An International Catholic Journal Praises “Climate Sunday” and wants Churches to hold Governments Accountable for Climate Change

The Tablet is an international Catholic journal based in London, England. On March 28, 2022, the Tablet praised the Climate Sunday Initiative, a partnership of Catholic and Protestant churches in the United Kingdom that hosted Climate Sunday services in the run-up to COP26. The Tablet also criticizes the fact that governments have done little to combat climate change since COP26, declaring, “It’s time to hold them accountable, and we believe the church has a key role to play in this.” [1]

According to the Tablet, the “aim” of the Climate Sunday Initiative “was to encourage all churches to engage” political leaders as the UK hosted the United Nations Climate Change Conference negotiations. Over “2,200 churches throughout Britain and Ireland participated in the Climate Sunday Initiative” by holding Climate Sunday services, committing to practical action and speaking up for climate justice. During the Climate Sunday Initiative, many churches “joined in prayer, worship and action.” [1]

The Climate Sunday Initiative was a call for everyone to participate in Sunday prayers and worship as well as climate action. This movement was inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, which calls for “Sunday as the day of rest, relaxation, and festivity.” In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis writes that Sunday, when “centered on the Eucharist, sheds light on the whole week and motivates us to greater concern for nature.” (Laudato Si’ #237).

The Tablet not only reflected on the ecumenical cooperation that dominated the Climate Sunday Initiative during COP26, but also expressed that world government leaders were unwilling to follow through and make the necessary changes to keep future global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius since COP26. The Tablet also made the following prediction about the church’s future role in the climate crisis:

“The journey ahead with the transition to net-zero across the world will not be easy. We are grateful that church communities across Britain and Ireland have been part of enabling the legacy of Cop26 … It has shown what is possible with collaboration across denominations and charities … members are already planning future joint action to increase churches’ collective impact on the environmental crisis in the critical decade ahead. Watch this space!” [1]

“In response to the energy crisis and the threat of climate change, more than 500 local and national church leaders have now signed a letter to PM Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak calling on them to: stop fossil fuel development, invest in green energy, set a windfall tax on oil and gas, and support those most vulnerable to the cost of living crisis and increasing energy crisis.” [1]

What are the goals of Catholics and Protestants in the United Kingdom and elsewhere? Essentially, they intend to keep pushing “Climate Sunday” through “collective” church action. Until fossil fuels are eliminated, greenhouse gases are dramatically reduced, and Sunday is restored as the universal day of rest, the same aggressive activism that was seen before COP26 will continue. The connection between Sunday rest and environmental protection is inescapable. Pope Francis’ encyclical on climate change was the motivation behind the Climate Sunday Initiative.

This movement is being backed by Rome. The Tablet proposes that churches continue to exert pressure on politicians to support their radical climate agenda. They’re attempting to resurrect their climate activism. This movement is growing stronger and more determined every day as politicians and government leaders are being pressured to enact stricter climate laws. Soon we will see more demands for laws banning certain activities on Sunday. Soon they will demand that Sunday become the day of rest for all people.

As students of Bible prophecy, we cannot help but be amazed at this prophetic development regarding the religious and political situation that the Bible declared would exist. The thirteenth chapter of Revelation describes the revival of the papacy and the development of its image of the beast. With its growing agitation of Laudato Si’ (Sunday legislation) both in the United States and around the world, Rome is leading the churches in attempting to hasten the formation of the image of the beast.

“We as a people have not accomplished the work which God has committed to us. We are not ready for the issue to which the enforcement of the Sunday law will bring us. It is our duty, as we see the signs of approaching peril, to arouse to action. Let none sit in calm expectation of the evil, comforting themselves with the belief that this work must go on because prophecy has foretold it, and that the Lord will shelter His people. We are not doing the will of God if we sit in quietude, doing nothing to preserve liberty of conscience. Fervent, effectual prayer should be ascending to heaven that this calamity may be deferred until we can accomplish the work which has so long been neglected. Let there be most earnest prayer, and then let us work in harmony with our prayers” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 713).

Sources

[1] https://www.thetablet.co.uk/blogs/1/2032/the-role-of-the-churches-in-holding-governments-to-account-on-climate-change