Church leader hits out at fossil fuel ‘lunacy’ at CBD cathedral rally

Dozens of people have gathered at a central Brisbane church to rally for more action on climate change with one clergyman saying it was ‘sheer lunacy’ that fossil fuel and fossil mine projects kept being approved.

Faith leaders have gathered at St John's Cathedral to send a message to politicians about addressing the climate crisis. Picture: Peter Branjerdporn

Dozens of people have gathered at a central Brisbane church to rally for more action on climate change.

About 40 people representing the Uniting Church Australia, Anglican Church and Catholic Church as well as representatives from Muslim, Hindu, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities gathered at St John’s Anglican Cathedral.

The event was organised by the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change in a week of action across cathedrals in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Newcastle.

ARCCC Board Member Peter Moore said they were asking for a stop to climate issues being used as a “political wedge or weapon.”

“We want our kids to flourish. We want our grandchildren to flourish. We want our Torres Strait Islander people not to be affected anymore, rising sea levels. The answer is clear,” he said.

Mr Moore said they had been planning the rallies for more than a year.

“The solution is in one sense simple, and it’s and it’s really a matter of political will now,” he said.

St John’s Cathedral Anglican Church Dean Peter Catt said it was “sheer lunacy” that fossil fuel and fossil mine projects kept being approved.

“We’re hoping that this sort of thing will show the government and the opposition that there’s broad support from across the community that they should be braver,” he said.

“There’s actually a lot of potential for really good jobs for people,” he said.

Diocese of Brisbane Bishop Sarah Plowman said everyone had come together to pray for a change of heart from political leaders.

“We have come together as people of different backgrounds, different faiths, and yet we all recognise our responsibility to take care of the earth on which we live,” she said.

“We know that the task is massive and it’s urgent, and that there are still powers against what we recognise as sacred work, a blessing is a call to be inspired and a call to inspire action,” she said.

Brisbane Archdiocese Catholic Justice and Peace Commission Officer Emma Beach said they welcomed renewables and sustainable transition for families and communities.

“We’re asking them (leaders) to listen to the everyday people who are concerned about our future, concerned about the sustainability of our future, the impacts it’s going to have on particularly the most vulnerable in our community, the people in the Torres Strait, Palma Island, even the people living on the streets,” she said:

“We need to take that seriously.”

Originally published as Church leader hits out at fossil fuel ‘lunacy’ at CBD cathedral rally