Laudato Si

Laudato Si’ Our care for our common home is Pope Francis’ latest encyclical. The title comes from St Francis of Assisi’s hymn of praise to the sun. It is a remarkable document ranging from scientific evidence to Teilhard de Chardin, St Francis of Assisi, the Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew and even a Sufi poet.

The Westminster Cathedral Interfaith group will be spending 2016 studying the document with the help of CAFOD’s guidance booklet and a range of exciting speakers from the different faith traditions and a humanist. It is thought that this has not been done so far so this should give all who take part a new perspective on a common concern.

 Archbishop Kevin McDonald who is the Roman Catholic bishop responsible for interfaith has said  about the encyclical that “ it is not just a matter of humanity being united in respect for creation and of the way in which that becomes a dimension of communion among Churches and religions, there is also the fact that the earth is shared with other creatures -  with plants and animals who share the gift of life and it is precisely here that other religions have much to teach us.” 

Archbishop Kevin who is the retired Archbishop of Southwark will begin the series on Jan 20. The group  meet in the Hinsley Room, Morpeth Terrace SW1P 1EP from 4 to 5 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.  All are welcome and there is no charge. The other speakers are as follows:

Feb 17 Marilyn Mason (Co-ordinator, Humanists for a better world)

March 16 Brian Cuthbertson (Head of environment and sustainability, Anglican Diocese of London)

April 20 Sheikh Ramzy (Director, Oxford Islamic Information Centre)

June 15 Carol Gould (Jewish journalist)

Oct 19 Farhan Mayer (Senior Researcher in Islamic Studies, Quilliam Foundation)

Nov 16 Roy Sutherwood (Executive Director,  Jamyang Buddhist centre)

Dec 21 Man Mohan Gupta (Vedic)

Copies of the document are available from CTS £4.95 also on the Vatican website. http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

As this is the Jubilee Year of Divine Mercy, the speakers have been invited to comment briefly if they wish on the theme of Mercy. To find the Hinsley Room stand in front of Westminster cathedral in Victoria Street and walk to your right past St Paul’s bookshop and the school and look for a fenced garden between the playing fields.   The nearest station is Victoria. Contact John Woodhouse 0790 8888 586 (by text) woodhousesopten@btinternet.com



John Woodhouse