Global Climate Change

Church Sources for Teaching on Care of Creation,  Care of Neighbor, and Global Climate Change

 >> For use in parish education, in bulletin announcements, in advocacy materials.

 Catechism of the Catholic Church

#339 “Each creature possess its own particular goodness and perfection. Man must therefore respect the particular goodness of every creature, to avoid disordered use of things which would be in contempt of the creator and would bring disastrous consequences for human beings and their environment.”

 #353 “God willed the diversity of creatures….Man, and through him all creation, is destined for the glory of God.”

 # 373 “In God’s plan, man and woman have the vocation … as stewards of God…to share his providence toward other creatures; hence their responsibility for the world God has entrusted to them.”

 #668 “Christ is Lord of the cosmos and of history. In him human history and indeed all creation are ‘set forth’ and ‘transcendently fulfilled.’”

 Pope John Paul II:

From  Peace with God the Creator, Peace with All Creation, 1989; also titled The Ecological Crisis, a Common Responsibility

    “Certain elements of today’s ecological crisis reveal its moral character. Many recent discoveries have brought undeniable benefits to humanity. Indeed, they demonstrate the nobility of the human vocation to participate responsibly in God’s creative action in the world. Unfortunately, it is now clear that the application of these discoveries in the fields of industry and agriculture have produced harmful long-term effects. This has led to the painful realization that we cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying attention both to the consequences of  such interference in other areas and  to the well-being of future generations.

   “The gradual depletion of the ozone layer and the related ‘greenhouse effect’ have now reached crisis proportions….Industrial waste, the burning of fossil fuels, unrestricted deforestation, the use of certain types of herbicides, coolants and propellants: all of these are known to harm the atmosphere and environment. The resulting … changes range from damage to health to the possible future submersion of low-lying lands.

      “The most profound and serious indication of the moral implications underlying the ecological  problem is the lack of respect for life evident in many patterns of environmental pollution.”

  U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

From  Renewing the Earth: an Invitation to Reflection and Action on Environment in Light of Catholic Social Teaching, 1991.

      “The Web of life is one. Our mistreatment of the natural world diminishes our own dignity and sacredness, not only because we are destroying resources that future generations of humans need, but because we are engaging in actions that contradict what it means to be human. Our tradition call us to protect the life and dignity of the human person, and it is increasingly clear that this task cannot be separated from the care and defense of all creation.”

    “The whole human race suffers as a result of environmental blight… but in most countries…it is the poor and powerless who most directly bear the burden of current environmental carelessness. Their lands and neighborhoods are more likely to be polluted or to host toxic waste dumps, their water to be undrinkable, their children to be harmed.”

      “ Christian love draws us to serve the weak and vulnerable among us. We are called to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty….to shelter the homeless.  We are also summoned to restore the land; to provide clean, safe water to drink and unpolluted air to breathe; to preserved endangered species; to protect wild places; and to help the poor help themselves.

     “Christian love forbids choosing between people and the planet. It urges us to work for an equitable and sustainable future in which all peoples can share in the bounty of the earth and in which the earth itself is protected from predatory use.”

     From Global Climate Change: a Plea for Dialogue, Prudence and the Common Good

2001 statement  of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

      “ At its core, global climate change is about the future of God’s creation and the one human family. We offer a distinctively religious and moral perspective to a complicated scientific, economic, and political discussion. We hope the continuing dialogue will be guided by fundamental moral values: the universal common good, respect for God’s creation, an option for the poor, and a sense of intergenerational obligation. We wish to emphasize the need for personal conversion and responsibility.

      “As people of religious faith, we believe that the atmosphere that supports life on earth is a God-given gift, one we must respect and protect. Global climate is…a part of the planetary commons. The melting of ice sheets and glaciers, the destruction of rainforests ,and  pollution in one place can have environmental impacts elsewhere. Responses to global climate change should reflect our interdependence and common responsibility for the future of our planet.

      “ Although debate continues about the extent and impact of warming, it seems prudent not only to continue to research and monitor this phenomenon, but to take steps now to mitigate possible negative effects in the future. Significant levels of scientific consensus—even in a situation with less than full certainty, where the consequences of not acting are serious – justify, indeed can obligate, our taking action intended to avert potential dangers.  Action to mitigate… must be built upon a foundation of social and economic justice that does not put the poor at greater risk or place disproportionate and unfair burdens on developing nations.

     “ The common good calls us to extend our concern to future generations. Passing along the problem of global climate change…as a result of our delay, indecision or self-interest would be easy. But we cannot leave this problem for the children of tomorrow.

      “Technological innovation  and entrepreneurship can help make possible options that can lead us to a more environmentally benign energy path. Changes in lifestyle can ease the way to a sustainable and equitable economy in which sacrifice will no longer be an unpopular concept. We need to ask about ways we can conserve energy , prevent pollution, and life more simply. We hope that the United States will continue to undertake reasonable and effective initiatives for energy conservation and the development of alternate renewable and clean energy resources.”

 “ The values of our faith call us to humility, sacrifice, and respect for life and the natural gifts God has provided to the rest of creation. We call for civil dialogue and prudent and constructive action to protect God’s precious gift of the atmosphere,  with a sense of genuine solidarity and justice for all God’s children.”

 More Resources and useful websites:

www.usccb.org/sdwp/ejp/climate USCCB climate site: statements from bishops’ conferences in many states and around the world; info. pieces,  liturgical and educational resources.

www.usccb.org/CASE Coalition for Children and a Safe Environment; 10 national Catholic organizations working to protect children from environmentally triggered diseases and exposures.

www.ncrlc.com National Catholic Rural Life Conference: blessings, prayers, information and  advocacy for clean air and water, climate change mitigation, and family farms.

 www.conservation.catholic.org  excerpts from Church teaching, tradition, other sources

 And God Saw That It Was Good: Catholic Theology and the Environment, Drew Christiansen, SJ, and Walter Grazer, eds.  www.usccb.org/publications.

 From Stockholm to Johannesburg : an Historical Overview of the Concern of the Holy See for the Environment, 1972-2002. Vatican Press, 2002. USCCB publications.

 www.nrpe.org National Religious Partnership for the Environment; USCCB is a partner, with Protestant and Jewish organizations. Link to websites, climate statements, materials.

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