New Zealand's Bishops Statement

In a statement released Sept. 8 for the national church's Social Justice Week, Sept. 10-16, the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference said that "the existence of extreme poverty and environmental destruction in our world are not natural forces, not acts of God, but result from human behavior."

"That behavior is driven by values, priorities and decisions which do not see human life as a paramount concern," the bishops said.

Noting that the degradation of the environment also represents an economic or "poverty crisis," the New Zealand bishops stressed that "its public face is the suffering of the poor . at a time when accumulation of wealth and material goods has never occupied our attention more."

"That is why," the bishops said, "we see it primarily as a spiritual or moral crisis."

The New Zealand bishops acknowledged that science and technology "have brought many blessings to human existence," including mankind's ability to "meet basic human needs."

"But the benefits of these advances have been spread unjustly, often with an adverse effect upon the world's most vulnerable populations. The existence of extreme poverty and environmental destruction in our world are not natural forces, nor acts of God, but result from human behavior," the bishops said.

"What does the commandment "Thou shall not kill" mean when 20 percent of the world's population consumes resources at a rate that robs poorer nations and future generations of what they need to survive? What does it mean to respect life when 30,000 people die each day from poverty? What does it mean to be stewards of the earth when up to half of all living species are expected to become extinct in the next 200 years?" the bishops asked.

The bishops pointed to climate changes, rising sea levels, greater intensity of storms and natural disasters and the resulting adverse effects on food and water supplies and predictions that "there may be a million environmental refugees" from the inability of many Pacific Islands being unable to sustain human life as signs of the ecological crisis mankind faces.

"As in other parts of the world, those most suffering the consequences of climate change are those who have played the least part in contributing to it," the bishops lamented.

"People we may never meet, as well as those who are not yet born, will benefit or suffer as a result of the decisions we make and take in New Zealand and in the rest of the developed world," they said.

Protection of the environment requires those in the developed world "moderating our desires to consume and own more, which create lifestyles that bring death to millions of other people," the bishops said, adding that consumerism, global environmental change and suffering in the developing world are inextricably linked.

The bishops called upon individual Catholics, parishes, Catholic schools, religious communities and church organizations to respond with "individual and collective acts of selflessness . of self sacrifice for the greater good, of self denial in the midst of convenient choices, of choosing simpler lifestyles in the midst of a consumer society."

They pointed to using less energy, buying locally made goods which require less transportation, avoiding water waste and excess packaging as "simple steps" that can make a difference.

"Our faith and our religious tradition have much to offer the world at this time, including the importance of simplicity, and of learning to give up some things that we want, so others may have what they need," the New Zealand bishops said.

"Our understanding that we are stewards of God's creation, our solidarity with the poor, and our respect for the common good make the issue of environmental justice the responsibility of every person, the bishops concluded.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand's Director Michael Smith said sea rises in the Pacific and an increase in weather related disasters have helped the nation's Catholic social-justice agency become more aware of the strong links between poverty and environmental degradation.

Caritas has produced a resource kit, including the Social Justice Week booklet entitled "Renew the Face of the Earth," which considers some of the many pressing environmental justice issues in the light of Catholic social teaching. This booklet has been sent to New Zealand's parishes, youth organizations and Catholic primary schools.

"Our Catholic tradition brings our awareness of being stewards of God's creation, solidarity with the poor, and habits of self-sacrifice for the common good," Smith said.