Responsible for the creation

A European survey on the commitment to responsibility for the creation made by the Bishops’ Conferences that form part of the pan-European CCEE (Council of European Bishops’ Conferences was presented at the 35th meeting of general secretaries of the 34 Bishops’ Conferences of Europe, held in Minsk (Belarus) from 14 to 18 June (cf. SirEurope no.43/2007). The report, entitled “Responsibility for the creation in Europe”, was edited by the Lanza Foundation (Italy). TOWARDS SIBIU. The idea of this research was born at the end of the cycle of conferences promoted by the CCEE between 1999 and 2004. These European colloquia, explains the report, “responded to the pledges made at the Second European Ecumenical Assembly, held in Graz in June 1997: the final recommendations invited the Churches to make an active commitment to promoting the protection of the environment as an essential dimension of their life and, in particular, called for the creation of structures to reinforce the commitment to the safeguard of the creation and forge a network of links at the national and European level”. The aim of the survey, apart from gathering information on the agencies, documents, materials, activities and projects promoted by the Catholic Church in Europe on the environment, was to highlight the needs of the national Churches, so that work at the European level may better respond to them. Moreover, the presentation of some positive experiences, already realized at the local and national level, may be of help in other contexts. In view of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (Sibiu, 4-9 September 2007), the survey findings provide “a point of reference for the actions so far taken by the Bishops’ Conferences”, propose “new and stronger commitments for the future”, and offer an occasion for stocktaking and comparison with other Christian Churches. QUESTIONNAIRE. The survey was conducted through questionnaires, sent to the individual Bishops’ Conferences (BC) by the CCEE Secretariat on 10 April 2005. Of the 34 questionnaires sent out, 24 were received, fully compiled, so more than half of the BCs have replied. The first section of the questionnaire was dedicated to the identification of the appointees designated by the various BC to monitor the environmental field; the second covered the environmental problems in the various national situations and the activities promoted to tackle them. In particular, the aim was to analyse the various possible fields of intervention, such as study and research, formative and pastoral activities, measures aimed at renewing lifestyles, actions aimed at raising public awareness on specific environmental problems, activities directed at engaging in the socio-political debate and lobbying aimed at raising awareness in the public institutions. The third section was dedicated to forms of cooperation in the Catholic, ecumenical and inter-religious spheres, such as dialogue with the economic world and civil society. The fourth was devoted to future prospects. “The growing attention of the Catholic Church in Europe to common responsibility for the creation clearly emerges from the survey”, says the report”. SPECIFIC ATTENTION. Do there exist special delegates of the BC for issues of responsibility for the creation? In 19 cases there does exist a special person designated for the protection of the environment; in 35% of cases that person is a bishop, in 25% a priest, in 35% a layperson, and in 5% a consecrated person. Usually the special delegate is assisted by a support group, ranging between 3 (Ukraine) and 15 members (France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Slovakia). The groups meet, on average, 4 or 5 times each year and have a budget ranging between 2/3000 and some tens of thousands of euros. The available means of communication consist in 8 cases of dedicated websites; only in two cases was reference made to paperwork, newsletters and the like (occasional press releases in the case of Switzerland; newsletters of the National Office for social and labour problems – Pamphlets of the general secretariat of the Italian BC). THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS. What, on the other hand, are the main environmental problems in the eyes of the Bishops’ Conferences? The survey findings show that the problem that takes first place is “that of unsustainable consumption”, followed by “urban environment, transport, refuse, water resources, deterioration of the historical and cultural heritage and air quality”. Relatively “more limited is the concern for the main global ecological emergencies of our time (such as loss of biodiversity and climate change) and for issues of naturalistic type (such as hydro-geological damage and the reduction of woodland”. “Attention to agriculture” comes low in the list of concerns; even lower is “the consciousness of problems linked to industrial activities, food safety and electromagnetic pollution”. FORMS OF INTERVENTION. The survey also analysed the forms of intervention of the Bishops’ Conferences in the environmental field. 