Catholic church between lightness and love and power and lies

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:00:00 — 55.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | RSS | More

The Sustainable Hour no. 524?| Transcript | Podcast notes

Our guests in The Sustainable Hour no. 524 on 16 October 2024 are Heike Webber and Freya Clough Good, who are members of Extinction Rebellion and on this day are fasting outside of Saint Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral.

“The archdiocese is committed to the safety, wellbeing and human dignity of all children, young people and adults,” it says at the foot of a poster prominently displayed on the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. Hollow words at the moment, considering the climate crisis we face and the church’s lack of engagement in the global transition towards climate safety.

A small group of climate activists, members of Extinction Rebellion in Melbourne, decided to call out Archbishop Peter Comensoli for the lack of real action on climate in his archdiocese. Significantly, along with the four XR climate activists was a Dominican priest, Peter Murnane. And among the four XR activists was a radio presenter who is well-known to our listeners: our own Tony Gleeson.

Heike Webber?is organiser of the action both inside and outside Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. The aim of the action by a group of five fasting climate activists and their supporters is to remind the Catholic Archbishop Peter Cominsoli of Pope Francis’?two encyclicals Laudato Si’ (2015)?and Laudato Deum (2023). In these, the Pope urges all Catholics to?become aware of the climate crisis and be active participants in the solutions. Heide Webber is member of the local Extinction Rebellion Westside Naarm (Melbourne) Group.

Freya?Clough Good is part of the support group for the five Extinction Rebellion activists who are fasting as they interact with the public?outside of Saint Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral – the main place of worship in Naarm (Melbourne).?

In the 524th episode of The Sustainable Hour, the hosts discuss the urgent climate crisis, emphasising the need for unified action and language in addressing environmental issues.?

For details and information about the video clips, audio excerpts and music we play during the Hour, including Colin Mockett’s Global Outlook, see the transcript below.

. . .

As Colin says as he rounds off today’s Hour, it isn’t every day that The Sustainable Hour gets to take part in a non-violent direct action in a Church – action which includes fasting for two days by four climate activists together with a Catholic priest sitting outside Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, the centre of Catholic worship in Naarm (Melbourne). But that is what has been happening between Sunday and Tuesday this week.

The participating Catholic priest is Father Peter Murnane – an 85-year-old Dominican priest who lives his values and beliefs – and coincidently values and beliefs which align with those of his Order, values and beliefs which have a strong emphasis on social justice.??

Father Murnane has been pushing for stronger action on climate within his church for more than a decade. He was excited when the head of his church, Pope Francis, launched his encyclical Laudato Si’ in 2015 and then followed it up with Laudato Deum last year. Both of these stressed the nature of the climate crisis we faced as well as the moral responsibility the church and its members have to be part of the solution. However, Peter’s disappointment grew as he saw nothing being done.

The decision to take action inside the church wasn’t taken lightly. The five activists knew that it would upset some people. “Unfortunately being nice doesn’t have any impact on business-as-usual,” XR-rebel Heike Webber said.

On Sunday, the group stood at the back of the cathedral, and as the procession to end mass started moving outside towards the back of the church, they stood up silently with signs designed to create thought while Peter read out the speech he had specially prepared for the occasion:

The speech essentially calls out Archbishop Peter Comensoli for the lack of real action on climate in his archdiocese. A copy of this, plus a flyer was handed out to people as they walked past:

“As the congregation filed out between the climate activists, there was some anger expressed, but the overwhelming response via voices and eyes was ‘Thank you for doing this!’. We received the same response in the ensuing two days as we fasted outside,” Webber said.

“Sanctuary is an old tradition of the church and to strengthen our point, we asked for sanctuary within the cathedral for two days. Two days in which we’d be open to discussions with the Archbishop or his representatives on what were the possible solutions to the climate crisis we face.”

“As expected, this was refused, so we camped outside on the nature-strip after placing signs with quotes from Pope Francis addressing the importance of the Catholic church getting involved in and lobbying for real action on climate. We also had banners which we placed on the fence to create thoughts and discussion which were successful.”?

The activists had a steady stream of supporters who stopped to calmly discuss why they had decided to act in this way. Again, some people expressed anger, but according to Webber, this was overwhelmingly outweighed by positivity.

This positivity accompanied by the news from Mik about what religions are doing in the country of his birth, Denmark, gave them ideas to make contact with Folkekirkens Gr?nne Omstilling (‘The Church of Denmark’s Green Transition’).?

What happened over the last three days isn’t the end of the work, rather it’s the start. Both our guests, Heike and Freya, reiterated this. They are committed to continuing this campaign.?

We hope this week’s episode brings some clarity to people’s thinking about why climate activists would choose to take such a provocative action. Everyone involved felt they had no choice but to be involved.

A prayer for our Earth

–?and for people of all faiths

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one. O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes. Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction. Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth. Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light. We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.

→ Subscribe to The Sustainable Hour podcast via Apple Podcasts