During the Jubilee Year 2000, our Church in Taiwan promoted “Reconciliation 2000” Movement, the spirit of “value oneself: from self-rejection to being enterprising; cherish others: from being indifferent to being concerned; treasure creation: from destroying to respecting; revere the Lord God: from being distant in our relationship to being trustful”. All these still reverberate in our life. The importance of “reconciliation” is apparent especially when the present world and Taiwan are going through environment ecology crises. As citizens of the world, citizens and followers of Christ in Taiwan, we have to lead by personal example and take on the responsibility of improving the ecological environment.

        Everything created by God is beautiful. Moreover, he made man according to his image and likeness, and even gave him authority to govern creation. “God blessed them saying: ‘be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it.’” (Gen. 1:28) From the description of Genesis, we become aware that: man is the culmination of His creation. He lets man share in his love; He gives man dominion over the world in order to share with him His power to create, to make the earth more beautiful. We also realize that: man and all things on earth are all God’s creation, all living things are equal, we need each other for existence, we need to co-exist and prosper.

         For a long time, due to the arrogance of man, his extravagance, greed and selfish desires, the gracious gifts of God have been recklessly used, destroyed, and polluted the mother earth created by God causing a serious threat to the ecological environment. This is a common offense by us, human beings. The consequence, man cannot escape from it.

         To deal with the threat to the ecological environment, the Church, even before 1972 during the United Nations Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm, has already expressed her serious concern towards environment ecology in many documents. For example: in the Second Vatican Council “Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World”, Pope Paul VI sent a letter congratulating the United Nations Stockholm Conference on Human Environment, and his encyclical entitled “The Development of Peoples” etc. During these 30 years, the Church has always actively participated in the development of the United Nations environment ecology issues. Among them is the Conference held in Stockholm held during the term of Pope Paul VI. The others were under the leadership of Pope John Paul II until the Conference in Johannesburg in 2002. The United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development, after four years of research and study, published in 1987 a book entitled “Our Common Future”. This book strongly emphasized: the influence of global economic development towards the environment. After going through continuous efforts, the “Earth Charter Initiative” was brought up in 1994. The leaders of different religious communities join its forces to do its utmost to influence the world in environment ecology issue.

         In 1990, the message of Pope John Paul II for World Day of Peace was “Peace with God the Creator, Peace with All of Creation”, emphasizing that the preservation of ecological environment is mankind’s joint responsibility. A highlight in this document is as follows:

        “In 1979, Pope John Paul II proclaimed Saint Francis of Assisi as the heavenly Patron of those who promote ecology. He offers Christians an example of genuine and deep respect for the integrity of creation. As a friend of the poor who was loved by God's creatures, Saint Francis invited all of creation - animals, plants, natural forces, even Brother Sun and Sister Moon - to give honor and praise to the Lord. The poor man of Assisi
gives us striking witness that when we are at peace with God we are better able to devote ourselves to building up that peace with all creation which is inseparable from peace among all peoples.”

         From 1995 until 1999, Pope John Paul II published three Apostolic Exhortations: Ecclesia in America, Ecclesia in Asia and Ecclesia in Oceania expressing his concern towards environment problem in these areas.

        On June 10, 2002, Pope John Paul II and Ecumenical Patriarch His Holiness Bartholomew I both signed a Common Declaration on Environmental Ethics. This Declaration has six ethical goals:

(1) To think of the world's children when we reflect on and evaluate our options for action.

(2) To be open to study the true values based on the natural law that sustain every human culture.

(3) To use science and technology in a full and constructive way, while recognizing that the findings of science have always to be evaluated in the light of the centrality of the human person, of the common good and of the inner purpose of creation. Science may help us to correct the mistakes of the past, in order to enhance the spiritual and material well being of the present and future generations. It is love for our children that will show us the path that we must follow into the future.

(4) To be humble regarding the idea of ownership and to be open to the demands of solidarity. Our mortality and our weakness of judgment together warn us not to take irreversible actions with what we choose to regard as our property during our brief stay on this earth. We have not been entrusted with unlimited power over creation; we are only stewards of the common heritage.

(5) To acknowledge the diversity of situations and responsibilities in the work for a better world environment. We do not expect every person and every institution to assume the same burden. Everyone has a part to play, but for the demands of justice and charity to be respected the most affluent societies must carry the greater burden, and from them is demanded a sacrifice greater than can be offered by the poor. Religions, governments and institutions are faced by many different situations; but on the basis of the principle of subsidiary all of them can take on some tasks, some part of the shared effort.

(6) To promote a peaceful approach to disagreement about how to live on this earth, about how to share it and use it, about what to change and what to leave unchanged. It is not our desire to evade controversy about the environment, for we trust in the capacity of human reason and the path of dialogue to reach agreement. We commit ourselves to respect the views of all who disagree with us, seeking solutions through open exchange, without resorting to oppression and domination.

        Pope Benedict XVI in his New Year 2007 message for the “World Day of Peace”, wrote: “The Human Person, the Heart of Peace”. The message is an appeal for concern towards the environment proposing the “ecology of peace”. It says: “It becomes more and more evident that there is an inseparable link between peace with creation and peace among men”. Therefore, it is necessary to respect the natural and moral structure of man endowed by God.

