A Catholic Way of Being Green: We Need a Human Ecology

4/29/2012

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belief in the true God our efforts are in ultimately fruitless, in fact not only fruitless, but they bear poisonous fruit if the Church's magisterium expresses grave misgivings about notions of the environment inspired by ecocentrism and biocentrism, it is because such notions eliminate the difference of identity and worth between the human person and other living things.

"In the name of a supposedly egalitarian vision of the "dignity" of all living creatures, such notions end up abolishing the distinctiveness and superior role of human beings. They also open the way to a new pantheism tinged with neo-paganism, which would see the source of man's salvation in nature alone, understood in purely naturalistic terms."

The reports tried to fit the Pope's letter into a simplistic "green" template, demonstrating they had not read it. In that letter, and in his address to those ambassadors, the Pope repeated themes developed in his Encyclical Letter entitled Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth). Those themes are a part of Catholic Social teaching. They are found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and have their roots in the Bible and the Christian Tradition.

The Pope called for an "integral human development" which recognizes the centrality of the human person and the primacy of our relationships with one another in family and society. He underscored the truth that creation is a gift, given to human persons by a God of love who entrusts us with responsibility for one another - and therefore for the goods which promote our human flourishing. We all have a responsibility for one another. We need to live together as good stewards of creation, recognizing the need first for a "human ecology".

Here is another excerpt from the 2009 letter: "The Church has a responsibility towards creation, and she considers it her duty to exercise that responsibility in public life, in order to protect earth, water and air as gifts of God the Creator meant for everyone, and above all to save mankind from the danger of self-destruction. The degradation of nature is closely linked to the cultural models shaping human coexistence: consequently, when 'human ecology' is respected within society, environmental ecology also benefits".

"Young people cannot be asked to respect the environment if they are not helped, within families and society as a whole, to respect themselves. The book of nature is one and indivisible; it includes not only the environment but also individual, family and social ethics. Our duties towards the environment flow from our duties towards the person, considered both individually and in relation to others."

"Hence I readily encourage efforts to promote a greater sense of ecological responsibility which, as I indicated in my Encyclical "Caritas in Veritate," would safeguard an authentic "human ecology" and thus forcefully reaffirm the inviolability of human life at every stage and in every condition, the dignity of the person and the unique mission of the family, where one is trained in love of neighbor and respect for nature. There is a need to safeguard the human patrimony of society. This patrimony of values originates in and is part of the natural moral law, which is the foundation of respect for the human person and creation."

What Pope Benedict presents is a Catholic Environmental vision which is pro-life, pro-family, pro-poor, pro-peace and fundamentally relational. We are to receive one another as gifts. We must never use human persons as objects. We should receive creation as a gift, our common home, to be shared with one another, and not as an object of use. He articulates a vision for a "human ecology" which can promote a path to authentic peace.

He concluded that 2009 letter with these words, "The Church, for her part, is concerned that the question be approached in a balanced way, with respect for the "grammar" which the Creator has inscribed in his handiwork by giving man the role of a steward and administrator with responsibility over creation, a role which man must certainly not abuse, but also one which he may not abdicate. In the same way, the opposite position, which would absolutize technology and human power, results in a grave assault not only on nature, but also on human dignity itself.

"If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation. The quest for peace by people of good will surely would become easier if all acknowledge the indivisible relationship between God, human beings and the whole of creation. In the light of divine Revelation and in fidelity to the Church's Tradition, Christians have their own contribution to make."

"They contemplate the cosmos and its marvels in light of the creative work of the Father and the redemptive work of Christ, who by his death and resurrection has reconciled with God "all things, whether on earth or in heaven" (Col 1:20). Christ, crucified and risen, has bestowed his Spirit of holiness upon mankind, to guide the course of history in anticipation of that day when, with the glorious return of the Savior, there will be "new heavens and a new earth" (2 Pet 3:13), in which justice and peace will dwell forever.

"Protecting the natural environment in order to build a world of peace is thus a duty incumbent upon each and all. It is an urgent challenge, one to be faced with renewed and concerted commitment; it is also a providential opportunity to hand down to coming generations the prospect of a better future for all."

