Today is Social Justice Sunday. The Australian Catholic Bishops have published their annual Social Justice Statement, which is this year titled: Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor.
The Statement calls us to listen, hear and respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor through practical action. When one part of the Body of Christ is wounded, the other parts care for the afflicted part so that all can be healed and made whole. What affects one affects all, as everything and everyone is connected. We are invited to be lifegiving agents in the transformation of our communities in ways that reflect the mercy freely offered by our loving God.
As people of prayerful contemplation, dialogue, and action, we commit to right relationships in our covenant with God. It is clear that the signs of our times call for urgent action to defend, protect, and restore the earth and the dignity of the human person, especially those places, creatures, and people who are most vulnerable. In following God’s law of living a moral life from the inside out, we upend and transcend any worldly standards that would diminish the sacredness of any part of God’s creation. People are more important than profits, and the beauty of our natural world is a precious gift to us and to the generations who will follow. In transitioning to sustainable and just economic systems and practices, we commit to partnering with the work of the Spirit in renewing the face of the earth.
Please take some time to explore the materials prepared by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Office for JUSTICE, ECOLOGY AND PEACE.
For your convenience, links to the following resources can be found below:-
The video message from the Bishops
a copy of the statement
A Call to Action and Goals for the next seven years
Laudato Si Encyclical by Pope Francis on Caring for our home
