Resources for Continued Reflection on the Oil Spill

Below we are including links from agencies that are continuing to assist people suffering the affects of this disaster. You will also find links to some resources that were developed during the time the oil was still actively spilling into the Gulf, but that are easily adapted to encourage continued reflection and prayer  on our responsibility to creation.

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans Shares Stories of Families Along the Gulf who are still Suffering from the Oil Spill in the Gulf — September 2010 (Video File)
  Media coverage on the spill has all but stopped. But families in need still need our aid. The sharp decrease in demand for Gulf seafood continues to imperil our coastal communities. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans is still running five Oil Spill Relief Centers. Together with Second Harvest Food Bank and Entergy, Catholic Charities has developed a project to “share the stories” of families they’ve met at their centers who are still suffering from this disaster. Watch the video and consider making a donation to help those still in need.
• Reflections & Prayers on the Oil Spill from the Franciscan Action Network (Multi-Media)
  The Franciscan Action Network (FAN) has set-up a webpage to help Francisan communities and others in solidarity with Gulf oil spill victims to gather for prayer and penance:
  • Bulletin texts on a Franciscan approach to the oil spill
  • Petitions for Mass or the Liturgy of the Hours
  • Reflection for A Prayer Service of Reparation and Restoration by William Dinges, Ph.D, Professor of Religious Studies at CUA:
    …a reality that ought to give pause to a deeper consideration of our concepts of solidarity and community.  Lost in much of the discussion and outrage over “the event” in the Gulf of Mexico is what this means for people of faith: What is an appropriate religious response to the inferno of the Deep Water Horizon rig and the oily devastation released by it?
  • Reflection on The Franciscan Vision and the Oil Spill by Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM:
    As we look at the images of the devastation from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, could Christ be calling each one of us by name, and urging us to rebuild God’s house that is being destroyed?
  • The Oil Spill Disaster: An Intern Perspective by Maria Balata, FAN Summer Intern
  • Ways to Respond to the Gulf Oil Spill flyer
• Resources on Oil Spill and Catholic Social Teaching from Education for Justice at the Center of Concern (Printable Guide in PDF)
• Catholic Coaltion on Climate Change Interview with Catholic Charities Director Rob Gorman from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux (Audio File)
  Gulf Oil Spill “Worse than Katrina”
  In a Catholic Coalition on Climate Change exclusive conference call with Rob Gorman, director of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, listeners learnedabout the immediate and long-term impacts of the oil spill for Gulf Coast communities, including a sobering account of the broader implications and uncertainties for the people, economy and environment. Because of these adverse economic and environmental consequences and ambiguities, Mr. Gorman believes that this man-made disaster is far worse than the relatively more predictable destruction caused by hurricanes. When asked how Catholics can respond to the disaster, he suggested  contributing to the relief effortsspearheaded by the Catholic Community and taking the St. Francis Pledge.Read the news story from Catholic News Service, “Catholic Charities director: Spill could be ‘worse than hurricanes,’” about the interview with Rob Gorman.