Archbishop John: Care for Creation and the defence of life are inseperable
Archbishop John issues Pastoral Message on the Occasion of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and the March for Life 2026
In a Pastoral Message issued to parishes for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and the March for Life, Archbishop John Wilson explains that these two occasions "concern different questions, but they arise from the same truth of our faith: all that exists comes from God."
That is why, he asks, "in defending the dignity of the natural world, how can we not defend human life when it is at its smallest, most dependent, and most defenceless?"
The Archbishop reminds us that "creation is a gift we receive from God. We do not worship creation; we worship the Creator". He writes:
Creation groans because our world bears the consequences of sin. When our relationship with God becomes disordered, so do our relationships with one another."
The greed, waste, violence and selfishness that push us away from God, Archbishop John warns, "not only harm creation, but also have damaging consequences for people who are poor and vulnerable and, so often, amongst the first to suffer".
As Christians, Archbishop John makes clear, "we cannot speak seriously about safeguarding creation whilst treating human life as disposable". He continues:
"Our concern for human dignity does not end at birth. The love of Christ and the love of our neighbour require us to defend human life, to protect human dignity, and to work for justice and peace, exercising proper care for the world in which God has placed us. These concerns belong together because they spring from our obedience to the one God who is Creator and Lord."
You can join Archbishop John on the March for Life on Saturday 5 September, at 1.30pm at the Emmanuel Centre, as we show the world that we are a people of life.
