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In a unique example of episcopal involvement in city planning and commercial development, twenty one bishops in the Archdiocese of Manila—including its archbishop, the Most Reverend Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, D.D.—have written to the president of the Philippines with their concerns for the Manila Bay Reclamation Project, a massive mixed-use development proposal that includes the construction of artificial islands in Manila Bay.

While the project has stirred concern among many sectors, the Church is expressing its own particular blend of caution.

The bishops' letter calls attention to scripture, Catholic social teachings, and the writings of Bl. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. It also echoes statements by Pope Francis that urge the Church to encourage economic models of development that do not bring excessive profit to some by bringing pain to others—or that have no regard for the natural world. Quoting the Holy Father, Archbishop Tagle writes that the bishops

appeal to you [President Simeon Benigno C. Aquino III] to be with us in responding to the call of Pope Francis. “Please, I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political...

Many thanks to Allen Ottaro for taking the time to tell us about an impressive eco-event that has just wrapped up in Kenya. Allen attended as the Executive Director of the The Conference of Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa.

Held from November 27th through the 30th, the event's theme sums up its purpose: “Faiths care for nature and protect wildlife.” Organized and run by the Commission for Pastoral and Lay Apostolate of the Kenyan Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), with sponsoring by the World Wildlife Fund, the workshop sought inter-religious dialogue through the unifying topic of protecting our planet's ecosystems, which gives us all a "unique and common responsibility.”

Catholic Ecology: What were some of the themes that emerged from this gathering?

Allen Ottaro: A wide range of themes were reflected upon and discussed during the two-day meeting. In his opening remarks at the beginning of the workshop, Archbishop of Nyeri Peter Kairo, who is also the Chairman of the Commission for Inter-religious Dialogue at the KCCB, outlined the commitment of the Catholic Church towards caring for creation.

He offered a summary of key encyclicals and documents and their contribution to the Church’s understanding and...