The last of the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching is Care for God’s Creation.
Genesis tells us that God created the earth in all its beauty, and lastly, he created man to rule over the earth. Therefore, we are commissioned by God to care for his creation. In Laudate Deum, the Holy Father tells us that it is no longer possible to doubt the human origin of climate change. If it is our duty to protect God’s amazing creation, we must ask ourselves...How are we doing?
We are squandering the earth's resources, destroying our forests, polluting our air and water and pushing wildlife to the point of extinction. Like our loving God, the earth has been forgiving. It has maintained itself in spite of our abuse. Unfortunately, it has reached the breaking point. We must now reverse our actions to allow the earth to heal itself…Can this be done?
In the program Climate Change/Climate Culture, Jean Ponzi, Green Resource manager for the Earthway Center of the Missouri Botanical Gardens tells us that a concentration of chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere had created a hole in the ozone. We changed the chemicals we use for refrigerants and the ozone was able to heal itself. If we have the knowledge and will to make these changes for the sake of the ozone, we have the knowledge to make the necessary changes to correct climate change…Do we have the will?
Submitted by: Mary Farmer (314) 221-7631