The Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology

Media

ORCIE response to Catholic Register opinion piece, “Naïve nuns play squarely into Hamas’ hands”

Filed Under: Communications, Media

The Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology (ORCIE), representing over 20 Catholic religious communities in Canada, has issued a response to the opinion piece published in The Catholic Register on July 12, titled “Naïve nuns play squarely into Hamas’ hands.”

The article misrepresents the intent and integrity of a letter signed by many ORCIE members, addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney, which called for humanitarian aid to Gaza and an end to ongoing violence.

Our response letter expresses deep disappointment over the decision to publish such a dismissive and divisive opinion, and reaffirms the faithful and justice-rooted witness of religious congregations calling for peace.

It is in this spirit that we offer our complete support for the letter sent by religious congregations to Prime Minister Carney. The opinion piece that you have chosen to publish is deeply insulting to the religious congregations and to all of those globally who are calling for a ceasefire and for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including Pope Leo XIV, UN Secretary General António Guterres, and many others.” ~ Darlene O’Leary

READ THE FULL LETTER HERE:

ORCIE Letter to Catholic Register – July 18, 2025Download

ORCIE at the G7 Jubilee People’s Forum: Connecting the Dots on Debt Cancellation and Climate Justice

Filed Under: Advocacy, Communications, Media, News, Take Action

From July 12–15, ORCIE was proud to join voices from across the globe at the G7 Jubilee People’s Forum in Calgary, where Chair of the Board Sue Wilson and Executive Director Genevieve Gallant represented our shared commitment to integral ecology and economic justice.

Held in the days leading up to the G7 Summit in Alberta, the Jubilee Peoples’ Forum in Calgary brought together people from across Canada to explore how debt cancellation, financial system reform, development issues, climate change, and ecological debt are deeply connected—and why, as Sue Wilson reflects, these challenges must be addressed concurrently.

ORCIE, along with KAIROS, Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, Citizens for Public Justice, and the Canadian Council of Churches came together at the Jubilee People’s Forum to deepen our understanding of the interconnectedness of global debt, ecological harm, climate justice, and systemic inequality.

“Who Owes Whom?”: Understanding the Debt Trap

As Development and Peace vice-president Tashia Toupin aptly put it, the issue of debt can feel overwhelming—politically, economically, culturally, and ideologically. Yet the Forum helped to demystify these dynamics, showing how unjust debt, particularly in the Global South, is both a result of and contributor to structural inequality. ORCIE Chair Sue Wilson helped unpack these complex relationships through a lens of integral ecology.

“At the rally, a bystander came up to me and said, ‘Your group is concerned about a lot of issues.’ I looked at the signs the people around me were holding: Turn Debt into Hope. Climate Justice. Reform the Financial System. People before Profit. Who owes whom? Where he saw different issues, I saw the multifaceted and interconnected aspects of the Jubilee Debt Campaign.” — Sue Wilson, CSJ

Sue emphasized how unsustainable debt in the Global South is often driven by:

  • Global economic shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine;
  • Predatory lending practices by private financial institutions;
  • International systems that force countries to prioritize debt repayments over development;
  • Lack of global rules on responsible borrowing and lending.

Debt cancellation, then, is not charity. It’s a form of justice—especially when viewed through the lens of ecological debt, the concept that the Global North countries, including Canada, owes a climate and resource debt to the South and Indigenous communities due to centuries of exploitation and emissions.

“This is not charity, but a commitment made in the 2015 Paris Agreement which states that countries must fund global climate actions according to their responsibility for the climate crisis and their ability to pay. Countries like Canada (wealthy, large historic climate polluter, and a key producer of crude oil and gas) must contribute our fair share towards addressing the impacts of climate change in the Global South (Canada’s Fair Share Platform).”
— Sue Wilson, CSJ

Read Sue’s full analysis here: Connecting the Dots: Jubilee People’s Forum and The Debt Cancellation Campaign | Sue Wilson

Let us continue connecting the dots—between faith, finance, and the future—and transforming systems that exploit into systems that heal.

Jubilee People’s Forum: A Voice Amid Global Headlines

Filed Under: Activities, Media, Take Action

Media coverage of the G7 events was largely dominated by pressing geopolitical developments, including Trump’s arrival and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Yet ORCIE’s message at the People’s Forum was present and reflected a growing call to recognize ecological debt and lift the burden on low-income countries.

Coverage from The Catholic Register captured our participation in a spirited public demonstration alongside global partners, and CTV News documented the grassroots mobilization that unfolded in Calgary.

A key highlight was deepened collaboration with the Calgary Interfaith Council, a 30-year-strong alliance of diverse religious communities. This relationship opens new pathways for ORCIE to expand its interfaith advocacy work on economic and climate justice.

Hope in Action: A Global Movement

The Forum offered more than analysis—it fostered relationships, re-energized commitments, and created space for a shared vision. As our partners at Development and Peace beautifully reflected in their post-event summary, “Hope was created, nurtured, and shared” through this collective gathering. Their thoughtful reflection captures the spirit of the Jubilee People’s Forum and the momentum it generated.

📖 Read the full reflection by Development and Peace: Creating Hope at the G7 Jubilee People’s Forum

Read and watch more about the Jubilee People’s Forum and the G7 in the media: 
📰 The Catholic Register – March to protest G7 leaders
📰 CTV News Calgary – Protesters Gather at Designated Zones

Let us continue connecting the dots—between faith, finance, and the future—and transforming systems that exploit into systems that heal.

ORCIE Presents Position Paper and Gathers Support for Jubilee 2025 Petition at St. Paul University Eco-Fair

Filed Under: Activities, Media, Take Action

On March 25th and 26th, ORCIE was grateful for the opportunity to participate in St. Paul University’s Ecological Fair, an inspiring event that brought together students, faculty, and organizations committed to sustainability. The fair began with a screening of Princess Mononoke, followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion that drew connections between the film’s themes and today’s ecological and socio-political challenges.

ORCIE’s Executive Director, Genevieve Gallant, and Advocacy and Communications Officer, Sasquia Antúnez Pineda, collaborated with Le Centre Oblate’s Executive Director, Tara Hurford, offering support and encouragement to the student organizers. ORCIE was honored to support the fair’s success and encourage student leadership.

During the fair, Sasquia represented ORCIE on the panel “Future Leaders of Sustainability: Organizations Making an Impact”, presenting ORCIE’s position paper titled “Linking Ecological Debt to Global Financial Exploitation“. This presentation highlighted ORCIE’s advocacy within the Jubilee 2025 campaign, focused on the topic of ecological debt, and emphasized the urgent need for debt cancellation of low-income countries and ecological justice.

In addition to the panel, ORCIE hosted a booth where attendees were invited to learn more about the Jubilee campaign and sign the petition calling for global financial and ecological debt justice. The event fostered valuable conversations, raising awareness about ORCIE’s mission and ongoing advocacy efforts.

The fair also provided opportunities to expand ORCIE’s network. Notably, the Ottawa Peace & Environment Resource Centre (PERC) invited ORCIE to contribute an article for their publication, further amplifying our message. Additionally, Sustainable Eastern Ontario extended an invitation to a networking meeting, offering a platform to exchange strategies and strengthen partnerships in the pursuit of ecological justice.

We are grateful to St. Paul University for hosting this impactful event and to all those who engaged with ORCIE’s work.  ORCIE celebrates the initiative of SPU students in bringing this event to life, demonstrating their spirit and dedication to sustainability. 

Together, we continue to build momentum for the Jubilee 2025 campaign and advocate for a just and sustainable future!