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Our Human Environment -- is Also Endangered<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n <\/p>\n
by CAPP-USA<\/span><\/h5>\n <\/p>\n
\n![\"Our](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/photo-of-three-people-standing-on-beach-4430312-cropped.jpg\")
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Our Human Environment is Precious and in Serious Danger<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Pope St. John Paul II, after reflecting on how \"The seriousness of the ecological issue lays bare the depth of man's moral crisis\" (World Day of Peace, 13)<\/a><\/span> points out to \"the more serious destruction of the human environment, something which is by no means receiving the attention it deserves.\" (Centesimus Annus, 38)<\/a><\/p>\nWhat is the Human Environment?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
The human environment involves \"the moral structure with which [man] has been endowed.\" (Pope Francis, 115)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAnd, these moral structures are a \"profound reality: the relationship between human life and the moral law, which is inscribed in our nature and is necessary for the creation of a more dignified environment.\"\u00a0(Pope Francis, 155)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\"Creation is made to connect us with God and to each other; it is God\u2019s social network.\"<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nAn Issue of Structures<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Decisions which create a human environment can give rise to specific structures of sin which impede the full realization of those who are in any way oppressed by them\". (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\"It is contradictory to insist that future generations respect the natural environment when our educational systems and laws do not help them to respect themselves.\" (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nHuman ecology, therefore, \"is inseparable from the notion of the common good, a central and unifying principle of social ethics.\" (Pope Francis, 156)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhy is the Human Environment Important?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"If an appreciation of the value of the human person and of human life is lacking, we will also lose interest in others and in the earth itself.\"<\/span> (Pope St. John Paul II, 13)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\"The harmony between the Creator, humanity and creation as a whole was disrupted by our presuming to take the place of God and refusing to acknowledge our creaturely limitations.\" (Pope Francis, 66)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\"Herein lies a grave contradiction in our mentality and practice today: one which demeans the person, disrupts the environment and damages society.\" (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nThe Bottom Line<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Pope Benedict spoke of 'ecology of man<\/strong>' based on the fact that 'man too has a nature that he <\/span>must respect and that he cannot manipulate<\/strong> at will.'\"<\/span> (Pope Francis, 155)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\"When man turns his back on the Creator\u2019s plan, he provokes a disorder which has inevitable repercussions on the rest of the created order.\"<\/span>\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 5)<\/a><\/p>\n\"Creation is made to connect us with God and to each other; it is God\u2019s social network.\"<\/span> (Pope Francis)<\/a> So, \"The decisive issue is the overall moral tenor of society\". (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)<\/a><\/p>\n\"Man does not create himself. He is intellect and will, but he is also nature, and his will is rightly ordered if he respects his nature, listens to it and accepts himself for who he is, as one who did not create himself. In this way, and in no other, is true human freedom fulfilled.\" (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nMankind \"must\u2026respect the natural and moral structure with which he has been endowed.\" (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nCatholic Social Teaching and Care for Nature<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Church and Conservation<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Importance of Our Physical Environment<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nConsumerism and the Environment<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Top Environment Quotes from the Church<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nTop Nature Quotes from the Church<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nPope Francis on the Environment<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nTop Laudato Si Quotes on Environment<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhat is Ecology?<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWomen Nurturing Sustainable Development<\/a><\/span><\/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<\/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\tBack to Articles<\/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<\/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<\/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\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Three](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Three-Principles.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThree Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Human-Dignity.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Dignity<\/a><\/h2>This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSolidarity<\/a><\/h2>Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Subsidiarity.png\")
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Our Human Environment is Precious and in Serious Danger<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Pope St. John Paul II, after reflecting on how \"The seriousness of the ecological issue lays bare the depth of man's moral crisis\" (World Day of Peace, 13)<\/a><\/span> points out to \"the more serious destruction of the human environment, something which is by no means receiving the attention it deserves.\" (Centesimus Annus, 38)<\/a><\/p>\n And, these moral structures are a \"profound reality: the relationship between human life and the moral law, which is inscribed in our nature and is necessary for the creation of a more dignified environment.\"\u00a0(Pope Francis, 155)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \"Creation is made to connect us with God and to each other; it is God\u2019s social network.\"<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \"It is contradictory to insist that future generations respect the natural environment when our educational systems and laws do not help them to respect themselves.\" (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Human ecology, therefore, \"is inseparable from the notion of the common good, a central and unifying principle of social ethics.\" (Pope Francis, 156)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \"The harmony between the Creator, humanity and creation as a whole was disrupted by our presuming to take the place of God and refusing to acknowledge our creaturely limitations.\" (Pope Francis, 66)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \"Herein lies a grave contradiction in our mentality and practice today: one which demeans the person, disrupts the environment and damages society.\" (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \"When man turns his back on the Creator\u2019s plan, he provokes a disorder which has inevitable repercussions on the rest of the created order.\"<\/span>\u00a0(Pope St. John Paul II, 5)<\/a><\/p>\n \"Creation is made to connect us with God and to each other; it is God\u2019s social network.\"<\/span> (Pope Francis)<\/a> So, \"The decisive issue is the overall moral tenor of society\". (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)<\/a><\/p>\n \"Man does not create himself. He is intellect and will, but he is also nature, and his will is rightly ordered if he respects his nature, listens to it and accepts himself for who he is, as one who did not create himself. In this way, and in no other, is true human freedom fulfilled.\" (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Mankind \"must\u2026respect the natural and moral structure with which he has been endowed.\" (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Catholic Social Teaching and Care for Nature<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Church and Conservation<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Importance of Our Physical Environment<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Consumerism and the Environment<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Top Environment Quotes from the Church<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Top Nature Quotes from the Church<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Pope Francis on the Environment<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Top Laudato Si Quotes on Environment<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n What is Ecology?<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Women Nurturing Sustainable Development<\/a><\/span><\/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<\/div> Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\tWhat is the Human Environment?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
The human environment involves \"the moral structure with which [man] has been endowed.\" (Pope Francis, 115)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
An Issue of Structures<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Decisions which create a human environment can give rise to specific structures of sin which impede the full realization of those who are in any way oppressed by them\". (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhy is the Human Environment Important?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"If an appreciation of the value of the human person and of human life is lacking, we will also lose interest in others and in the earth itself.\"<\/span> (Pope St. John Paul II, 13)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe Bottom Line<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Pope Benedict spoke of 'ecology of man<\/strong>' based on the fact that 'man too has a nature that he <\/span>must respect and that he cannot manipulate<\/strong> at will.'\"<\/span> (Pope Francis, 155)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThree Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Dignity<\/a><\/h2>
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSolidarity<\/a><\/h2>
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