Environmental Degradation<\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tExcessive Consumption<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAn Urgent Appeal<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWe Need a Conversion<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tA Crisis<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWe Have Been Tyrants<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tNeglects the Integrity of Creation<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIt is possible that we do not grasp the gravity of the challenges<\/strong> now before us.\u201d<\/span><\/h5>\nPope Francis, 105<\/a><\/h5>\n\u201cI urgently appeal for a new dialogue<\/strong> about how we are shaping the future of our planet.\u201d<\/span><\/h5>\nPope Francis, 14<\/a><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tConsistent & Pivotal Calls to Action<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/pope-paul-vi.jpg\" "\\"pope")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. Paul VI<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cThe care of preserving and improving the natural environment\u2026are deeply felt among the men of our times.\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe progressive deterioration [is creating]\u2026risks provoking a veritable ecological catastrophe\u201d<\/span>. (Pope St. Paul VI, 3)<\/a><\/p>\n\u201c[H]ow can we ignore the imbalances caused in the biosphere by the disorderly exploitation of the physical reserves of the planet<\/span>.\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cTo rule creation means\u2026to transform the world\u2026into a beautiful abode where everything is respected.<\/span>\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/3.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIntroduced<\/strong> ecology<\/strong> as<\/strong> a formal part of Catholic social teaching and an essential part of faith<\/strong>: \u201cChristians, in particular, realize that their responsibility within creation and their duty towards nature and the Creator are an essential part of their faith.\u201d\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 15)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\u201c[T]here is an order in the universe which must be respected, and\u2026I wish to repeat that\u00a0the ecological crisis is a moral issue<\/strong>\u201d<\/span>.\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 15)<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cMan thinks that he can make arbitrary use of the earth...as though it did not have its own requisites and a prior God-given purpose, which man can indeed develop but must not betray<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Centesimus Annus, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cInstead of carrying out his role as a co-operator with God in the work of creation, man sets himself up in place of God<\/strong> and thus ends up provoking a rebellion on the part of nature<\/strong>, which is more tyrannized than governed by him.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nNOTE: In 1979, Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed St. Francis of Assisi the Patron Saint of those who promote ecology. (Apostolic Letter Inter Sanctos, December 29, 1979)<\/p>\n
An even earlier magisterial warning and call to care for our natural environment was made by Pope St. Paul VI who said, in 1971: \u201c<\/span>Man is suddenly becoming aware that by an ill-considered exploitation of nature<\/strong> he risks destroying it and becoming in his turn the victim of this degradation. Not only is the material environment becoming a permanent menace - pollution and refuse, new illness and absolute destructive capacity - but the human framework is no longer under man's control, thus creating an environment for tomorrow which may well be intolerable. This is a wide-ranging social problem which concerns the entire human family.\" (Octogesima Adveniens<\/i>, 21)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/popebenedict_resized.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe \"Green\" Pope<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIf you want to cultivate peace, protect creation<\/strong>\u201d<\/span>. (World Day of Peace Message, 1)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\nFollowing Pope Benedict XVI's World Day of Peace Message in 2010, wherein he definitively laid out the Church\u2019s case for protecting the environment<\/strong>, many media outlets labeled him the \u201cGreen\" Pope<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\nIndeed, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his concern for the <\/span>environment <\/span>consistently throughout his pontificate: \u201cThe earth is a precious gift of the Creator<\/strong>, who has designed its intrinsic order, thus giving us guidelines to which we must hold ourselves as stewards of his creation\u201d<\/span>. (General Audience)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIn my recent Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, I referred more than once to such questions\u2026as the natural\u00a0environment<\/span>\u00a0is given by God to everyone<\/strong>, and its use entails a personal responsibility towards the whole of humanity, in particular, towards the poor and future generations.\u201d\u00a0(General Audience, August 29, 2009)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Canonization_2014-_The_Canonization_of_Saint_John_XXIII_and_Saint_John_Paul_II_14036966124_resized.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Francis<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tOur natural\u00a0<\/span>environment<\/span>\u00a0has now received a dedicated treatment<\/strong> in Laudato Si\u2019 wherein the Holy Father expresses\u2026 \u201c[H]ope that this Encyclical Letter, which is now added to the body of the Church\u2019s social teaching, can help us to acknowledge the appeal<\/strong>, immensity and urgency of the challenge we face.