by Joseph Yun Li-sun

In his annual message on the Day of the Environment, the bishop of Suwon urges Catholics to stop "The ecological destruction [that] is still committed today in every corner of the world".

Seoul (AsiaNews) - The Catholic community as a whole "must take responsibility for the environment, a gift of God that must be treated as such. We must be committed to building a new society, one that is 'green', to make the Lord proud of us," wrote Mgr Matthias Ri Iong-hoon, bishop of Suwon and president of the Committee for Justice and Peace of the, in his annual message on the Day of the Environment.

Titled We are God's Co-operators Cultivating and Caring for His Garden, the message said, "The ecological destruction is still committed today in every corner of the world, resulting in a total abrogation of the cooperative relationship between God and man." Now, "The time has come for us as the ecclesiastical community to take the initiative in the construction of a 'green civilisation."

Protecting the environment is important to the South Korean Church. The country is ecologically blessed and most of the population lives in contact with nature, especially in the south, where fishing is a major source of employment.

In order to preserve the country's environment, Catholics have become involved in campaigns to raise awareness and in protest action against plans that alter the natural balance.

"All the members of the Church must concentrate strength on the construction of the 'green civilisation', a social system for the service and care of all creatures," Mgr Ri said.

"The world will be changed into a world that 'God saw how good it was' (Ge, 1:10), a divine gift, when we are united in our various efforts. We must be the hope for the ecology of the earth".

 

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