Cathedral vigils to urge divestment from fossil fuels

Campaigners at Newcastle Cathedral

Catholics held prayer vigils at Cathedrals across England and Wales on Sunday 5 March calling on those diocese that still hold investment in fossil fuel companies to divest from them as soon as possible and for all diocese to commit to having no future investments in fossil fuels. Vigils outside Westminster, Salford, Clifton, Liverpool Metropolitan, Newcastle, Shrewsbury, and Wrexham Cathedrals were part of a national day of protest, organised by Christian Climate Action at both Catholic and Church of England Cathedrals and Minsters over investments in fossil fuels. As well as praying they carried banners and posters and handed out leaflets explaining to peoples attending for mass why they were there. They were able to talk to Cathedral clergy, including the Bishop of Salford, about their concerns.

In the last five years, most major denominations in the UK have divested, or committed to divest, from fossil fuel companies because these companies are fuelling the climate emergency. Every Catholic diocese in Scotland has divested. In addition, nine Catholic diocese in England are not holding fossil fuel investments and have made a full divestment commitment not to return to holding these investments. However, at least 10 English Catholic diocese are still investing in fossil fuels and a number more have yet to commit to not to return to holding fossil fuel investments in the future. The protesters want diocese to instead put their money into investments which will promote a just and sustainable future such as renewable technologies.

Clare Cooper, in Shrewsbury, said: "Profiting from fossil fuel investments goes against Catholic social teaching. Pope Francis was clear about this in his 2015 Encyclical Laudato Si, and more recently in the film The Letter. The Church cannot go on contributing to the irreparable harm that is being done to indigenous cultures by investing in fossil fuels. Such investments are condemning millions of our brothers and sisters to misery and death, and destroying the resources we all rely on to live and thrive."

Susan Ward, in Liverpool, said: "I wake each morning to the dread of what my beautiful grandchildren will have to deal with. I have joined Christian Climate Action as a Catholic. My fellow non-catholic Christians envy the leadership we have in the Pope regarding our Common Home. It's incredible that 13 dioceses in England and Wales are still putting money into these industries."

Karin Weetman, in Newcastle, said: "It is important to acknowledge that many Catholic dioceses have already ended their investment in fossil fuels, but to secure the necessary rapid transition to green and sustainable energy sources, every diocese must make clear that the fossil fuel era is ended by saying publicly that it commits to not reinvesting."

In May 2021 the International Energy Agency announced that exploration for new sources of fossil fuels needed to end that year if we want to meet the global goal of net zero emissions by 2050. All major oil companies are continuing to explore for and develop new fossil fuel reserves.

The vigils came ahead of The Big One - a protest happening outside Parliament from the 21st to the 24th April 2023, to demand a fair society and a citizen-led end to the fossil fuel era. Christian Climate Action is inviting everyone to join The Big One protest.

See more pictures on ICN's Facebook page.