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Laudato Si', 15)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cNature, in a word, is at our disposition and we are called to exercise a responsible stewardship<\/strong> over it.\u201d\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 9)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nThe earth \u201ccries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted<\/strong> on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her\u201d. (Laudato Si, 2)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cTragically, the human response<\/strong> to this gift has been marked by sin<\/strong>, selfishness and a greedy desire to possess and exploit. Egoism and self-interest have turned creation\u2026into an arena of competition and conflict.\"\u00a0(World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Cause<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/span><\/p>\nEcological degradation stems from:<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"A](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/bottles-dump-floating-garbage-87342-1.jpg\" "\\"bottles-dump-floating-garbage-87342\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tExcessive Consumption<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n- \u201c[M]an is warned of the necessity of replacing the unchecked advance of material progress\u2026with new-found respect<\/strong> for the biosphere\u201d.\u00a0(Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/li>\n
- Seeing our \u201clives as a series of sensations<\/strong> to be experienced rather than as a work to be accomplished.\u201d\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 39)<\/a><\/li>\n
- \u201cToo many of us act like tyrants<\/strong> with regard to creation. Let us make an effort to change and to adopt more simple and respectful lifestyles!\" (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/li>\n
- The ecological crisis<\/strong>\u00a0\"calls for<\/strong> a lifestyle marked by sobriety and solidarity\".\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 5)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tSee Consumerism<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
![\"A](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/pexels-mauri\u0301cio-mascaro-948199-cropped2.jpg\" "\\"pexels-mauri\u0301cio-mascaro-948199-cropped2\\"")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tInadequate Anthropology<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n- \"The deterioration of nature is in fact closely connected to the culture<\/strong>.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)<\/a><\/li>\n
- \n
\"Man<\/strong> is certainly the first and truest treasure<\/strong> of the earth.\"\u00a0<\/span>(Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \"An inadequate presentation of Christian anthropology gave rise to a wrong understanding<\/strong> of the relationship between human beings and the world.\"\u00a0<\/span>(Pope Francis, 116)<\/a><\/li>\n
- \"[N]o peaceful society can afford to neglect either respect for life or the fact that there is an integrity to creation\".\u00a0<\/span>(Pope St. John Paul II, 7)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
![\"Our](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Four-friends-pray-before-a-cross-in-the-middle-of-a-forest.jpg\" "\\"Four")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Excessive Consumption<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
An Urgent Appeal<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
We Need a Conversion<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
A Crisis<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
We Have Been Tyrants<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Neglects the Integrity of Creation<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
\u201cIt is possible that we do not grasp the gravity of the challenges<\/strong> now before us.\u201d<\/span><\/h5>\nPope Francis, 105<\/a><\/h5>\n\u201cI urgently appeal for a new dialogue<\/strong> about how we are shaping the future of our planet.\u201d<\/span><\/h5>\nPope Francis, 14<\/a><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tConsistent & Pivotal Calls to Action<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. Paul VI<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cThe care of preserving and improving the natural environment\u2026are deeply felt among the men of our times.\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe progressive deterioration [is creating]\u2026risks provoking a veritable ecological catastrophe\u201d<\/span>. (Pope St. Paul VI, 3)<\/a><\/p>\n\u201c[H]ow can we ignore the imbalances caused in the biosphere by the disorderly exploitation of the physical reserves of the planet<\/span>.\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cTo rule creation means\u2026to transform the world\u2026into a beautiful abode where everything is respected.<\/span>\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIntroduced<\/strong> ecology<\/strong> as<\/strong> a formal part of Catholic social teaching and an essential part of faith<\/strong>: \u201cChristians, in particular, realize that their responsibility within creation and their duty towards nature and the Creator are an essential part of their faith.\u201d\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 15)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\u201c[T]here is an order in the universe which must be respected, and\u2026I wish to repeat that\u00a0the ecological crisis is a moral issue<\/strong>\u201d<\/span>.\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 15)<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cMan thinks that he can make arbitrary use of the earth...as though it did not have its own requisites and a prior God-given purpose, which man can indeed develop but must not betray<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Centesimus Annus, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cInstead of carrying out his role as a co-operator with God in the work of creation, man sets himself up in place of God<\/strong> and thus ends up provoking a rebellion on the part of nature<\/strong>, which is more tyrannized than governed by him.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nNOTE: In 1979, Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed St. Francis of Assisi the Patron Saint of those who promote ecology. (Apostolic Letter Inter Sanctos, December 29, 1979)<\/p>\n
