A Catholic Way of Being Green: We Need a Human Ecology

By Deacon Keith Fournier
4/29/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Technology that dominates human beings deprives them of their humanity.

The Catholic Church has been green for a lot longer than any modern environmental movement. We are called to a relational environmentalism; one of stewardship with the earth which God has made and entrusted to us to care for and to share. Some in the current "green" movement have lost their way.

Pope Benedict XVI loves nature as God's creation and gift to us

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CHESAPEAKE, VA (Catholic online) - We recently published a "tongue in cheek", well written article by Peg Luksik which touched upon environmental issues within a comedic framework. Most of our commenter's understood it was to be received, as it was written, in a lighthearted manner. Some did not. I must admit I felt like offering the sage advice my oldest son used to give me in response to one comment in particular, "lighten up."

However, the responses also prompted me to again address the subject of environmental concerns. One writer asked "if someone could enlighten me regarding the relation between the Catholic Church and the energy crisis, I'd appreciate it. I'm aware that the environmental movement brings with it certain connotations, but I don't see anything contradictory with ensuring a just and sustainable future for the people on this God-given planet. Just as we need to respect our bodies as gifts of Christ, so must we respect the home he has given us, I believe. And research is part of getting to that point. What do you think? Do you have any insight?"

Let me give it a try. The Catholic Church has been green for a lot longer than any modern environmental movement. We are called to a relational environmentalism; one of stewardship with the earth which God has made and entrusted to us to care for and to share. Some in the current "green" movement have lost their way. The most obvious example is the inherent contradiction of worrying about polluting the atmosphere with toxic chemicals and at the same time supporting making toxic chemicals available to be ingested by mothers in order to kill the children in their womb. We need a new way of being green, a Catholic way.

On June 9, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI received the credential letters of six new ambassadors to the Holy See. He gave a speech addressing them. In his speech the Pope sounded a theme which is common in his locutions and writings; he spoke of a "Human Ecology". He recalled the "innumerable tragedies that have affected nature, technology, and the peoples" this year. He suggested that "the States should reflect together on the short term future of the planet, on our responsibilities regarding our life and technology".

He said "Human ecology is an imperative. Adopting a lifestyle that respects our environment and supports the research and use of clean energies that preserve the patrimony of creation and that are safe for human beings should be given political and economic priority". He called for a "change in mentality" in order to "quickly arrive at a global lifestyle that respects the covenant between humanity and nature, without which the human family risks disappearing." He said that "every government must commit themselves to protecting nature and assisting it to carry out its essential role in the survival of humanity."

Then, he addressed technology saying, "It is also helpful to ask ourselves about the appropriate role of technology" because "believing it is the exclusive agent of progress or happiness carries a reification of humanity that leads to blindness and misery. ... Technology that dominates human beings deprives them of their humanity. The pride that it generates has created an impossible economism in our societies as well as a hedonism that subjectively and selfishly regulates behavior. The debilitation of the primacy of the human person provokes a loss of the meaning of life".

The Pope noted "it is urgent that we match technology with a strong ethical dimension. ... Technology should help nature develop along the lines envisioned by the Creator. In working together, the researcher and the scientist adhere to God's plan that desired humanity as the apex and the administrator of creation. Solutions based on this principle will protect human life and its vulnerability, as well as the rights of the present and future generations".

There was nothing new in these words. They comport with what this Pope has written and said since assuming office. However, some Press reports focused on his encouragement of "clean energy". In some instances the reports implied the Pope had somehow joined the "Green movement". I thought back to 2009 when Pope Benedict XVI sent a letter to participants in the World Day of Peace entitled "If You Want to Cultivate Peace, protect creation." In fact he referred to that letter in that 2011 address.

In that 2009 letter he also used the term "human ecology" and said similar things as he said on June 9, 2011. The Press explicitly reported it as some kind of papal "conversion" to a green ideology. Reuters report bore the headline "Pope Goes Green". The Pope simply reaffirmed the Catholic understanding of our relationship with the goods of the earth and our call to stewardship of the planet which has been given to us by the Creator as a gift. Here are some salient excerpts from that 2009 letter:

"Without ...

