"We have to listen to the cries of the earth and the cries of the poor. The vision has to become action" he said.

Coleridge stressed the insufficiency of ongoing discussions without tangible outcomes.

In a decisive move to address the pressing issues of environmental degradation and social injustice, the Brisbane Archdiocese on Thursday launched the Laudato Si' Action Plan 2024-2026 at the Francis Rush Centre.

Action-oriented strategy

Crafted through a collaborative effort among various agencies within the Brisbane archdiocese, the plan presents seven targeted goals.

These goals are designed to echo and respond actively to Pope Francis's environmental and social advocacies in the encyclical Laudato Si'.

The goals range from directly addressing the environmental crisis and aiding those in poverty, to transforming economic, educational and spiritual practices within the Brisbane Archdiocese.

Emma Beach, who spearheads the Laudato Si' Action Plan, underlined the commitment to realising these ambitions.

"It's going to happen" she said, signaling a shift from planning to implementation.

The action plan includes significant changes such as adjusting investment strategies, revamping the archdiocesan vehicle fleet to decrease fossil fuel dependency, and revising procurement processes.

Immediate steps and future goals

A standout feature of the plan is its actionable steps, each accompanied by specific deadlines and responsible parties.

For example, to combat reliance on fossil fuels, the first order of business is updating the archdiocese's car fleet within the next four years.

Moreover, in an effort to align financial practices with ethical standards, investment policies will be revised by January 2025 to include reports on fossil fuel investments and other non-congruent activities.

The action plan also emphasises ecological education, aiming to involve 15 parishes in developing their own Laudato Si' commitments by 2025-2026.

This strategy seeks to educate and empower communities to contribute actively to environmental stewardship and social justice.

The plan outlines seven goals in a four-year time frame:

• Responding to the Cry of the Earth
• Responding to the Cry of the Poor
• Ecological economics
• Adoption of sustainable lifestyles
• Ecological education
• Ecological spirituality
• Community resilience and empowerment

Beyond dialogue

The Brisbane Archdiocese's Laudato Si' Action Plan signifies a pivotal leap from dialogue to action in the face of global ecological and social challenges.

By setting clear goals, actionable steps and strict timelines, the Archdiocese underscores its dedication to making a substantive difference.

This initiative stands as a testament to the belief that effective response to the cries of the earth and the poor goes beyond talk, requiring immediate and committed action.

Source

• Catholic Leader

In a police interview the day after the alleged desecration, Dowling admitted to removing the sword, and when asked whether he was authorised to do so he cited a "higher permission".

The men are now on trial in Brisbane Magistrates Court.

According to a tweet from a news service, one of the four, James Dowling, says he and his friends "were influenced by Pope Francis's peace message ... where he said religion can never be used to justify war, and peace alone is holy".

They used this reasoning when they decided to pull the sword down, he said.

News reports at the time say the sword was snapped in two when it was pulled away from the war memorial.

Dowling, who is self-represented, argued no damage was caused.

"It's blasphemy to allow a sword to be placed on a Christian cross," Dowling said in a police interview, which was played at the trial.

"We felt we were called by God to make a strong statement when we saw that blasphemy."

The four accused left two documents beside the monument.

One was called 'The Early Church on War" and the other, "Beat Swords into Ploughshares".

"That was to explain what we had just done," Dowling said in the police interview.

The court was told Dowling left his name and number at the bottom of the documents.

Source

• Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2017
• Brisbane Times
• The Guardian
• Image: Toowong

The decision to publish and distribute the "Don't Mess with Marriage" booklet in Catholic schools across Australia has angered Fr Terry Fitzpatrick.

"I feel angry and disappointed, but not surprised, that the hierarchy of the Catholic Church would chose such a desperate measure to influence the debate on marriage equality," he told the LGBTI publication the Star Observer.

"It is definitely a sign that they are becoming increasingly despairing and worried that they are on the losing side."

Fr Fitzpatrick incurred a suspension in Brisbane archdiocese in 2009, after his involvement with a breakaway parish.

This month, he condemned those in the Church responsible for the marriage letter for imposing their religious belief upon others and using children to disseminate their political message.

"They see the last vestiges of their power and influence rapidly disappearing into the sand," he said.

"They refuse to believe that we live in a secular state and not a religious one where one religion's laws apply to everyone regardless of their beliefs.

"They cling to the role of being the moral guardian of the nation when this serves neither society nor the Church."

Marriage equality advocates have described the letter as harmful to children, and have asked Catholic educators to let children hear both sides of the debate if they have already received the letter.

Through his work with a Brisbane charity to support the homeless, Fr Fitzpatrick has witnessed the harm suffered by the LGBTI community through discrimination.

Fr Fitzpatrick said organisations and bodies within the Christian faith have contributed significantly to sexual persecution and should respond to the issue of same-sex marriage with compassion, not further discrimination.

The priest said marriage has been an evolving as a civil and religious institution throughout history.

"It will continue to evolve and soon we will see in this country marriage laws that will include everyone."

Sources

• Star Observer
• Brisbane Times
• Image: Brisbane Times

Introducing a new approach to archdiocesan fundraising, he said some of the strategies that worked well in the past no longer work as well as they did.

"Therefore, we need to think laterally and come up with fresh approaches."

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