Cebu cardinal vows to fight for environment

(January 5, 2010) Climate change activists in the Philippines have backed a cardinal’s decision to organize a Church-based environmental protection group. Cardinal-Archbishop Ricardo Vidal of Cebu said he plans to set up a group that would develop an environmental education and action plan for his central Philippines archdiocese. He would then call on parishes and the local government to collaborate in implementing the program. "Parish priests can cooperate with mayors and vice mayors," he said. The local Church would also support activists protesting against pollution caused by development projects in Cebu archdiocese, the cardinal told the media after a New Year's Eve vigil Mass. In his homily at Mass the cardinal focused on climate change and the need to care for God's creation in keeping with Pope Benedict XVI’s message for this year’s World Day of Peace on New Year’s Day. Environmental lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos welcomed Cardinal Vidal's decision saying her advocacy group, Global Legal Action on Climate Change, would offer to train parish priests on various environment-related laws. The group leads the fight against reported coal-ash dumping by power generating firms in Naga City, Cebu province. She called on Cebu Catholics to adopt a more environment-friendly lifestyle and reduce energy consumption.