Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office of Life, Justice and Peace
Creation Sustainability Ministry
Year of Faith and the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
“I…hope that we will make this the year when we begin the habit of life-long learning in our faith. A good place to start is to study the teachings of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), especially as they are expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.” (9)
“…I recommend that in this Year of Faith, we begin a practical study of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church in our parishes and our homes.” (12)
Jose Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles
Witness to the New World of Faith: A Pastoral Letter to the Family of God in Los Angeles on the New Evangelization and Our Missionary Call (October 2012)
Chapter Ten of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Safeguarding the Environment
The Crisis and the Relationship between Man and the Environment, 461-465
Unconditional dominion over the environment to exploit resources, void of moral principles, can be rooted culturally and historically. The modern era and technology accentuates this process, with potential risks to environmental sustainability.
“The Biblical message and the Church’s Magisterium represent the essential reference points for evaluating the problems found in the relationship between man and the environment. The underlying cause of these problems can be seen in man’s pretension of exercising unconditional dominion over moral considerations which, on the contrary, must distinguish all human activity. The tendency towards an “ill-considered” exploitation of the resources of creation is the result of a long historical and cultural process. The modern era has witnessed man’s growing capacity for transformative intervention…Because of the powerful means of transformation offered by technological civilization, it sometimes seems that the balance between man and the environment has reached a critical point.”(461)
Man seeks to use technology to manipulate nature, without regard to finite resources. Priority for a disposition to consumerism diminishes the dignity of the human person and creation.
“Nature appears as an instrument in the hands of man, a reality that he must constantly manipulate, especially by means of technology…starting from the presupposition…that an infinite quantity of energy and resources are available, that it is possible to use them quickly, and that the negative effects of the exploitation of the natural order can be easily absorbed. This reductionist concept views the natural world in mechanistic terms and sees development in terms of consumerism. Primacy is given to doing and having rather than to being, and this causes serious forms of human alienation…” (462)
Respect for God’s creation prohibits manipulative and exploitative posture towards nature. But the scale must also not tip towards a theology that creation supersedes the dignity of the human person, so nature becomes divinized.
“A correct understanding of the environment prevents the utilitarian reduction of nature to a mere object to be manipulated and exploited. At the same time, it must not absolutize nature and place it above the dignity of the human person himself. In this later case, one can go so far as to divinize nature or the earth…” (463)
The environment reflects creation by God as a gift humanity should nurture in thanksgiving. Man and nature do not exist in a vacuum void of God, but the relationship with God defines our relationship with one another and the environment.
“A vision of man and things that is sundered from any reference to the transcendent has led to the rejection of the concept of creation and to the attribution of a completely independent existence to man and nature. The bonds that unite the world to God have thus been broken. This rupture…has improvised man’s very identity…it is the relationship man has with God that determines his relationship with his fellow men and with his environment. This is why Christian culture has always recognized that creatures that surround man as also gifts of God to be nurtured and safeguarded with a sense of gratitude to the Creator…” (464)
Humanity has a responsibility to maintain a healthy environment for all humanity, by mitigating sources of pollution and providing for sanitation and hygiene needs. The use of technology and resources should respect human dignity today and of future generations.
“The Magisterium underscores human responsibility for the preservation of a sound and healthy environment for all…Technology that pollutes can also cleanse, production that amasses can also distribute justly, on condition that the ethic of respect for life and human dignity, for the rights of today’s generations and those to come, prevails.” (465)
To read the full text of paragraphs 461 thru 465 visit:
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
461
What moral considerations should govern man’s dominion of creation?
How do you perceive resources being exploited nationally and globally?
In your community, how do you see the environment’s hospitable aspect threatened? What can your parish and neighborhood do to mitigate this?
462
List three ways nature is manipulated by technology.
In what ways do you see consumers acting like resources are infinite?
How can you adapt your lifestyle to reflect the finite amount of energy available now and for future generations?
463
In divinizing nature or the earth, how is the dignity of the human person diminished?
In what ways do you see nature absolutized? How can you address this in a positive way?
Imparted with the responsibility to care for God’s creation, what five actions will you take this week?
464
What are your favorite creatures in God’s creation? How do you thank God for them?
How does your spirituality define your relationship to the environment?
Write a poem of praise about God’s creation.
465
What are three promising technologies to enhance the quality of life globally?
How can resources be more justly distributed?
What can you do to respect the ethic of life and human dignity for future generations?
Barb Born May 6, 2013
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