An even earlier magisterial warning and call to care for our natural environment was made by Pope St. Paul VI who said, in 1971: \u201c<\/span>Man is suddenly becoming aware that by an ill-considered exploitation of nature<\/strong> he risks destroying it and becoming in his turn the victim of this degradation. Not only is the material environment becoming a permanent menace - pollution and refuse, new illness and absolute destructive capacity - but the human framework is no longer under man's control, thus creating an environment for tomorrow which may well be intolerable. This is a wide-ranging social problem which concerns the entire human family.\" (Octogesima Adveniens<\/i>, 21)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe \"Green\" Pope<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIf you want to cultivate peace, protect creation<\/strong>\u201d<\/span>. (World Day of Peace Message, 1)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\nFollowing Pope Benedict XVI's World Day of Peace Message in 2010, wherein he definitively laid out the Church\u2019s case for protecting the environment<\/strong>, many media outlets labeled him the \u201cGreen\" Pope<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\nIndeed, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his concern for the <\/span>environment <\/span>consistently throughout his pontificate: \u201cThe earth is a precious gift of the Creator<\/strong>, who has designed its intrinsic order, thus giving us guidelines to which we must hold ourselves as stewards of his creation\u201d<\/span>. (General Audience)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIn my recent Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, I referred more than once to such questions\u2026as the natural\u00a0environment<\/span>\u00a0is given by God to everyone<\/strong>, and its use entails a personal responsibility towards the whole of humanity, in particular, towards the poor and future generations.\u201d\u00a0(General Audience, August 29, 2009)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Francis<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tOur natural\u00a0<\/span>environment<\/span>\u00a0has now received a dedicated treatment<\/strong> in Laudato Si\u2019 wherein the Holy Father expresses\u2026 \u201c[H]ope that this Encyclical Letter, which is now added to the body of the Church\u2019s social teaching, can help us to acknowledge the appeal<\/strong>, immensity and urgency of the challenge we face.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Laudato Si', 15)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cNature, in a word, is at our disposition and we are called to exercise a responsible stewardship<\/strong> over it.\u201d\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 9)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nThe earth \u201ccries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted<\/strong> on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her\u201d. (Laudato Si, 2)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cTragically, the human response<\/strong> to this gift has been marked by sin<\/strong>, selfishness and a greedy desire to possess and exploit. Egoism and self-interest have turned creation\u2026into an arena of competition and conflict.\"\u00a0(World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Cause<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/span><\/p>\nEcological degradation stems from:<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tExcessive Consumption<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n- \u201c[M]an is warned of the necessity of replacing the unchecked advance of material progress\u2026with new-found respect<\/strong> for the biosphere\u201d.\u00a0(Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/li>\n
- Seeing our \u201clives as a series of sensations<\/strong> to be experienced rather than as a work to be accomplished.\u201d\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 39)<\/a><\/li>\n
- \u201cToo many of us act like tyrants<\/strong> with regard to creation. Let us make an effort to change and to adopt more simple and respectful lifestyles!\" (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/li>\n
- The ecological crisis<\/strong>\u00a0\"calls for<\/strong> a lifestyle marked by sobriety and solidarity\".\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 5)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tSee Consumerism<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Inadequate Anthropology<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n- \"The deterioration of nature is in fact closely connected to the culture<\/strong>.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)<\/a><\/li>\n
- \n
\"Man<\/strong> is certainly the first and truest treasure<\/strong> of the earth.\"\u00a0<\/span>(Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \"An inadequate presentation of Christian anthropology gave rise to a wrong understanding<\/strong> of the relationship between human beings and the world.\"\u00a0<\/span>(Pope Francis, 116)<\/a><\/li>\n
