Opinion Articles

SOUL MATTERS: New Year resolutions need all-year actions
By Most Reverend Philip Wilson

As we begin a New Year it’s natural for us to take a few moments to make some resolutions about what we might do to make our world a better place this year. Perhaps your resolution involves addressing an issue of importance to your own life – losing weight, quitting smoking, getting more exercise. Fabulous! But what if someone told you that by making a resolution to live more simply, and then actually following through on your resolution with concrete action, you could contribute in a real way to world peace? World peace – now that’s a New Year’s Resolution.

New Year’s Eve celebrations, with their fireworks and exuberant partying, are a great reminder of just what an affluent country we live in. And while we can enjoy such celebrations, they can also give us pause to recall that human lifestyles, particularly in affluent nations, more than ever affect the capacity of the poor to live in security and peace. In a world troubled by war, hunger, and terrorism, it is important for people of good will to take stock and consider ways in which peace can be achieved.

This year in his World Day of Peace Message (celebrated on January 1), Pope Benedict XVI made an impassioned plea to all people, particularly those living in affluent nations, to care for the earth, and to be good stewards of creation. In less religious terms, the Pope is asking us, as human beings of good will to consider how our lifestyles might affect those in poorer nations.

Pope Benedict has earned his reputation as the “Green Pope” by installing solar panels atop a Vatican audience hall and signing an agreement to make the Vatican Europe’s first carbon-neutral state.

Interestingly, the Pope’s letter, “If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation” was released early to coincide with the Copenhagen summit. Sadly, as reflected in the outcomes of Copenhagen, international consensus on caring for the earth remains elusive.

Pope Benedict’s letter used forceful language to reason that in times of international conflict, war, terrorism and hunger, peace will never be achieved as long as people go without. Peace is made impossible by a lack of justice for those living in countries which may be reduced to nothing if action is not taken.

Human relationships with the natural environment have much to do with how we relate to one another. Indeed, Benedict is calling for a change of lifestyle – a lifestyle of simplicity. Some have used the phrase “live simply, so that others can simply live”. How we relate to the environment more than ever before effects those who have little control over their circumstances.

In this letter, Pope Benedict describes the earth in terms of a “covenant” or a sacred agreement between humans and the environment – articulating that how we treat the earth should reflect how it was lovingly created by God.

The imminent threat to island nations such as Tuvalu and Kiribati requires a genuine and serious commitment. Like Pope Benedict, I hope all people may hear and heed the dangerous and devastating impact of excessive consumption and lack of regard for our environment. Sadly, Copenhagen’s outcomes will not be enough, but what simple resolution can we make in 2010 to cultivate peace and protect creation?

Born in Cessnock and ordained as priest for the Diocese of Maitland (now known as Maitland-Newcastle), the Most Reverend Philip Wilson is the Archbishop of Adelaide and the President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. This article is submitted by the Churches Media Association www.cmahunter.com.au.


*This article was published in The Herald, 11th January 2010