Author

Mark Booker

Senior Development Education Officer
SCIAF

If we believe our God to be the Creator God (‘God saw all he had made, and indeed it was very good’ Genesis 1:31) there is no stronger reason for us to care for and protect the earth on which we live.

To use its resources responsibly and as Pope Francis says in his Encyclical Laudato Si’, hear both the ‘cry of the earth and the cry of the poor’ is what we are called to do.

What science tells us is tremendously important and the devastation that an estimated increase in temperature could have on the natural world, if we do not change our ways, is frightening. It is, however, important to remember that as a Catholic community our primary motivation comes from God, from Scripture and a calling to respond to be good stewards.

Catholic Social Teaching is defined as reading the signs of the times in the light of Scripture. Scripture doesn’t change but the times we live in do. In Sollicitudo Rei SocialisSaint John Paul II writes on how Church social teaching is not built on a certain development theory. Rather, it represents a reflection on the social situation from the perspective of moral theology and is offered as a guide in the search for new roads to development. cf.

Laudato Sí tells us that the earth is a gift to us and that we have a Christian responsibility to care for creation.

Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.

Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ 217

The amazing thing, particularly in Catholic schools, is that care for creation has always been something high on the agenda long before the media was bringing it to our attention. That’s because it is part of our Christian witness. We see young people who care and who take action.

We believe that the Catholic Community have a real opportunity this year, and beyond, to highlight their work on climate justice and to progress it. COP26 (the global climate conference) is happening in Glasgow over the first weeks of November, and world leaders have descended on Glasgow for crucial talks about tackling Climate injustice. We think Catholics can and will stand up and bear witness to the importance of caring for creation.

SCIAF has a rich tradition of development work grounded in Catholic Social Teaching (CST). Our practice has always been built upon the cornerstone of Christ’s teaching to love your neighbour and walk in solidarity with the poor and oppressed. We have continued to build on this foundation and, in recent years, we have developed our approach to Integral Human Development (IHD).

The Catholic Church has a proud history of social concern and SCIAF has always looked to follow Christ’s example. It is inspiring, not only to see life-transforming, dignified, empowering work in projects overseas, but also to witness the real sense of solidarity in Scotland when Catholics come together in prayer, in learning, in campaigning and in fundraising for people in their time of need.

SCIAF works with some of the most vulnerable people in the world who are often affected by climate change. Climate change is affecting everyone but the poorest are hit the hardest. Sometimes our work is through emergency response after a natural disaster (which have been increasing due to climate change) and sometimes it is through projects that work to prevent the severity of climate change. Other vital work includes empowering local people to have a say on climate matters and be part of making decisions that affect their communities.

Just as important as our work overseas is our development education work here in Scotland. Providing resources and workshops for parishes and schools allows us to help support people as they put their faith into action. We learn together and while we do not claim to have all the answers, we strive to follow what Scripture and Church Teaching share about promoting Integral Human Development.

We look to Jesus as our guide. Behind His encounters with those we read about (the Samaritan woman, the man with leprosy, the woman who had been bleeding for years) was love, compassion and justice. People often on the edges of society Jesus made welcome and gave them belonging. Those ‘given up on’, He restored.

We are proud to follow Jesus’ example and we are proud to be part of the Caritas family and not work in isolation but in solidarity with the global Church.