A Catholic forum yesterday suggested practical action at diocese, parish and family level to protect God's creation. The Environmental Pastoral Committee of Seoul archdiocese held the fourth Catholic Eco Forum in Seoul with the theme "Our Responsibility and Practice to Restore God's Creation." Father Stephen Yang Ki-suk, secretary of the Korean bishops' Sub Committee for Environment, told some 150 participants that a family, a parish and a diocese are good places where we can promote concrete and practical actions to preserve God's creation. Emphasizing the importance of education, Father Yang asked local dioceses to develop programs to educate Catholics theology and spirituality that help them realize 'creation and ecology' in their everyday life. He suggested Sunday school curriculum should include efforts to preserve the environment, creation spirituality should be taught during catechesis, renewal programs and small community meetings, and especially the Catholic ecological education should be included in the seminary's curriculum. Father Yang also asked parishes to establish an environment department and educate parishioners that the destruction of environment is another form of 'social crime'. He said the family should become a platform to start ecological living to restore God's creation and gave examples of reducing waste. Father Joseph Cho Hae-bung, president of the environmental committee, asked participants to play their role as stewards of God's creation in daily life. Related report Greens make SOS call to save rivers KO13809.1647
