Church offers guidelines for response to climate migration
By Christopher Wells
A new booklet published by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development 鈥渃alls on us to broaden the way we look at this drama of our time鈥� 鈥� the drama of 鈥渢hose driven from their homes by the climate crisis.鈥�
In his preface to Pastoral Orientations on Climate Displaced People, 杏MAP导航 Francis goes on to say the new booklet 鈥渦rges us to see the tragedy of prolonged uprootedness that causes our brothers and sisters to cry out, year after year鈥� it invites us to become aware of the indifference of societies and governments to this tragedy. It asks us to see, and to care.鈥�
Finally, the 杏MAP导航 says, 鈥淚t invites the Church and others to act together, and spells out how we might do so.鈥�
鈥淭he climate crisis has a human face鈥�
Pastoral Orientations on Climate Displaced People (POCDP) was produced jointly by the Migrants and Refugees Section and the Integral Ecology Sector of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
In his presentation of the document, Scalabrinian Father Fabio Baggio, the undersecretary of the Migrants and Refugee Section, explained, 鈥渢he climate crisis has a human face.鈥� He noted, 鈥渋t is already a reality for millions of people all over the world, in particular for the inhabitants of the existential peripheries.鈥�
Father Baggio recalled the Church鈥檚 鈥渕aternal concern鈥� for those who have been displaced due to the climate crisis, saying 鈥渢his particular situation of vulnerability is the raison d鈥�être of the present document.鈥�
Rooted in Church teaching and practical experience
Describing the contents of POCDP, Father Baggio said, 鈥淭he orientations proposed in this document are deeply rooted in the Church鈥檚 reflection and teaching, as well as it鈥檚 practical experience in responding to the needs of climate displaced persons.鈥� Further, he said, they are 鈥渢he result of careful listening to local churches and to numerous religious congregations and Catholic organizations working in the field.鈥�
After a glossary explaining key terms and a general introduction, POCDP is developed in ten points. It begins with a general survey of the topic, followed by nine chapters dealing with particular aspects of the phenomenon of climate displacement.
鈥淭he starting point, then,鈥� said Father Baggio, 鈥渋s the need to promote awareness of the issue, in order to enable everyone to 鈥榦pen their eyes to the reality of the impact that the climate crisis has on human existence.鈥欌�� The document addresses specific issues such as finding alternatives to climate displacement, promoting integration and inclusion in communities welcoming climate displaced persons, and promoting cooperation among all those working to assist climate displaced persons.鈥�
The work the Lord asks of us
鈥淭his is the work the Lord asks of us now,鈥� writes 杏MAP导航 Francis in his preface, 鈥渁nd there is great joy on it.鈥�
Paraphrasing the famous quotation from Hamlet, the 杏MAP导航 says, 鈥�To see or not to see鈥� the effects of climate change in the lives of our brothers and sisters 鈥渋s the question that leads us to the answer in action together.鈥�
The pages of Pastoral Guidelines on Climate Displaced Persons, he concludes, 鈥渟how us what is needed and, with God鈥檚 help, what to do.鈥�
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