- \"[N]o peaceful society can afford to neglect either respect for life or the fact that there is an integrity to creation\".\u00a0<\/span>(Pope St. John Paul II, 7)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\u201cI urgently appeal for a new dialogue<\/strong> about how we are shaping the future of our planet.\u201d<\/span><\/h5>\nPope Francis, 14<\/a><\/h5><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tConsistent & Pivotal Calls to Action<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. Paul VI<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cThe care of preserving and improving the natural environment\u2026are deeply felt among the men of our times.\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe progressive deterioration [is creating]\u2026risks provoking a veritable ecological catastrophe\u201d<\/span>. (Pope St. Paul VI, 3)<\/a><\/p>\n\u201c[H]ow can we ignore the imbalances caused in the biosphere by the disorderly exploitation of the physical reserves of the planet<\/span>.\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cTo rule creation means\u2026to transform the world\u2026into a beautiful abode where everything is respected.<\/span>\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIntroduced<\/strong> ecology<\/strong> as<\/strong> a formal part of Catholic social teaching and an essential part of faith<\/strong>: \u201cChristians, in particular, realize that their responsibility within creation and their duty towards nature and the Creator are an essential part of their faith.\u201d\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 15)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\u201c[T]here is an order in the universe which must be respected, and\u2026I wish to repeat that\u00a0the ecological crisis is a moral issue<\/strong>\u201d<\/span>.\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 15)<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cMan thinks that he can make arbitrary use of the earth...as though it did not have its own requisites and a prior God-given purpose, which man can indeed develop but must not betray<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Centesimus Annus, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cInstead of carrying out his role as a co-operator with God in the work of creation, man sets himself up in place of God<\/strong> and thus ends up provoking a rebellion on the part of nature<\/strong>, which is more tyrannized than governed by him.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nNOTE: In 1979, Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed St. Francis of Assisi the Patron Saint of those who promote ecology. (Apostolic Letter Inter Sanctos, December 29, 1979)<\/p>\n
An even earlier magisterial warning and call to care for our natural environment was made by Pope St. Paul VI who said, in 1971: \u201c<\/span>Man is suddenly becoming aware that by an ill-considered exploitation of nature<\/strong> he risks destroying it and becoming in his turn the victim of this degradation. Not only is the material environment becoming a permanent menace - pollution and refuse, new illness and absolute destructive capacity - but the human framework is no longer under man's control, thus creating an environment for tomorrow which may well be intolerable. This is a wide-ranging social problem which concerns the entire human family.\" (Octogesima Adveniens<\/i>, 21)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe \"Green\" Pope<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIf you want to cultivate peace, protect creation<\/strong>\u201d<\/span>. (World Day of Peace Message, 1)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\nFollowing Pope Benedict XVI's World Day of Peace Message in 2010, wherein he definitively laid out the Church\u2019s case for protecting the environment<\/strong>, many media outlets labeled him the \u201cGreen\" Pope<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\nIndeed, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his concern for the <\/span>environment <\/span>consistently throughout his pontificate: \u201cThe earth is a precious gift of the Creator<\/strong>, who has designed its intrinsic order, thus giving us guidelines to which we must hold ourselves as stewards of his creation\u201d<\/span>. (General Audience)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIn my recent Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, I referred more than once to such questions\u2026as the natural\u00a0environment<\/span>\u00a0is given by God to everyone<\/strong>, and its use entails a personal responsibility towards the whole of humanity, in particular, towards the poor and future generations.\u201d\u00a0(General Audience, August 29, 2009)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Francis<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tOur natural\u00a0<\/span>environment<\/span>\u00a0has now received a dedicated treatment<\/strong> in Laudato Si\u2019 wherein the Holy Father expresses\u2026 \u201c[H]ope that this Encyclical Letter, which is now added to the body of the Church\u2019s social teaching, can help us to acknowledge the appeal<\/strong>, immensity and urgency of the challenge we face.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Laudato Si', 15)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cNature, in a word, is at our disposition and we are called to exercise a responsible stewardship<\/strong> over it.\u201d\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 9)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nThe earth \u201ccries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted<\/strong> on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her\u201d. (Laudato Si, 2)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cTragically, the human response<\/strong> to this gift has been marked by sin<\/strong>, selfishness and a greedy desire to possess and exploit. Egoism and self-interest have turned creation\u2026into an arena of competition and conflict.\"\u00a0(World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Cause<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/span><\/p>\nEcological degradation stems from:<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tExcessive Consumption<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n- \u201c[M]an is warned of the necessity of replacing the unchecked advance of material progress\u2026with new-found respect<\/strong> for the biosphere\u201d.\u00a0(Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/li>\n
