The pope made ecological concern a cornerstone of his 12-year papacy and positioned care of creation as both a nonnegotiable pillar of the Christian faith and "essential to a life of virtue."
Catholic priests and nuns joined hundreds of activists demanding to stop a geothermal project on the predominantly Catholic Flores island in Indonesia, saying the project violates villagers' land rights and damages the environment.
Sisters are participating in the church's campaign: "Yes to life, no to mining," calling for the restoration of a law against metal mining in El Salvador.
In response to the effects of climate change, Sr. Juunza Mwangani, who is the project manager of the Sisters of the Holy Spirit, recognized opportunity among the people of southern Zambia, who are farmers by nature.
After devastating, deadly floods in Valencia, Spain, Catholic sisters have contributed to recovery with spiritual help and physical labor, hand in hand with volunteers who are cleaning up affected towns.
Sr. Maribeth Larkin, whose Sisters of Social Service evacuated to stay with the Sisters of Notre Dame, advised other congregations to talk to each other, and "have an up-to-date plan, not one you dust off from 20 years ago."
Women religious congregations are assisting church groups in the second phase of rehabilitation of the landslide survivors in the Wayanad district of Kerala, India, providing them shelter and livelihood.
In my work for ecology in my religious community, I can become depressed and want to give up. Why fight a losing battle? But to a small degree, we are acting with hope for creation, and we have seen some progress.