16 out of 21 countries replied positively to the question about initiatives for study and research of theological, sociological, liturgical and spiritual type and the holding of meetings and symposia. The French BC, for example, has published a declaration on “Respect for the Creation” and the German BC a document on “Acting for the Creation”. The Italian BC annually holds seminars on environmental issues, while the Dutch BC has held a seminar on the formation of bishops in this sphere. Workshops are organized by the BC in Poland. A survey on the environmental impact of religious festivities in parishes was conducted in Malta. Fifteen countries out of 21, moreover, promote formative actions aimed at Catholics, devoting particular attention to the role of catechesis and the liturgy. Examples are the celebration of the Day of the Creation (Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia, France, Scandinavia and Italy), courses of formation (Austria, French-speaking Belgium, France, Malta), catechesis (Belarus, Slovakia, Holland), preparation of support materials as aids for teachers of religion or websites (Germany, Italy, French-speaking Belgium, Flemish Belgium, France, Malta, Slovenia), pastoral letters written by bishops (Poland). In terms of measures aimed at renewing lifestyles, 13 countries out of 21 replied positively, while interventions on specific problems of environmental degradation have been promoted in 12 countries, including information and awareness-raising of public opinion, and denunciation and protest at the side of the public. Nine countries cited official documents or pastoral letters of the bishops on environmental issues. Ten countries have begun pilot projects in the sector. FORMS OF COLLABORATION. Numerous and varied forms of collaboration have been activated in the various national Churches in Europe in which an appointee designated by the BC is present. The most frequent forms of collaboration (46%) are those “with the huge range of associations and organizations linked directly to the Catholic world”, for example, religious orders, movements, especially those of youth, cultural centres, and diocesan associations. The number of ecumenical forms of collaboration is also significant (40%), less so those with non-Christian religious bodies. “Also of lesser importance is capacity of interaction with civil society, both with associations specifically dedicated to environmental work and with those of the economic world”. However, “the partial exception formed by associations of the rural world” should be pointed out (also thanks to their traditional relation with church bodies), which are involved in collaboration with the BC in 9 nations. This is, according to the report, “a promising form of collaboration that needs to be further developed”. THE FUTURE. As far as the future is concerned, the report hopes for the diffusion of texts, data and materials for formation and information on urgent environmental issues, the propagation of recommendations and good practices, the creation of a database on line with resources, projects and documents that reflect the Catholic point of view, and support for environmental projects in the various countries. One suggestion in view of the forthcoming European Ecumenical Assembly in Sibiu, and also in relation to the Charta Oecumenica, is “that the Assembly should take into consideration the safeguard of the creation” with particular attention to its biblical foundations. The report also draws attention to such issues as sustainable development and peace; solidarity in the use of energy and resources; work and employment in Europe; sustainable consumption and mobility; promotion of education in the protection of the environment, especially among the young; exchange of experiences on the safeguard of the creation with other confessions and Christian-Islamic dialogue on environmental issues. NEW CHALLENGES FOR THE THIRD MILLENNIUM. The survey’s findings “show that attention to the safeguard of the creation in the various European Churches can still be considerably stepped up”. That notwithstanding, “a progressive growth of attention to the creation in the Bishops’ Conferences can be noted”. In this process of growth, “the meetings promoted by the CCEE for the delegates of the environment are of particular importance”. Also for the future “expectations in the role of the CCEE are high because the national Churches still have need for encouragement and assistance to tackle this theme”. The most frequent requests are “continuing the European meetings to enable the national bodies to pool their efforts at a supranational level” and deepening “the theological foundations of ecclesial action for the environment”. In addition “there is a desire for the creation of a workgroup able to make available, also on line or by newsletter, biblical and theological resources, documents explaining the teaching of the Church and other materials to tackle specific issues”. Alongside “an attention to sustainability” and a “focus on the use of energy”, the survey findings underline “the need for pastoral guidelines and for the work of education/formation in the safeguard of the creation and sustainable lifestyles”. In short, the survey found that “the need for theological research on the creation, for a renewal of lifestyles and the promotion of environmental sustainability are the new challenges for Christians of Europe in the new millennium”.