"The protection of Creation is a responsibility we have towards the poor and the new generations; the former are already heavily suffering the negative effects of climate change, while the latter risk being left with problems that are hard to solve". These are the words of Franz Fischler, ex MEP and president of the European Eco-Social Forum, during the press conference held in Brussels today to mark the end of the meeting of Comece (European Bishops) about: "Respect of human dignity and protection of Creation. The common good for the European policies of the 21st century". Fischler, coordinator of the Comece workgroup on "Church and environment", which will submit a report on the subject in September, added that, to fight climate change "we need economic and political choices that can effectively change the state of serious injustice that exists in many areas of the world. In this universal commitment, the contribution of the Christians is extremely important, but we have to improve responsibilities and awareness". Europe "must give a strong sign" and, to do this, he added, "the commitment of Comece, which is the commitment of the Catholic Church in all the European countries, can be extremely effective". This is the scenario, concluded mgr. Noel Treanor, secretary general of Comece, "of the ecumenical dialogue which must be increasingly encouraged".