- Seeing our \u201clives as a series of sensations<\/strong> to be experienced rather than as a work to be accomplished.\u201d\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 39)<\/a><\/li>\n
- \u201cToo many of us act like tyrants<\/strong> with regard to creation. Let us make an effort to change and to adopt more simple and respectful lifestyles!\" (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/li>\n
- The ecological crisis<\/strong>\u00a0\"calls for<\/strong> a lifestyle marked by sobriety and solidarity\".\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 5)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tSee Consumerism<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Inadequate Anthropology<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n- \"The deterioration of nature is in fact closely connected to the culture<\/strong>.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)<\/a><\/li>\n
- \n
\"Man<\/strong> is certainly the first and truest treasure<\/strong> of the earth.\"\u00a0<\/span>(Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \"An inadequate presentation of Christian anthropology gave rise to a wrong understanding<\/strong> of the relationship between human beings and the world.\"\u00a0<\/span>(Pope Francis, 116)<\/a><\/li>\n
- \"[N]o peaceful society can afford to neglect either respect for life or the fact that there is an integrity to creation\".\u00a0<\/span>(Pope St. John Paul II, 7)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Consistent & Pivotal Calls to Action<\/span><\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. Paul VI<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cThe care of preserving and improving the natural environment\u2026are deeply felt among the men of our times.\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe progressive deterioration [is creating]\u2026risks provoking a veritable ecological catastrophe\u201d<\/span>. (Pope St. Paul VI, 3)<\/a><\/p>\n\u201c[H]ow can we ignore the imbalances caused in the biosphere by the disorderly exploitation of the physical reserves of the planet<\/span>.\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cTo rule creation means\u2026to transform the world\u2026into a beautiful abode where everything is respected.<\/span>\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIntroduced<\/strong> ecology<\/strong> as<\/strong> a formal part of Catholic social teaching and an essential part of faith<\/strong>: \u201cChristians, in particular, realize that their responsibility within creation and their duty towards nature and the Creator are an essential part of their faith.\u201d\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 15)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\u201c[T]here is an order in the universe which must be respected, and\u2026I wish to repeat that\u00a0the ecological crisis is a moral issue<\/strong>\u201d<\/span>.\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 15)<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cMan thinks that he can make arbitrary use of the earth...as though it did not have its own requisites and a prior God-given purpose, which man can indeed develop but must not betray<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Centesimus Annus, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cInstead of carrying out his role as a co-operator with God in the work of creation, man sets himself up in place of God<\/strong> and thus ends up provoking a rebellion on the part of nature<\/strong>, which is more tyrannized than governed by him.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nNOTE: In 1979, Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed St. Francis of Assisi the Patron Saint of those who promote ecology. (Apostolic Letter Inter Sanctos, December 29, 1979)<\/p>\n
An even earlier magisterial warning and call to care for our natural environment was made by Pope St. Paul VI who said, in 1971: \u201c<\/span>Man is suddenly becoming aware that by an ill-considered exploitation of nature<\/strong> he risks destroying it and becoming in his turn the victim of this degradation. Not only is the material environment becoming a permanent menace - pollution and refuse, new illness and absolute destructive capacity - but the human framework is no longer under man's control, thus creating an environment for tomorrow which may well be intolerable. This is a wide-ranging social problem which concerns the entire human family.\" (Octogesima Adveniens<\/i>, 21)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe \"Green\" Pope<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIf you want to cultivate peace, protect creation<\/strong>\u201d<\/span>. (World Day of Peace Message, 1)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\nFollowing Pope Benedict XVI's World Day of Peace Message in 2010, wherein he definitively laid out the Church\u2019s case for protecting the environment<\/strong>, many media outlets labeled him the \u201cGreen\" Pope<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\nIndeed, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his concern for the <\/span>environment <\/span>consistently throughout his pontificate: \u201cThe earth is a precious gift of the Creator<\/strong>, who has designed its intrinsic order, thus giving us guidelines to which we must hold ourselves as stewards of his creation\u201d<\/span>. (General Audience)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIn my recent Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, I referred more than once to such questions\u2026as the natural\u00a0environment<\/span>\u00a0is given by God to everyone<\/strong>, and its use entails a personal responsibility towards the whole of humanity, in particular, towards the poor and future generations.