Card. Tagle urges Indonesian bishops to engage other faiths to care for creation

Laudato sì is "the moral conscience of the Catholic Church on how to behave toward Earth, a living environment for humans, a gift of God who creates life for all people”, Philippine Card. Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila told the bishops of Indonesia.  The Cardinal who is president of Caritas Internationalis, was addressing a seminar of members of the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) on Pope Francis environmental encyclical “Laudato Si” on the Care of Our Common Home.  The cardinal encouraged Indonesia's Catholic community to be active in spreading the message of the encyclical, especially through interfaith working groups, whose leaders have a large following among the country's population.  The Archbishop of Manila cited his experience in the Philippines as an example, where some non-Catholic religious leaders have praised the content of Laudato sì and pledged their support in spreading the Pope’s message to their communities.  Card. Tagle went on to say that the encyclical requires everyone to make gestures of friendship toward Earth and pushes those in decision making roles (politicians, lawmakers, businessmen and members of the government) to identify sustainable development that will socially and economically benefit the next generation. "What we decide today - said Tagle - will have effects on future generations and for this reason we are called to spread a moral lifestyle, which invests in human development".

The archbishop of Manila said that the rationale of the document is Ignatian, based on experience (seeing), reflection (judgment), action and evaluation (celebration). In reference to action, the cardinal encouraged the bishops to take action to reduce violence, selfishness, exploitation and commit themselves to the protection of the weakest.  (Source: UCAN)