A Prophetic Appeal. Speech by Father Paul Mayer, CCC, December 15, 2009. "Spiritual teachers may help us find the words of comfort, transformation and wisdom that the peoples of the world need to hear at this dangerous moment in human history. This is not just another 'social' issue to be addressed by one more committee, one more web site, one more pastoral letter, or one more Environmental Sunday. A moderate response will no longer serve to confront a crisis that is anything but moderate - the collapse of the life support systems of the planet demands a response that raises a cry, sounds the alarm, tells unvarnished truths and makes demands that may at first seem unreasonable. From the religious perspective this is to assume a prophetic stance...
"The time has come for a Global Interfaith Convocation for the Earth, called by the leaders of the world's great religious traditions. Such a gathering would issue an inspired prophetic appeal to the planet announcing the extremity of the crisis of global warming and a call for a worldwide mobilization to reverse this danger while there is still time. This would be a message of hope, but not of easy optimism. Its hope would lie in a concrete plan of action based on the best scientific economic information and would include the input of the poor, of indigenous, young people and of women. This message would state the dangerous consequences of non-action or of inadequate measures in a clear and honest way...
"Sooner or later under the present escalating crisis, our consumer life style may be forcibly taken from us or at least severely diminished. Here the most profound teachings of our respective traditions can teach us, as St. Francis of Assisi and Mahatma Gandhi demonstrated, that a simple life can lead to greater freedom and even to joy. Can we collectively, through deep prayer and meditation, through community consultation, and through our love for the earth, for each other, for our children and for all beings, rise to this challenge, perhaps one of the greatest in human history?... Sooner or later under the present escalating crisis, our consumer life style may be forcibly taken from us or at least severely diminished. Here the most profound teachings of our respective traditions can teach us, as St. Francis of Assisi and Mahatma Gandhi demonstrated, that a simple life can lead to greater freedom and even to joy. Can we collectively, through deep prayer and meditation, through community consultation, and through our love for the earth, for each other, for our children and for all beings, rise to this challenge, perhaps one of the greatest in human history?" Father Paul Mayer is a CCC co-founder. The speech was delivered at the Education Caucus of the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development, a side event during the Copenhagen U.N. climate conference.
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