\u201d\u00a0(General Audience, August 29, 2009)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Francis<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tOur natural\u00a0<\/span>environment<\/span>\u00a0has now received a dedicated treatment<\/strong> in Laudato Si\u2019 wherein the Holy Father expresses\u2026 \u201c[H]ope that this Encyclical Letter, which is now added to the body of the Church\u2019s social teaching, can help us to acknowledge the appeal<\/strong>, immensity and urgency of the challenge we face.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Laudato Si', 15)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cNature, in a word, is at our disposition and we are called to exercise a responsible stewardship<\/strong> over it.\u201d\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 9)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nThe earth \u201ccries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted<\/strong> on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her\u201d. (Laudato Si, 2)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cTragically, the human response<\/strong> to this gift has been marked by sin<\/strong>, selfishness and a greedy desire to possess and exploit. Egoism and self-interest have turned creation\u2026into an arena of competition and conflict.\"\u00a0(World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Cause<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/span><\/p>\nEcological degradation stems from:<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tExcessive Consumption<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n- \u201c[M]an is warned of the necessity of replacing the unchecked advance of material progress\u2026with new-found respect<\/strong> for the biosphere\u201d.\u00a0(Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/li>\n
- Seeing our \u201clives as a series of sensations<\/strong> to be experienced rather than as a work to be accomplished.\u201d\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 39)<\/a><\/li>\n
- \u201cToo many of us act like tyrants<\/strong> with regard to creation. Let us make an effort to change and to adopt more simple and respectful lifestyles!\" (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/li>\n
- The ecological crisis<\/strong>\u00a0\"calls for<\/strong> a lifestyle marked by sobriety and solidarity\".\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 5)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tSee Consumerism<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Inadequate Anthropology<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n- \"The deterioration of nature is in fact closely connected to the culture<\/strong>.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)<\/a><\/li>\n
- \n
\"Man<\/strong> is certainly the first and truest treasure<\/strong> of the earth.\"\u00a0<\/span>(Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \"An inadequate presentation of Christian anthropology gave rise to a wrong understanding<\/strong> of the relationship between human beings and the world.\"\u00a0<\/span>(Pope Francis, 116)<\/a><\/li>\n
- \"[N]o peaceful society can afford to neglect either respect for life or the fact that there is an integrity to creation\".\u00a0<\/span>(Pope St. John Paul II, 7)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Pope St. Paul VI<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cThe care of preserving and improving the natural environment\u2026are deeply felt among the men of our times.\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe progressive deterioration [is creating]\u2026risks provoking a veritable ecological catastrophe\u201d<\/span>. (Pope St. Paul VI, 3)<\/a><\/p>\n\u201c[H]ow can we ignore the imbalances caused in the biosphere by the disorderly exploitation of the physical reserves of the planet<\/span>.\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cTo rule creation means\u2026to transform the world\u2026into a beautiful abode where everything is respected.<\/span>\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope St. John Paul II<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIntroduced<\/strong> ecology<\/strong> as<\/strong> a formal part of Catholic social teaching and an essential part of faith<\/strong>: \u201cChristians, in particular, realize that their responsibility within creation and their duty towards nature and the Creator are an essential part of their faith.\u201d\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 15)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\u201c[T]here is an order in the universe which must be respected, and\u2026I wish to repeat that\u00a0the ecological crisis is a moral issue<\/strong>\u201d<\/span>.\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 15)<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cMan thinks that he can make arbitrary use of the earth...as though it did not have its own requisites and a prior God-given purpose, which man can indeed develop but must not betray<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Centesimus Annus, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cInstead of carrying out his role as a co-operator with God in the work of creation, man sets himself up in place of God<\/strong> and thus ends up provoking a rebellion on the part of nature<\/strong>, which is more tyrannized than governed by him.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nNOTE: In 1979, Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed St. Francis of Assisi the Patron Saint of those who promote ecology. (Apostolic Letter Inter Sanctos, December 29, 1979)<\/p>\n