        In recent years the whole world, especially Taiwan our home country, the ecological environment suffered devastation, destruction that were more serious than before. Problems produced by global warming are even more imminent. We, Christians, should first wake up and repent; moreover, we should take it as a mission to make vigorous efforts to turn the tide, set the example, and influence people around.

        Since 1980, the Church in Taiwan already started to pay attention to the worsening condition of Environment Ecology. The Church invited and gathered together experts
from the country and from abroad and organized seminars several times. Moreover, the Church in Taiwan promoted “simple life”, “frugal spending”, “do small services”, “plant trees”, “water spirituality”, and other social movements. These were spread out in schools, communities, parishes, families and other communities. This year, the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference together with the Association of Major Religious Superiors of Men and Women and Christian Service Community organized together a forum on “The Church is concerned with Environment Ecology”. Hsinchu diocese also organized a conference on “Treasure the earth; together create a beautiful and good homeland”. At the same time, together with other Christian Churches a symposium on “Simple Life and Belief” was organized in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Taitung and other places.

         Our government is doing its utmost to protect the environment, especially through the three “Rs” (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Movement. The Movement is quite thorough and comprehensive and it has fairly good results. For example, the government environment protection policy: of “throwing away to recycling”, and their plan of reducing to 75% the production of solid products wastes until 2020. At the same time, they have set the year 2020 to reach the goal of recycling 85% of industrial and commercial wastes. For all the efforts done by the government, we, the Catholic Church express our high affirmation and appreciation. We would like to express to the government our concern, we hope that the government policies strengthen the environment education consciousness, formulate ecological environment protection basic measures, and truly carry out “environment justice”, that is “environment fundamental law” Article 2 # 2: “Sustainable development refers to satisfying the contemporary demands, at the same time, not to sacrifice the development of future generation and the satisfaction of their needs”.

        We encourage the faithful to begin from oneself, practice moderation, simple, plain, and frugal life; not to throw rubbish as one pleases and reduce trash. Control
food and drink, save water and electricity, as much as possible, travel by public transportation, not to waste any natural and energy resources, not to destroy, not to contaminate ecological environment. Moreover, the Church advocates the 4Rs movement, the so-called 4Rs are: (1) Refuse. Refuse to use disposable tableware that create pollution, refuse goods that are excessively packed, refuse to waste food etc., refuse excess and waste. This is the virtue of “moderation”. (2) Reduce (3) Reuse (4) Recycle, and in addition, promote. Stay often close to nature, care for the whole creation. Establish personal environment spirituality. From inner love, respond to the love of God who created all things on earth. This is the spirit of poverty Jesus emphasized, because “blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3). This is also the great love of St. Francis of Assisi, patron of environment ecology.

        Each parish can have dialogue and collaboration with neighboring Christian Churches and other religions regarding environmental protection issues. Urge various religious followers to start environment protection from the heart, initiate movements of repentance, penance, fasting, self-sacrifice to get rid of greed; with a humble and grateful heart, respect and value creation so that followers of various religions may become leaders of environment ecology in their respective communities and in the whole society.

        Jesus once said to his disciples: “That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and how you are to clothe it. For life means more than food, and the body more than clothing. Think of the ravens. They do not sow or reap; they have no storehouses and no barns; yet God feeds them. And how much more are you worth than the birds! Can any of you, for all his worrying, add a single cubit to his span of life? If the smallest things, therefore, are outside your control, why worry about the rest? Think of the flowers; they never have to spin or weave; yet, I assure you, not even Solomon in all his regalia was robed like one of these. Now if that is how God clothes the grass in the field which is there today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he look after you, you men of little faith! But you, you must not set your hearts on things to eat and things to drink; nor must your worry. It is the pagans of this world who set their hearts on all these things. Your Father well knows you need them. No; set your hearts on his kingdom, and these other things will be given you as well. There is no need to be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.” (Lk 12:22-32) Jesus used nature to teach so we can see God as the source of beauty and that as Creator he values and protects of all living things. Moreover, Jesus tells us that the real worth of our life is in seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness. In the Lord’s Prayer, “Your kingdom come… on earth as it is in heaven” He wants us to realize in a concrete way the mission entrusted to us by God which is to govern the world, make the existing world a more beautiful and a better place.

       As Christians, may our Heavenly Mother Mary be our model how to live a simple family life. A joyful, simple family is a guarantee of love, a blessing from God. Let us beseech Holy Mary to accompany us to learn how to be concerned about environment ecology.

       May the Lord bless, protect everyone, and grant you peace. May you receive more graces this New Year!

All bishops of the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference:

Most Rev. John Hung (Taipei diocese), CRBC President                                                                 Most Rev. Thomas Chung (Auxiliary bishop - Taipei diocese)
Most Rev. John Baptist Lee (Hsinchu diocese)
Most Rev. Martin Su (Taichung diocese)
Most Rev. Bosco Lin (Tainan diocese)
Most Rev. Peter Liu (Kaohsiung diocese)
Most Rev. Philip Huang (Hualien diocese)
Most Rev. Joseph Tseng (Auxiliary bishop – Hualien)
Rev. Fr. John Baptist Wu (Administrator – Chiayi diocese)