How guilty to do you feel when you forget to recycle your rubbish from lunch, or accidentally put the wrong material out for the recycling company? If you suffer from Eco-Guilt Syndrome, there just may be a cure. Dom Anthony Sutch, a Benedictine Monk from Suffolk, is offering people the chance to confess their eco-sins.

At the Waveney Greenpeace festival this weekend, Brother Sutch will be on hand to hear people’s tales of over consumption and waste.

Thought to be the first confessional of its kind, the eco-fessional is made from recycled materials, such as doors and other found objects. Further, Sutch will be decked out in a specially designed robe made from recycled curtains.

While the good father has given up his weekend to promote environmental sustainability, his commitment to the environment extends much further than just a two-day jaunt at a festival. In fact, Sutch has taken his commitment to the environment so far, that some of his parishioners have started to complain. In an interview with The Times he explains, "I try not to turn on my heating but people come and stay with me and demand it. I get attacked for having a cold church. I have cut my electricity bill by 30 per cent." It is at this point that one must ask, "which is worse, a cold church or a wasteful congregation?" Obviously, Dom Anthony Sutch prefers the former.

While the first religiously motivated confessional of its kind, the eco-fessional is said to be loosely modeled after Earthly Sins, a popular sustainability campaign. As the people at Earthly Sins put it, their booth is a "non-judgmental environmental advice installation”aimed at getting people to sign a pledge promising to reduce energy consumption and engage in socially sustainable practices, like ethical banking. Although Earthly Sins made its first debut at the Glastonbury festival, it has since established quite an impressive presence on the net.

The Earthly Sins website is a fun and interactive way to become environmentally pious. The site includes a Temple of Sustainability, where you can learn about ways to live a more eco-friendly life, confess your eco-sins and meet other disciples.

So, whether you are a devout Catholic, a staunch atheist, or something in between, it looks as though there is a way for everyone to find environmental salvation. Thanks to people like Dom Anthony Sutch and groups like Earthly Sins, we have new creative and interactive ways to view our commitment to environmental sustainability and that is truly a blessing.

Image Source: Earthly Sins