Dan Misleh, the executive director of the Catholic Coalition onClimate Change, said Lent is not just about giving up chocolate or ice-cream. “The whole issue of climate change is about consumption and lifestyle,” said Misleh.
“Lent is the perfect time to examine our lifestyles,” he added. Even giving up a food item like chocolate or ice-cream “reminds us that we do need to live more within our means, more in touch with people who don’t have any of these things”.
He is proposing that Catholics give up something whichwould really help the environment, such as plastic bags or incandescent lightbulbs.
Bishops oppose redefining marriage
After the senate of Maryland, US, voted in favour of gay marriages, the state bishops are urging Catholics to lobby on behalf of marriage as the union of a man and a woman.
In a statement, the bishops said: “The measure would dismantle our state’s legal recognition of the true procreative nature of marriage, and contains inadequate conscience protections for religious institutions and individuals.
“As a result, the measure would jeopardise the religious freedom of all those who cannot in good conscience recognise marriages that conflict with their sincerely held religious beliefs… We must not allow our legislature to redefine marriage.”
‘Cheap access to water is a right’
Bishop Mario Toso, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said reasonable access to clean water is a fundamental human right and its distribution should not be left solely to private companies seeking profit. Mgr Toso cited various countries where water management “inspired exclusively by private and economic criteria” has failed to produce adequate distribution for the population, and where water costs three to six times that of large cities in developed countries.
“The great paradox is that poor people pay more than the rich for something that should be a universal right: access to drinkable water,” the bishop said. People in poor countries, he said, often suffer not for the lack of water but because “access is economically impossible”.
Rome braced for pilgrim invasion
Rome is expected to be ‘invaded’ by over a million people on the occasion of Pope John Paul II’s beatification on May 1.
Earlier reports that this would be counterbalanced by a massive exodus by Rome residents eager to escape the logistical problems caused by such a big crowd are proving to be wrong. It is expected that Romans will be the largest group present for the beatification celebration. Hundreds of thousands are expected to attend the prayer vigil organised by the Rome diocese at the ancient Circus Maximus.
Pope’s prayer intentions for March
The Vatican has announced Pope Benedict’s prayer intentions for March. His general intention is: “That the nations of Latin America may walk in fidelity to the Gospel and progress in justice and peace.”
His missionary intention is: “That the Holy Spirit may give light and strength to those in many regions of the world who are persecuted and discriminated against because of the Gospel.”
(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)