pope's radical economic message behind climate encyclical

"The goods of the Earth are meant for everyone. And however much someone may parade his property, it has a social mortgage. In this way, we move beyond purely economic justice, based on commerce, toward social justice, which upholds the fundamental human right to a dignified life. The tapping of natural resources, which are so abundant in Ecuador, must not be concerned with short-term benefits." ~ Pope Francis, August 2015

Kindly refer to original: "Encyclical Letter Laudato Si' of the Holy Father Francis on Care for our Common Home", linked here.

For a summary, please watch this video, featuring Naomi Klein on DemocracyNow.org, as background to this blog post.

There is a great urgency and importance for all Canadians to reflect, acknowledge, discuss, and action our environment concern, with consideration for sustainable solutions to ecological health, especially as it impacts the most socially and economically disadvantaged peoples among us. The upcoming Canadian 2015 Federal Election is the precise moment at which to act upon this concern, by voting with our faith and proven scientific understandings.

Recently, at the news website DemocracyNow.org, I watched journalist Amy Goodman in interview with Naomi Klein, author and journalist. The discussion focused on Klein’s time in Rome, at an international summit to draw attention to the Encyclical Letter Laudato Sí of the Holy Father Francis on Care for our Common Home.

“Every effort to protect and improve our world

entails profound changes in lifestyles, models of production and consumption, and the established structures of power which today govern societies.”

~ Pope Francis (May 2015)

I believe it is of great benefit to all Christians and all Canadians, to read and act upon the encyclical of Pope Francis, described as a "radical economic message" concerning climate change and care for the earth. In his Encyclical, Pope Francis calls “for dialogue and action which would involve each of us as individuals, and also affect international policy.” (Pope Francis, May 2015)

As we listen to political debates and read party policies, let these words from Pope Francis ring in our ears: “...how anyone can claim to be building a better futurewithout thinking of the environmental crisisand the sufferings of the excluded...”

The accountability rests upon us, let's do it together... slow down the pace of capitalist greed and destruction to be more aligned to God's pace, the pace of nature, the human pace. A sustainable pace, with time and space for replenishment of resources. Where there is an acknowledgement of the interconnectedness of nature that surpasses our understanding, and therefore our knowledge of how to manage it effectively.

We must acknowledge that economic gain and technological advancement are not sustainable as the sole benchmarks of societal success. Equitable distribution of resources, variety of voices heard and sustainable balance in all things, are examples of more effective indicators of a successful society.

Let us keep our faith—in justice, kindness and humbleness as human beings of this common home—top of mind as we head into the election period. Join me in being inspired to do our homework into our political candidates and their parties’ platforms. Let us have our voices heard through letter-writing, awareness and discussion groups, voting and a thorough follow-up. Let’s keep our leaders accountable to their promises, all people and our planet.

A list of all political parties registered in the 2015 Canadian Federal Election: here.

With many thanks to Pope Francis for these words of wisdom, focus, guidance and encouragement:

“In light of this reflection, I will advance some broader proposals… I will point to the intimate relationship between the poor and the fragility of the planet, the conviction that everything in the world is connected, the critique of new paradigms and forms of power derived from technology, the call to seek other ways of understanding the economy and progress, the value proper to each creature, the human meaning of ecology, the need for forthright and honest debate, the serious responsibility of international and local policy, the throwaway culture and the proposal of a new lifestyle. These questions will not be dealt with once and for all, but reframed and enriched again and again.”

~ Pope Francis (May 2015)

To read or download the entire Encylical please click here.