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1 - 8 of 8 Comments

vance
1 year ago
Good article, Environmentalism has been a Christian value for centuries. Environmentalism was in play long before EPA. Example; During the Gold Rush of California, there were companies that used Hydraulic Mining to extract gold from the hills. What they soon learned was that the mining created an enormous amount of erosion that had a negative impact on the rivers and farms down stream. It was halted. The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America were created by Christians as a means to appreciate and respect wild life. The Marxist and Radical Left-wing movements created the "Green" movement Earth Day. This is a deceptive weapon against Capitalism. The EPA has shut down our industries under the excuse that they are "Polluting the Air" and Killing Polar Bears. China is now enjoying our industries over there while employing millions of Chinese.
ninov
1 year ago
Great article. I have to come at this from another perspective though. I live in Champaign County Ohio where 40,000 other brothers and sisters in Christ live. We are facing the installation of over 150 industrial wind turbines 500 feet high. The manufactures web sites say they should be sited 1500 feet minimum from homes. They are sighting these 900 feet from homes. These appear to be nice green windmills churning in the sky, but after being one who was supportive and now, after no less than 1000 hours of research, have found myself in a position of being totally against. These monsters kill wildlife, including eagles and bats, which offsets the bug population. Whats more, we do crop dusting and our local crop dusters have told us, they won’t go anywhere near fields with these because they create turbulence that reach out over 1000 feet, hidden behind them. Additionally, they bust apart. Many have said this is rare but there are videos all over the internet with turbines blowing up. In fact, they just installed and turned on 51 of these 2 counties north of us and just last night, shut them all down because flying pieces of metal from one flew over 1000 feet. These can be placed 500 feet from a road. Imagine metal or ice flying into your car. Also, the magnets for these turbine generators are made in China and it’s one of the most polluting plants in the world. Everyone looks at the turbine once it’s built and running, but never what its true carbon footprint is in production. Lastly, when the blade comes down and passes the main tower, there is an air compression that occurs that creates a ‘womp’ sound that is not within the range of the human ear, but falls into the category of ultrasonic waves. These waves effect sleep, hearing, and the fight or flight mechanism when folks are within 3000 feet of the turbine base. It travels across the ground, through walls and into homes. Lastly, recent studies show that home values within 3000 feet of a turbine are reduced 30-50%, if the houses can sell at all. We live in a semi-rural area where people come from Dayton and Columbus to live. The market has been dead for 2 years because of the promise of turbines. All in the name of green energy. They aren’t green, these effect people and they effect our very right to own property (see Pope Leo 13th for more on that) I own 20 plus acres and tend another 100. Use heavy machinery, would never think of dumping oils and gases on the ground, but green energy has turned into big greed energy. Lots of tax payer dollars going into these things before they even get turned on. And they don’t make a lot of electricity. Nuclear is by far, safer, the greenest and most productive, but turbines are being pushed all over, while Europe has realized, they don’t work. The movie Windfall is a good one about this topic that recently came out. I believe God has a plan, the CCC is a narration, narration of that plan, as is the Bible. We have our part to play, but believe God also gives us the means to produce energy in such a way as to not harm our environment and not harm other people. The Green studies are questionable and there are as many now that show the earth is not getting warmer, or the studies are flawed, or the earth goes through natural cycles. God’s got our back, at every minute and as long as we aren’t being greedy or harming the environment in a purposeful way, I can’t help believe He has mechanisms in place that help the earth regenerate. Plus China, India and Russia are putting tons of greenhouse gasses out while our energy goes up and our product and food prices go up, while they laugh at us. As much as I believe we are to be stewards of the earth, simply look at the two commands given to Adam and Even in the garden, only two. 1 – work the garden 2 – be fruitful and multiply. Work the garden, IE, work the earth, take care of it. Too bad we fell and now have to deal with hard tough ground, thistles and thorns. I’d also like to note that most Catholics are NOT doing a good job with the 2nd command in the garden, multiply. Most I know are on contraception, again, we were given two simply commands. Interesting that Eve had no children until AFTER the fall. What were they thinking? Was not having children part of the fall? I often wonder what a pre-fallen child would have been like. But alas, the devil likely knew Christ would come through man and stopping Adam and Eve from procreating might have been his plan. Where am I going with all this. The green movement is very much in control of US dollars and pumping abortion and contraception into Africa and other countries. They feel we are overpopulating. I see nowhere in the Bible that too many kids is bad. All is see is many passages where many kids are a blessing, arrows in the quiver. Our Risen Jesus, save us from the fires of hell and help us to learn and achieve a greater state in your heavenly kingdom through your mystical body. Sure looks like we aren’t doing very well right now and the Green Movement is contributing to this.
rafaelmarie
1 year ago
THE ONLY ECOLOGY WE NEED TO DO, IS TO OBEY GOD'S COMMANDMENT: GO OUT AND MULTIPLY!

GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST, IF WE FOLLOW HIS HOLY WILL, PERIOD.

CONSIDER YOURSELVES WARNED!!!
Judy
1 year ago
Deacon Keith: A thought provoking piece! One that is not only true and informative to the reader, but as I read it, I am also reminded of How many do not believe or understand this Truth, based on some people's belief system's of today... be it: Technology, Science w/out God, Me, Myself and I, Superior Ego and Hardness of Heart, which usually equates to no belief system at all, and any other idols one desires to put before God. Some people, coming from this stance, think, as you know, if we believe that God gave us this green earth to take care of, we are to be pitied, still believing in what they believe is "simply superstition". I could not help but have these thoughts of others from my past, or now, enter my mind as I prayerfully read this. To me, this article is a mixture of Information, Truth, and Humility. It tells me more than ever, to continue in humility to those I meet who are not as fortunate as I believe I am. And therefore, I to continue in prayer, and whatever good examples I can show others. And that, I can do only with the Grace of God. A very informing article. A very True article. One that needed to be written. Thank you. Prayerful Blessings...
Bulbajer
1 year ago
Great article!
Marshall Connolly
1 year ago
Love this article!
William Patenaude
1 year ago
Great piece. Thank you. Similarly, the following article looks at how B16's use of ecology is an example of New Evangelization: http://catholicexchange.com/is-the-catholic-church-green/
abey
1 year ago
A serous & truthful article. Environmental issues addressed in terms of the Human Heart, to the cleanliness of body & Soul, which radiation through the works would keep the human & natural environmental to be clean, in the way it is meant to be, to the saying clean the inside before cleaning the outside, which makes the core of its truth to man himself, but again since Man by himself in fault through sin, is unable to keep the environment as seen, but by & In Christ. Unfortunately the world brings out the concerns not by tackling the root of the Problem to all his problems which is in Man himself, but the concerns reflected, arising through the British Monarchy, unfortunately off centered to worship of earth in different names, which is to Paganism & its false notion like the worship of idols is to connecting with God, to a Krisn'a who professes that worship of idols is to worshiping him, that old way of the Baal, is to the same belief ,as if mother earth worship would cleanse earth to its environment, against the truth that man was made for the earth & not earth for man.

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