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How 'WandaVision' can teach us this Lent
… Wanda to the events of "WandaVision" — haunts so many of us all around the world. What does Lent have to do with any of this? Lenten spirituality — built upon prayer, fasting and almsgiving …
EarthBeat Weekly: Pandemic, like climate change, highlights racial injustices
… inaccurate." And in response to one of the reflections in EarthBeat's "A Climate-Conscious Lent" series, Jeannette Love recommended watching " Kiss the Ground ," a documentary about … write Krutika Pathi and Sheikh Saaliq of The Associated Press. EarthBeat's A Climate-Conscious Lent series continues, with Fr. Emmet Farrell reflecting on water, biodiversity and cities. … And …
A Climate-Conscious Lent: Record numbers of species face extinction
See:, Up to a million species on Earth are at risk of extinction because of human activities, according to a United Nations report . The reasons for the mass extinction include shrinking habitat, illegal hunting, climate change and pollution, and the Natural Resources Defense Council adds that the pace of species loss "is already tens to hundreds of times higher than it has been on average over the…, Judge:, Each year sees the disappearance of thousands of plant and animal species which we will never know, which our children will never see, because they have been lost forever. The great majority become extinct for reasons related to human activity. Because of us, thousands of species will no longer give glory to God by their very existence, nor convey their message to us. We have no such right. (…, Act:, Talk with a friend about what it will mean for future generations to live without knowing many of the species of plants and animals that are on Earth today. Consider inviting a speaker from the Audubon Society to talk about risks to bird species due to chemicals and climate change. Include creation care in your daily prayer routine or read one of the prayers at the end of Laudato Si' .
Pandemic Mass-going: 'Park church' replaces in-person and Zoom Masses, for now
… time as a retreat ." A year later, some are advising that we need not give up anything for Lent , because "we've been doing Lent all year." As a Catholic, I have thought about pandemic time as both retreat and fasting, …
A Climate-Conscious Lent: Turning down the heat in cities
See, :, "We are approaching a dual tipping point of social and environmental systems that will arguably determine the future of life-support systems on Earth," wrote members of Earth League, a global network of eminent scientists, in 2019. On the one hand, they said, young people are mobilizing for action on climate change at an unprecedented level. On the other, humans continue to push Earth's natural…, Judge, :, [W]e are conscious of the disproportionate and unruly growth of many cities, which have become unhealthy to live in, not only because of pollution caused by toxic emissions but also as a result of urban chaos, poor transportation, and visual pollution and noise. ( Laudato Si' , 44) More precious still is the service we offer to another kind of beauty: people's quality of life. ( Laudato Si', 150…, Act:, Study the climate action plan for your diocese or your city or county. Check to see if the plan focuses on affordable housing and cleaner, affordable and more accessible mass transit. Make suggestions and communicate them to diocesan, city or county planners.
A Climate-Conscious Lent: World's freshwater supplies are shrinking
See:, Two billion people — about one-quarter of the world's population — lack access to safe water in their homes, and within four years, half the people in the world may live in water-stressed areas, according to hydrologist Jay Famiglietti, who heads the Global Institute for Water Security at Canada's University of Saskatchewan. Using data from satellites, scientists have created a map showing where…, Judge:, [A]ccess to safe, drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights. ( Laudato Si' , 30) Water supplies used to be relatively constant, but now in many places demand exceeds the sustainable supply, with dramatic consequences in the short and long term. ( Laudato Si' , 28) The Scriptures…, Act, :, Imagine going about your activities for a day without any water, or having water only several days a week. Calculate your or your family's water footprint . Consider putting a timer on the showers for your family. Switch to low-flow faucets or toilets.
What's behind bishops' statement against the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
… Michael Sean Winters … Last week, the Gospel reading for Tuesday of the second week of Lent began: Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, "The scribes and the …
Little churches
… Pat Marrin … “He was speaking of the temple of his body” (John 2:22). … Third Sunday of Lent … Exod 20:1-17; 1 Cor 1:22-25; John 2:13-25 The e. e. cummings poem “I am a little church” … being, was the new temple.” https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/scripture-life/third-sunday-lent-respect-gods-dwelling By demanding respect for God’s house, Jesus was declaring that …
Third Sunday of Lent: Respect for God's dwelling
Some people might think that the purification of the temple sounds like an oxymoron, sort of like the task of wetting water. The temple should be the place of purification, not a place needing to be cleansed. Unfortunately, that attitude is at best naive and in worse scenarios it reflects the culture of "excessive deference and assumption of moral superiority" called clericalism. Pope Francis has…
Feeling weary and brokenhearted this Lent? Read this book on suffering
… be bound by a single word," Hoover writes, a great lesson for us to read, especially this Lent. I found so much goodness in this book, and I recommend it for the weary and the …
EarthBeat Weekly: Three women leading in defense of the environment
… Arizona, writes Felicia Fonseca for the Associated Press. EarthBeat's A Climate-Conscious Lent series continues, with Fr. Emmet Farrell reflecting this week on coral reefs and rising …