Catholics and the Environment
What Shade of Green?
man and Nature: Extremes
“Vatican City Crowned the ‘Greenest
State In the World’”
“the Vatican has reached a small record
in solar energy power production per
capita: 200 watts at peak times [… ]per
inhabitant, compared to 80 in
Germany, the world leader in this
field.” –L’Osservatore Romano
12-10-10
“Pope Benedict XVI Gets a M-Class
Mercedes Hybrid Popemobile”
07-06-11
“The Vatican cafeteria is
also planning on
installing a solar heating
system that will be able
to provide heating and
cooling for staff. It is
even noted that the
Pope’s summer
residence is being
outfitted to harness the
methane generated by
the horse stables!”
“Pope Benedict XVI Receives Exclusive
All-Electric Popemobile From Renault”
09-07-12
“Yannick Read Designs a PedalPowered Popemobile”
The Future?
Suspicions Remain
• BXVI leadership went a
long way
• Still suspicions regarding
environmental movement
– Extremes make the news
– Disagreement on more
fundamental issues
– Eden Foods outcry
Over-Reaction
• Secular world largely
agrees w/practical aspects
of Church teaching on the
environment
– Tendency among Catholics to
follow worldly hierarchy of
goods
– Opposing positions tend to
radicalize
Environmentalism:
You’re Doing it Wrong
St. Francis’ Balance
•
•
•
•
Be praised, my Lord, through those who
forgive for love of you;
through those who endure sickness and
trial.
Happy those who endure in peace,
for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister
Bodily Death,
from whose embrace no living person can
escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those she finds doing your most holy
will.
The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks,
and serve him with great humility.
Why ask Why?
• “Save the Earth” isn’t enough
• We need a reason beyond
Earth itself
• Otherwise:
– No power to convince
– Will change with times
– Will lack balance
• If it isn’t God then we will
make Earth a god
– See Compendium, Ch. 10
Principal Principles
• God is the Origin and Goal of all
creatures
• Dignity of the Human Person
• Common Good
• Universal Destination of Goods
– Intergenerational Solidarity
• Preferential Option for the Poor
Alpha and Omega
• God created each creature
to reflect some aspect of
His nature
• Gen 1 Reveals God created
the world as a Temple
– Temple behavior
• All creation is good; meant
for fulfillment of God’s plan
– St. Augustine: Even Gnats
Bible Moralisée, "God as architect of the world", folio I verso, Paris
ca. 1220–1230. Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna 2554.
A Person is a Person
• Human dignity-because we
have intellect and free will
– Free will makes us morally
responsible (duties/rights)
– Inalienable-Asleep,
Comatose, Senile, In Utero
– Incomparable-Dogs are not
people
Animal Rights and Wrongs
• Do Plants and Animals have
rights?
• Rights flow from Duties
• E.g. We have the Right to
Religious Freedom because
we have the prior
Responsibility to seek the
Truth and live by it
Uncommonly Good
• Two meanings:
– First: Good that can be
shared equally by all (God,
Truth)
– Derived: “The sum total of
social conditions which allow
people, either as groups or
as individuals, to reach their
fulfillment more fully and
more easily”(Comp. 164-170)
All for All
• Universal Destination of
Goods (Comp. 171-184)
– All things meant for needs of
everyone
– Don’t keep what you don’t
need (Sts. Basil/AquinasStealing)
– Priv. Prop. o.k., but must use
goods well-Common Good
– BXVI: “Intergenerational
Solidarity”
God Prefers the Poor
• Preferential Option for the
Poor (Comp. 182-184)
– In all things seek to truly
benefit the poor
– Poor are entrusted to us
– Avoid Utopian Ideologies
(Poor with us always)
– Devote yourself to works of
Charity
"Adoration of the Shepherds" by Gerard van Honthorst, 1622
Go and Do Likewise
• Truth, Justice, Charity,
Prudence
– Truth: Seek to understand
situation in all its complexity,
form conscience with Church
teaching
– Justice: Fulfill obligations to
God, others (including future)
– Charity for all, esp. opponents
– Pray for Prudence to choose the
right course