An even earlier magisterial warning and call to care for our natural environment was made by Pope St. Paul VI who said, in 1971: \u201c<\/span>Man is suddenly becoming aware that by an ill-considered exploitation of nature<\/strong> he risks destroying it and becoming in his turn the victim of this degradation. Not only is the material environment becoming a permanent menace - pollution and refuse, new illness and absolute destructive capacity - but the human framework is no longer under man's control, thus creating an environment for tomorrow which may well be intolerable. This is a wide-ranging social problem which concerns the entire human family.\" (Octogesima Adveniens<\/i>, 21)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe \"Green\" Pope<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIf you want to cultivate peace, protect creation<\/strong>\u201d<\/span>. (World Day of Peace Message, 1)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\nFollowing Pope Benedict XVI's World Day of Peace Message in 2010, wherein he definitively laid out the Church\u2019s case for protecting the environment<\/strong>, many media outlets labeled him the \u201cGreen\" Pope<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\nIndeed, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his concern for the <\/span>environment <\/span>consistently throughout his pontificate: \u201cThe earth is a precious gift of the Creator<\/strong>, who has designed its intrinsic order, thus giving us guidelines to which we must hold ourselves as stewards of his creation\u201d<\/span>. (General Audience)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIn my recent Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, I referred more than once to such questions\u2026as the natural\u00a0environment<\/span>\u00a0is given by God to everyone<\/strong>, and its use entails a personal responsibility towards the whole of humanity, in particular, towards the poor and future generations.\u201d\u00a0(General Audience, August 29, 2009)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPope Francis<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tOur natural\u00a0<\/span>environment<\/span>\u00a0has now received a dedicated treatment<\/strong> in Laudato Si\u2019 wherein the Holy Father expresses\u2026 \u201c[H]ope that this Encyclical Letter, which is now added to the body of the Church\u2019s social teaching, can help us to acknowledge the appeal<\/strong>, immensity and urgency of the challenge we face.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Laudato Si', 15)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\u201cNature, in a word, is at our disposition and we are called to exercise a responsible stewardship<\/strong> over it.\u201d\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 9)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nThe earth \u201ccries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted<\/strong> on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her\u201d. (Laudato Si, 2)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\u201cTragically, the human response<\/strong> to this gift has been marked by sin<\/strong>, selfishness and a greedy desire to possess and exploit. Egoism and self-interest have turned creation\u2026into an arena of competition and conflict.\"\u00a0(World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Cause<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/span><\/p>\nEcological degradation stems from:<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tExcessive Consumption<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n- \u201c[M]an is warned of the necessity of replacing the unchecked advance of material progress\u2026with new-found respect<\/strong> for the biosphere\u201d.\u00a0(Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/li>\n
- Seeing our \u201clives as a series of sensations<\/strong> to be experienced rather than as a work to be accomplished.\u201d\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 39)<\/a><\/li>\n
- \u201cToo many of us act like tyrants<\/strong> with regard to creation. Let us make an effort to change and to adopt more simple and respectful lifestyles!\" (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/li>\n
- The ecological crisis<\/strong>\u00a0\"calls for<\/strong> a lifestyle marked by sobriety and solidarity\".\u00a0(Pope Benedict XVI, 5)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tSee Consumerism<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
Inadequate Anthropology<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n- \"The deterioration of nature is in fact closely connected to the culture<\/strong>.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)<\/a><\/li>\n
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\"Man<\/strong> is certainly the first and truest treasure<\/strong> of the earth.\"\u00a0<\/span>(Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \"An inadequate presentation of Christian anthropology gave rise to a wrong understanding<\/strong> of the relationship between human beings and the world.\"\u00a0<\/span>(Pope Francis, 116)<\/a><\/li>\n
