibility humans share in caring for the planet, our common home.
The Marist Sisters Australia, Presentation Congregation Queensland, Presentation Sisters Wagga Wagga, and The Passionists – Holy Spirit Province Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Zealand and Vietnam, are the congregations that have decided to abandon fossil fuels and embrace renewable energy.
More Catholic organisations are anticipated to announce a pledge to begin a divestment process in celebration of the Feast of St Francis in October.
Sr Marlette Black, Congregational Leader of the Presentation Congregation, Queensland said her order recognised its “need to engage in respectful and transformative relationships with the whole community of life”.
“For many years Queensland Presentation Sisters have excluded any investment in our portfolio held with companies primarily associated with fossil fuels, uranium mining and environmental degradation. This is a key part of the way we engage in God’s mission, especially at a time when the challenge to address global warming is so urgent.”
In committing to divest, these organisations join over 530 institutions globally, representing over $3.4 trillion in funds under management.
They include the World Council of Churches, the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Stanford and Oxford Universities, the Australian Capital Territory, the City of Newcastle and the Royal Australian College of Physicians.
Throughout the world, other Catholic institutions including Georgetown University, University of Dayton, Trócaire, Franciscan Sisters of Mary and more already committed to divest.
In a statement, Sr Catherine Lacey SM, Congregational Leader of the Marist Sisters in Australia, said they were working towards divesting from fossil fuels.
“Dependence on fossil fuels is contributing to adverse climate change which affects everyone but especially the poor and vulnerable. In his encyclical, Laudato Si, Pope Francis calls on us to reduce carbon emissions and develop sources of renewal energy. Divesting of fossil fuels is one way that we can be stewards of God’s gift of creation so that life in all its forms can be sustained now and into the future.”
The Global Catholic Climate Movement just announced a ‘Catholic Divest-Reinvest Online Hub’ to house Divest-Reinvest news and resources for the Catholic community.
It is expected that more Catholic organisations will follow these steps, in consonance with the words of Pope Francis’ encyclical: “We know that technology based on the use of highly polluting fossil fuels – especially coal, but also oil and, to a lesser degree, gas – has to be progressively replaced without delay.”
This ask was to move away from fossil fuels was emphatically stressed by a 2015 statement of Catholic Bishops from all continents, who asked to “Put an end to the fossil fuel era… and provide affordable, reliable and safe renewable energy access for all”.
That is why Catholic organisations are also starting to collaborate with a new civil society campaign that seeks to end energy poverty by ensuring universal access to clean, renewable and affordable energy by 2030.
The campaign, comprised of leaders from the global development, faith, philanthropy and health sectors, is to be launched at COP22 in Marrakesh (November 2016).
Across the world, Catholic parishes and communities celebrate the encyclical’s anniversary with the Laudato Si Week, which includes a series of online conferences and local events to deepen the discussion of their role in caring for the planet and tackling climate change.
Sr Anne Lane, leader of the Presentation Sisters in Wagga Wagga announced in her statement, “We made the decision to align our investments with projects that reflect our values and understanding of the importance of caring for creation. The decisions are made after much careful consideration and in the knowledge that our decision won’t change things overnight – this is a long term investment in the earth’s future.”
Fr Thomas McDonough, Provincial of The Passionists – Holy Spirit Province Australia, NZ, PNG & Vietnam in his statement said “For some years now our Passionist Congregation has been aware of the need for our communities and ministries to be far more ecologically responsible.”
“Pope Francis, in his Laudato Si, crystallised for us the level of responsibility we need to take as a Congregation, the urgency for action ever more apparent.”
“So we Trustees of the Passionists took the decision to begin diverting our investments from fossil fuel extractive industries and into renewable energy. We believe the Gospel asks no less of us.”
Responding to the announcement by the four congregations, Tomás Insua, Founding Coordinator of the Global Catholic Climate Movement said, “These congregations mark the beginning of a new momentum for the Catholic Church. Pope Francis’ encyclical highlights that politics and business have been slow to react in a way commensurate with the urgency of the challenges facing our world. Through divestment from fossil fuels and reinvestment in clean energy, Catholic institutions are starting to use their financial resources to live Laudato Si.”
Rev Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of GreenFaith said, “These divestment commitments represent an important step towards fulfilling the promise and the call of Laudato Si. Pope Francis and other faith leaders have spoken boldly about the need for climate action, and the time to act has arrived. That’s exactly what these four congregations have done.”