"May this be clear to world leaders and to those at every level who are concerned for the future of humanity: the protection of creation and peacemaking are profoundly linked! For this reason, I invite all believers to raise a fervent prayer to God, the all-powerful Creator and the Father of mercies, so that all men and women may take to heart the urgent appeal: If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation"

One of the more accurate reports on the Pope's 2009 letter came from Giuliano Ferrara, the director of the Italian daily Il Foglio who wrote "The Pope denounces the ecological crisis but does not belong to the church of Al Gore. Benedict XVI in no way denies human abuse of nature. He notes that he does not share the 'the environmentalist religion or environmentalism as a religion'. The Pope has another faith, based on the transcendence of a God that creates man in his image and likeness to entrust nature to him ... He has, evidently, no need for replacement beliefs, of ideologies feigned as science."

We need to embrace a lifestyle which understands our place with one another - and in the world which God created for all of us to care for, steward and share. We need a human ecology, a relational environmentalism, a Catholic way of being green.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Green, green agenda, ecology, Pope Benedict XVI, global warming, alternative fuels, earth day, environmentalism, Green Pope, Deacon Keith Fournier

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1 - 8 of 8 Comments

vance
1 year ago
Good article, Environmentalism has been a Christian value for centuries. Environmentalism was in play long before EPA. Example; During the Gold Rush of California, there were companies that used Hydraulic Mining to extract gold from the hills. What they soon learned was that the mining created an enormous amount of erosion that had a negative impact on the rivers and farms down stream. It was halted. The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America were created by Christians as a means to appreciate and respect wild life. The Marxist and Radical Left-wing movements created the "Green" movement Earth Day. This is a deceptive weapon against Capitalism. The EPA has shut down our industries under the excuse that they are "Polluting the Air" and Killing Polar Bears. China is now enjoying our industries over there while employing millions of Chinese.
ninov
1 year ago
Great article. I have to come at this from another perspective though. I live in Champaign County Ohio where 40,000 other brothers and sisters in Christ live. We are facing the installation of over 150 industrial wind turbines 500 feet high. The manufactures web sites say they should be sited 1500 feet minimum from homes. They are sighting these 900 feet from homes. These appear to be nice green windmills churning in the sky, but after being one who was supportive and now, after no less than 1000 hours of research, have found myself in a position of being totally against. These monsters kill wildlife, including eagles and bats, which offsets the bug population. Whats more, we do crop dusting and our local crop dusters have told us, they won’t go anywhere near fields with these because they create turbulence that reach out over 1000 feet, hidden behind them. Additionally, they bust apart. Many have said this is rare but there are videos all over the internet with turbines blowing up. In fact, they just installed and turned on 51 of these 2 counties north of us and just last night, shut them all down because flying pieces of metal from one flew over 1000 feet. These can be placed 500 feet from a road. Imagine metal or ice flying into your car. Also, the magnets for these turbine generators are made in China and it’s one of the most polluting plants in the world. Everyone looks at the turbine once it’s built and running, but never what its true carbon footprint is in production. Lastly, when the blade comes down and passes the main tower, there is an air compression that occurs that creates a ‘womp’ sound that is not within the range of the human ear, but falls into the category of ultrasonic waves. These waves effect sleep, hearing, and the fight or flight mechanism when folks are within 3000 feet of the turbine base. It travels across the ground, through walls and into homes. Lastly, recent studies show that home values within 3000 feet of a turbine are reduced 30-50%, if the houses can sell at all. We live in a semi-rural area where people come from Dayton and Columbus to live. The market has been dead for 2 years because of the promise of turbines. All in the name of green energy. They aren’t green, these effect people and they effect our very right to own property (see Pope Leo 13th for more on that) I own 20 plus acres and tend another 100. Use heavy machinery, would never think of dumping oils and gases on the ground, but green energy has turned into big greed energy. Lots of tax payer dollars going into these things before they even get turned on. And they don’t make a lot of electricity. Nuclear is by far, safer, the greenest and most productive, but turbines are being pushed all over, while Europe has realized, they don’t work. The movie Windfall is a good one about this topic that recently came out. I believe God has a plan, the CCC is a narration, narration of that plan, as is the Bible. We have our part to play, but believe God also gives us the means to produce energy in such a way as to not harm our environment and not harm other people. The Green studies are questionable and there are as many now that show the earth is not getting warmer, or the studies are flawed, or the earth goes through natural cycles. God’s got our back, at every minute and as long as we aren’t being greedy or harming the environment in a purposeful way, I can’t help believe He has mechanisms in place that help the earth regenerate. Plus China, India and Russia are putting tons of greenhouse gasses out while our energy goes up and our product and food prices go up, while they laugh at us. As much as I believe we are to be stewards of the earth, simply look at the two commands given to Adam and Even in the garden, only two. 1 – work the garden 2 – be fruitful and multiply. Work the garden, IE, work the earth, take care of it. Too bad we fell and now have to deal with hard tough ground, thistles and thorns. I’d also like to note that most Catholics are NOT doing a good job with the 2nd command in the garden, multiply. Most I know are on contraception, again, we were given two simply commands. Interesting that Eve had no children until AFTER the fall. What were they thinking? Was not having children part of the fall? I often wonder what a pre-fallen child would have been like. But alas, the devil likely knew Christ would come through man and stopping Adam and Eve from procreating might have been his plan. Where am I going with all this. The green movement is very much in control of US dollars and pumping abortion and contraception into Africa and other countries. They feel we are overpopulating. I see nowhere in the Bible that too many kids is bad. All is see is many passages where many kids are a blessing, arrows in the quiver. Our Risen Jesus, save us from the fires of hell and help us to learn and achieve a greater state in your heavenly kingdom through your mystical body. Sure looks like we aren’t doing very well right now and the Green Movement is contributing to this.
rafaelmarie
1 year ago
THE ONLY ECOLOGY WE NEED TO DO, IS TO OBEY GOD'S COMMANDMENT: GO OUT AND MULTIPLY!

GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST, IF WE FOLLOW HIS HOLY WILL, PERIOD.

CONSIDER YOURSELVES WARNED!!!
Judy
1 year ago
Deacon Keith: A thought provoking piece! One that is not only true and informative to the reader, but as I read it, I am also reminded of How many do not believe or understand this Truth, based on some people's belief system's of today... be it: Technology, Science w/out God, Me, Myself and I, Superior Ego and Hardness of Heart, which usually equates to no belief system at all, and any other idols one desires to put before God. Some people, coming from this stance, think, as you know, if we believe that God gave us this green earth to take care of, we are to be pitied, still believing in what they believe is "simply superstition". I could not help but have these thoughts of others from my past, or now, enter my mind as I prayerfully read this. To me, this article is a mixture of Information, Truth, and Humility. It tells me more than ever, to continue in humility to those I meet who are not as fortunate as I believe I am. And therefore, I to continue in prayer, and whatever good examples I can show others. And that, I can do only with the Grace of God. A very informing article. A very True article. One that needed to be written. Thank you. Prayerful Blessings...
Bulbajer
1 year ago
Great article!
Marshall Connolly
1 year ago
Love this article!
William Patenaude
1 year ago
Great piece. Thank you. Similarly, the following article looks at how B16's use of ecology is an example of New Evangelization: http://catholicexchange.com/is-the-catholic-church-green/
abey
1 year ago
A serous & truthful article. Environmental issues addressed in terms of the Human Heart, to the cleanliness of body & Soul, which radiation through the works would keep the human & natural environmental to be clean, in the way it is meant to be, to the saying clean the inside before cleaning the outside, which makes the core of its truth to man himself, but again since Man by himself in fault through sin, is unable to keep the environment as seen, but by & In Christ. Unfortunately the world brings out the concerns not by tackling the root of the Problem to all his problems which is in Man himself, but the concerns reflected, arising through the British Monarchy, unfortunately off centered to worship of earth in different names, which is to Paganism & its false notion like the worship of idols is to connecting with God, to a Krisn'a who professes that worship of idols is to worshiping him, that old way of the Baal, is to the same belief ,as if mother earth worship would cleanse earth to its environment, against the truth that man was made for the earth & not earth for man.

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