Green In Vestments
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09. 1.07
This writer did a double-take on news that:- "Pope Benedict XVI (pictured) is taking a new step in the Vatican's environmental campaign, leading a youth festival this weekend where participants will use recycled prayer books, biodegradable plates and backpacks made from reused nylon. About 300,000 young Roman Catholics are expected to attend the festival in Loreto, home of Italy's most famous Marian shrine, in a run-up to next year's World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia."
But then again, the Vatican already had it's carbon footprint reduction SPV and LED chops down. So why not invest in the next generations?
"The festival coincides with the church's "Save Creation Day" and has a decidedly eco-friendly theme. Each participant will be given a knapsack made of recycled nylon containing a hand-cranked battery charger, three sets of biodegradable plates and three bags for recycling trash. Prayer books for Benedict's Sunday Mass are made of recycled paper, hydrogen cars will be on display and trees will be planted in areas of southern Italy recently devastated by forest fires to make up for the carbon-dioxide emissions generated by the festival, organizers said.""
"...The head of the Italian bishops' conference, Monsignor Angelo Bagnasco, told Vatican Radio that it was the responsibility of the church to teach its young about caring for the planet."
Via:: WTOP and Associated Press, and MSNBC. Image credits:: MSNBC and Wikipedia, "The Green Pope" - Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople
Speaking of those in vestments...what fabrics are used? Anyone know?
The Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I, who has been characterized as "the green Pope".
last week german newspapers reported another green related step of the vatican. the vatican now is in the cheap flights business. it chartered two Boeing 737 of Mistral Air to offer cheap and subsidized flights to the most important places of pilgrimage. mistral airlines expects 150.000 flying pilgrims in the first year of business.
"Do less Evil" is a better lesson than none at all, I guess, but when is he going to start actually giving a damn at all for creation and fix the Church's teachings on birth control? The hypocrisy is seriously messed up!