KCP - Catholic Diocese of Broome

Catholic Earthcare Australia has recently published a Pastoral Letter on theGreat Barrier Reef on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Queensland. The seven Bishops of Queensland have decided to write this letter to 'emphasise our shared ecological responsibility for one of our greatest natural treasures, the Great Barrier Reef.' The Bishops have decided to do this because they say that 'care for the environment and a keener ecological awareness have become key moral issues for the Christian conscience.'
This emphasis follows on from statements by Pope John Paul II making the same case for the protection of the 'more than human' aspects of creation to have a greater and more urgent call on the Christian conscience and consequently also Christian action.
This column has brought a few of these issues to the attention of readers over the years. The pressures for development, the greater influx of tourists, the need to expand agricultural industry and the continued reliance on fossil fuels are a few of the issues facing the Kimberley in particular at this time. We might have seen the cessation of cotton trials for the time being, but be assured that this ought not to be taken as a signal to become less vigilant or complacent about the need to care for our environment. Every major decision by local, state and federal Government needs to be assessed for its long term environmental consequences. Short term financial windfalls or electoral gains that mean ecological harm that will affect future generations cannot be morally justified.
The Queensland Bishops Pastoral Letter is a timely reminder to us all, with federal and state elections in the offing, to be prepared to ask questions of all candidates about their commitment to a sustainable future for our precious, but fragile, Kimberley coast, waterways and hinterland.
Copies of the Queensland Bishops' Pastoral Letter can be ordered through the Broome Diocesan Office. Ph 9192 1060 Fax 9192 3126