Diocese of Orange to Host Conference on Pope Francis’s Environmental Encyclical, Laudato Si’
This first-of-its-kind conference seeks to respond to the Pope’s call for the faithful to take the lead in addressing global climate change and protecting God’s creation.
GARDEN GROVE, CALIF., (AUG. 5, 2015) – The Most Rev. Kevin Vann, Bishop of Orange, will join hundreds of concerned citizens, theologians, and environmentalists for a conference dedicated to Pope Francis’ recent encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’.
The event, co-sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, seeks to help the community understand the Pope’s call to halt the destruction of our environment and change the culture of consumption that is destroying God’s creation.
Event Details
- What: Conference on Pope Francis’s Encyclical, Laudato Si’
- When: Saturday, August 8, 2015, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Where: Christ Cathedral, Garden Grove
- Live Stream: The conference will be broadcast nationally at www.occatholic.com/stream
A Call to Action for ‘Our Common Home’
“Our Diocese is responding in faith to the Holy Father’s call to respond to a seminal social and environmental issue of our time,” said Bishop Vann. “The recently released encyclical… builds upon the rich reflection of Catholic social teaching on creation, stewardship, ecology and environmental justice. We are blessed to invite concerned citizens, environmentalists and the faithful together to build understanding, discuss solutions and unite in our common concern for the natural world.”
Building on Decades of Church Teaching
This important conference follows decades of work by the Church to combat the objectification of the environment.
- Twenty-five years ago, Pope Saint John Paul II spoke of how respect for human dignity “extends to the rest of creation.”
- Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was nicknamed “The Green Pope” for his many statements on the environment and for transforming the Vatican to become “carbon neutral.” In 2009, he called for a “strong alliance between humankind and the earth.”
Conference Agenda and Featured Speakers
The conference will feature leading national speakers focusing on different aspects of the Papal encyclical, followed by a panel discussion.
- Welcome:
- Most Rev. Kevin Vann, Bishop of Orange
- Theological Presentation on Laudato Si’
- Sister Nadine McGuinness, CSJ, Ph.D., Systematic Theology, St. Joseph Center, Orange
- The Science Behind Climate Change
- Tony Strawa, PhD, Catholic Climate Ambassador. Dr. Strawa is a former Atmospheric Scientist with NASA.
- The Impact of Climate Change on the Poor
- Joan Rosenhauer, Catholic Relief Services, Executive Vice President, U.S. Operations
- Panel Discussion
- Featuring Sister Nadine McGuinness, Dr. Tony Strawa, Joan Rosenhauer, and Maria Arroyo, CRS Relationship Manager for the Diocese of Orange.
- Closing Prayer
- Greg Walgenbach, Director of Respect Life, Justice and Peace, Diocese of Orange