Jesuits attack divisive politicians and pledge action on climate change

The Society of Jesus has named climate change, migrant rights and social exclusion among its priorities for the next decade, and says it wants to promote the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius as an alternative to modern secularism.

In a message on its website the Society hits out at political leaders who kindle hatred and erect walls between rich and poor, and walls between “those at home and those who have to migrate”.

Fr General Arturo Sosa SJ, Superior General of the Society, on 19 February announced the four new Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs), or priorities, that will guide the Jesuits over the coming decade. The Preferences are the culmination of a two year process of discernment within the Society. The Apostolic Preferences are set in response to what the Order interprets as calls to action by the Holy Spirit.

In a new section of its website dedicated to unpacking the Preferences the Jesuits state that in the modern world, “we are constantly being bombarded with images and options and there is almost no space to find our true self or to let God find us.

“We often don’t know or drown out our own desires, our passions and a sense of our true vocation. Without the wisdom of the Spirit we can easily have a sense that we are not in charge of our own destiny, puppets at the mercy of the moment.”

Jesuit spirituality, the Society suggests, can help to counter this modern sense of overwhelm by teaching centuries-old techniques of prayer, reflection and discernment.

In a section on accompanying excluded peoples the Society states: “We see the gap between rich and poor widen across the world and we hear weekly reports of hundreds perishing as they try to reach a new home.

“Political leaders have kindled hatred and erected walls between rich and poor, young and old, those at home and those who have to migrate. The reality of children who have been abused, physically or sexually, is also painfully and personally present to us.”

Its vision was of a “conversion in our own [the SJ’s] hearts”, that would result in its communities becoming more hospitable and open. It intends to direct its universities around the world to study solutions to economic and political imbalance and to promote reconciliation and social justice in all its work.

On care for the environment, the Jesuits say that Creation is crying out today “as never before”. The Society continues: “Today’s environmental crisis is impacting in a particular way on the poor and vulnerable. Action is needed urgently by Christians and by all people of good will. Whole nations and peoples need an ecological conversion if we are to be honest custodians of this wonderful planet. We can still change the course of history.”

It says that part of its response will be through universities and schools, and also calls on Christians to take action themselves by recycling, conserving energy and water, and buying eco-friendly products.

Finally the Jesuits note that young people today face enormous challenges, including “the uncertainty of relationship in a digital era, diminishing opportunities for work, the growth of political violence, discrimination, degradation of the environment.”

British Provincial Fr Damian Howard SJ said, “These four themes provide us with a focus which will help us to take decisions about the mission of the Jesuits in Britain. They reflect this moment of history in all its urgency. They also bear the hallmark of Pope Francis, whose desire to accompany people as they grow into a mature discerning faith is expressed in all his teaching. The Jesuits in Britain have already launched a number of initiatives to engage with young people and to help the Church to deepen its commitment to integral ecology. But there is always more we can do and these preferences call us to prayer and action.”

In the British Province each Jesuit community held a meeting to discuss the preferences and fed back from these meetings to the European Conference of Provincials. In January 2019 the extended General Council reflected on the results received from all Conferences and international ministries.  Finally, the Superior General presented his own discernment to Pope Francis who then gave the Jesuits the four preferences the Society now has.