Since the end of World War II, many First World people and the elite in the Third World have experienced unprecedented affluence. We enjoy the many benefits of science and technology. There is unprecedented access to education and communication technologies. We are much better fed and have better health care; as a result, we live much longer. Many of us now live in well-heated, comfortable houses. We are also much more mobile than previous generations, both at home and abroad. We have, however, often been dazzled by the bright side of modern developments and have failed to look at the cost to the poor of our earth and to the earth itself. The Catholic Church has a commendable record in the area of human rights protection and social justice since Rerum Novarum at the end of the 19th century. It was slow to recognize the gravity of the problems facing the environment and our planet Earth.
However, with the publication of "Peace with God the Creator, Peace with all Creation" (1990), the Pope attempted to alert the world to the extensive damage that was being wreaked on our planet and especially on vulnerable eco-systems, like rainforests, coral reefs and the oceans. The Pope was adamant that Christians had an obligation to care, not just for other human beings but for the earth itself. He stated that: "Christians, in particular, realize that their responsibility within creation and their duty towards nature and the Creator are an essential part of their faith".
The Pope returned to the topic with greater urgency and alarm during a general audience on January 17th, 2001. He called for an ecological conversion. On that occasion the Pope stated that -
If we scan the regions of our planet, we immediately see that humanity has disappointed God's expectations. Man, especially in our time, has without hesitation devastated wooded plains and valleys, polluted waters, disfigured the earth's habitat, made the air unbreathable, disturbed the hydrogeological and atmospheric spheres and turned luxuriant areas into deserts and undertaken forms of unrestrained industrialization, humiliating the flower-garden of the universe to use the image of Dante Alighieri (Paradiso, XXII, 151.). We must therefore encourage and support the 'ecological conversion' which in recent decades has made humanity more sensitive to the catastrophe to which it has been heading. Man is no longer the Creator's 'steward', but an autonomous despot, who is finally beginning to understand that he must stop at the edge of the abyss".
It is obvious that our present way of living is unsustainable. Unless we change our behaviour we will pass on an ugly and run-down planet to future generations. To avoid creating a hell on earth each one of us must begin to live more simply, avoiding waste wherever possible. Political will is needed to promote environmental policies at local, national and international level designed to halt the present destruction and aimed at healing the damage already done. As Christians we need to gather our energies and to see caring for the earth as central to our Christian vocation.
God, our Creator,
You have given us the Earth, the Sky,
the Rivers and the Seas.
Show us the way to care for the Earth
not just for today but for future generations.
Let no plan of ours damage or destroy
the beauty of your creation.
To learn more on this subject please visit The Columban Father's web site
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