By Christine Dubois
\nThe Catholic Northwest Progress
\nMay 31, 2007<\/p>\n

MAY 31 – JUNE 3, 2007
\nHEALING THE EARTH<\/p>\n

Festival will address a ‘universal human crisis,’ call people to a response<\/p>\n

Derek Eisel leads work parties for Heron Habitat Helpers, cares for a stretch of stream-side habitat in Carkeek Park, and writes a blog celebrating the good work volunteers are doing in Seattle. But it’s only recently that the St. James Cathedral member has connected his work for creation with his faith.<\/p>\n

“Discovering [the Catholic tradition of] environmental stewardship has helped me to feel integrated in my whole life,” says Eisel, a software development manager at Expeditors in Seattle. “I volunteered with environmental groups, but I divorced it from my faith. When I discovered there’s a lot of writing from Catholics on the environment, it\u00a0 made me feel whole–that I was acting as a Catholic when I was pulling blackberry bushes out of parks.”<\/p>\n

Eisel, 34, is a founding member of the new St. James Eco-Justice group. The group distributed literature on Earth Day, sponsored a well-attended showing of “An Inconvenient Truth,” and has plans for a monthly “eco-night” program and a carbon audit of the cathedral.<\/p>\n

“We have a responsibility as Catholics to care for the earth,” he says. “I want Catholics to understand that the environment is part of the rich tradition of Social Justice Teaching the Catholic Church has.”<\/p>\n

On Saturday, Eisel will be doing one of the things he loves best: connecting people around the environment. He’ll lead a workshop called “Eco Conversation Cafe” at the Interfaith Creation Festival in Seattle. It’s billed as a “fun, fast way to meet and chat with a lot of people.” (Think speed dating, but without the romance).<\/p>\n

The Interfaith Creation Festival is a four-day gathering designed to inspire, empower, and move people of all faiths to action on environmental issues. The event, which takes place May 31-June 3, will include workshops, exhibits, children’s programs, and worship in Islamic, Jewish, and Christian traditions. (See schedule details below.)<\/p>\n

The ecumenical Earth Ministry is a major sponsor of the event, with support from a variety of community partners, including the Church Council of Greater Seattle, Muslim Association of Puget Sound, Temple De Hirsch Sinai, St. James Cathedral, and many others. The Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle is a community partner and is supporting the festival in accordance with Catholic teaching.<\/p>\n

“The degradation of the environment crosses all national boundaries and affects people with no regard for religious or other distinctions,” says Rabbi Lawrence Troster, rabbinic fellow at the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life and a keynote speaker at the festival. “It is a universal human crisis which demands a universal human response.”<\/p>\n

Catholic environmental teaching is rooted in three sources: Scripture, theology, and Catholic Social Justice Teaching, says Jessie Dye, program and outreach director for Earth Ministry and a member of St. Mary Parish in Seattle.<\/p>\n

The Old Testament–shared by Muslims, Jews, and Christians–is full of praise for the beauty and wonder of God’s creation. Catholic popes, bishops, and theologians have produced statements on our responsibility to care for creation. As for Catholic Social Justice Teaching, its three pillars–respect for life, the common good, and the preferential option for the poor–are all central to environmental justice.<\/p>\n

Scientific projections show it’s the world’s poorest citizens who will suffer the most from climate change, Dye notes.<\/p>\n

“The bottom line is, in Seattle we’ll survive,” she says. “Our dry season will be drier, and our wet season wetter. . . . But the band of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia where the poorest people live will be devastated.\u00a0 In the next 50 years, the worst effects of climate crisis will fall on the poorest people.”<\/p>\n

Dye is available to speak in parishes or provide educational resources. Contact her at: 206-632-2426.<\/p>\n

Interfaith Creation Festival <\/strong>
\nMay 31-June 3<\/p>\n

The Interfaith Creation Festival runs tonight through Sunday morning. Sessions take place at the Seattle Town Hall, the Seattle First Baptist Church, Temple De Hirsch Sinai, and St. Mark Episcopal Cathedral. Registration is available at the door. Cost is $10 per day.<\/p>\n

Keynote speakers are:<\/p>\n

Imam W.D. Mohammed, founder of “The Mosque Cares” and president of the World Conference on Religion and Peace
\nDr. Karen Baker-Fletcher, associate professor of theology at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas
\nRabbi Lawrence Troster, rabbinic fellow at the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life and scholar in residence for GreenFaith
\nBishop Steven Charleston, president of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass.<\/p>\n

For a complete schedule of events, see the Interfaith Creation Festival website\u00a0or call 206-632-2426.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Christine Dubois
\nThe Catholic Northwest Progress
\nMay 31, 2007
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