- \"[N]o peaceful society can afford to neglect either respect for life or the fact that there is an integrity to creation\".\u00a0<\/span>(Pope St. John Paul II, 7)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\u201cThe care of preserving and improving the natural environment\u2026are deeply felt among the men of our times.\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe progressive deterioration [is creating]\u2026risks provoking a veritable ecological catastrophe\u201d<\/span>. (Pope St. Paul VI, 3)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201c[H]ow can we ignore the imbalances caused in the biosphere by the disorderly exploitation of the physical reserves of the planet<\/span>.\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cTo rule creation means\u2026to transform the world\u2026into a beautiful abode where everything is respected.<\/span>\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Introduced<\/strong> ecology<\/strong> as<\/strong> a formal part of Catholic social teaching and an essential part of faith<\/strong>: \u201cChristians, in particular, realize that their responsibility within creation and their duty towards nature and the Creator are an essential part of their faith.\u201d\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 15)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u201c[T]here is an order in the universe which must be respected, and\u2026I wish to repeat that\u00a0the ecological crisis is a moral issue<\/strong>\u201d<\/span>.\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 15)<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMan thinks that he can make arbitrary use of the earth...as though it did not have its own requisites and a prior God-given purpose, which man can indeed develop but must not betray<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Centesimus Annus, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \u201cInstead of carrying out his role as a co-operator with God in the work of creation, man sets himself up in place of God<\/strong> and thus ends up provoking a rebellion on the part of nature<\/strong>, which is more tyrannized than governed by him.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(Centesimus Annus, 37)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n NOTE: In 1979, Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed St. Francis of Assisi the Patron Saint of those who promote ecology. (Apostolic Letter Inter Sanctos, December 29, 1979)<\/p>\n An even earlier magisterial warning and call to care for our natural environment was made by Pope St. Paul VI who said, in 1971: \u201c<\/span>Man is suddenly becoming aware that by an ill-considered exploitation of nature<\/strong> he risks destroying it and becoming in his turn the victim of this degradation. Not only is the material environment becoming a permanent menace - pollution and refuse, new illness and absolute destructive capacity - but the human framework is no longer under man's control, thus creating an environment for tomorrow which may well be intolerable. This is a wide-ranging social problem which concerns the entire human family.\" (Octogesima Adveniens<\/i>, 21)<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \u201cIf you want to cultivate peace, protect creation<\/strong>\u201d<\/span>. (World Day of Peace Message, 1)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span> Following Pope Benedict XVI's World Day of Peace Message in 2010, wherein he definitively laid out the Church\u2019s case for protecting the environment<\/strong>, many media outlets labeled him the \u201cGreen\" Pope<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n Indeed, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his concern for the <\/span>environment <\/span>consistently throughout his pontificate: \u201cThe earth is a precious gift of the Creator<\/strong>, who has designed its intrinsic order, thus giving us guidelines to which we must hold ourselves as stewards of his creation\u201d<\/span>. (General Audience)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \u201cIn my recent Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, I referred more than once to such questions\u2026as the natural\u00a0environment<\/span>\u00a0is given by God to everyone<\/strong>, and its use entails a personal responsibility towards the whole of humanity, in particular, towards the poor and future generations.\u201d\u00a0(General Audience, August 29, 2009)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> Our natural\u00a0<\/span>environment<\/span>\u00a0has now received a dedicated treatment<\/strong> in Laudato Si\u2019 wherein the Holy Father expresses\u2026 \u201c[H]ope that this Encyclical Letter, which is now added to the body of the Church\u2019s social teaching, can help us to acknowledge the appeal<\/strong>, immensity and urgency of the challenge we face.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>(Laudato Si', 15)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNature, in a word, is at our disposition and we are called to exercise a responsible stewardship<\/strong> over it.\u201d\u00a0(World Day of Peace Message, 9)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The earth \u201ccries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted<\/strong> on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her\u201d. (Laudato Si, 2)<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \u201cTragically, the human response<\/strong> to this gift has been marked by sin<\/strong>, selfishness and a greedy desire to possess and exploit. Egoism and self-interest have turned creation\u2026into an arena of competition and conflict.\"\u00a0(World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation)<\/em><\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> <\/span><\/p>\n \"Man<\/strong> is certainly the first and truest treasure<\/strong> of the earth.\"\u00a0<\/span>(Pope St. Paul VI)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Pope St. John Paul II<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Read More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>The \"Green\" Pope<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
<\/span><\/p>\nRead More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Pope Francis<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Read More<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
The Cause<\/span><\/h4>\n
Ecological degradation stems from:<\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Excessive Consumption<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
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<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>Inadequate Anthropology<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>
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