And God saw that it was good

When man turns his back on the creator's plan, he provokes a disorder which has inevitable repercussions on the rest of the created order. If man is not at peace with God, then the earth itself cannot be at peace: "Therefore the land mourns and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and even the fish of the sea are taken away" (Hos 4:3)

The profound sense that the earth is "suffering" is also shared by those who do not profess our faith in God. Indeed, the increasing devastation of the world of nature is apparent to all. It results from the behavior of people who show a callous disregard for the hidden, yet perceivable requirements of the order and harmony which govern nature itself.

People are asking anxiously if it is still possible to remedy the damage which has been done. Clearly, an adequate solution cannot be found merely in a better management or a more rational use of the earth's resources, as important as these may be. Rather, we must go to the source of the problem and face in its entirety that profound moral crisis of which the destruction of the environment is only one troubling aspect.

Certain elements of today's ecological crisis reveal its moral character. First among these is the indiscriminate application of advances in science and technology. many recent discoveries have brought undeniable benefits to humanity. Indeed, they demonstrate the nobility of the human vocation to participate responsibility in God's creative action in the world. Unfortunately, it is now clear that the application of these discoveries in the fields of industry and agriculture have produced harmful long-term effects. This has led to the painful realization that we cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due attention both to the consequences of such interference in other areas and to the well being of future generations.

The gradual depletion of the ozone layer and the related "greenhouse effect" has now reached crisis proportions as a consequence of industrial growth, massive urban concentrations and, vastly increased energy needs. Industrial waste, the burning of fossil fuels, unrestricted deforestation, the use of certain types of herbicides, coolants and propellants: all of these are known to harm the atmosphere and environment. The resulting meteorological and atmospheric changes range from damage to health to the possible future submersion of low-lying lands.

While in some cases the damage already done may well be irreversible, in many other cases it can still be halted. It is necessary, however, that the entire human community - individuals, States and international bodies - take seriously the responsibilities that is theirs.

The most profound and serious indication of the moral implication underlying the ecological problem is the lack of respect for life evident in many of the patterns of environmental pollution. Often, the interests of production prevail over concern for the dignity of workers, while economic interests take priority over the good of individuals and even entire peoples. In these cases, pollution or environments destruction is the result of an unnatural and reductionist vision which at times leads to a genuine contempt for man.

On another level, delicate ecological balances are upset by the uncontrolled destruction of animal and plant life or by a reckless exploitation of natural resources. It should be pointed out that all of this, even if carried out in the name of progress and well being, is ultimately to mankind's disadvantage.

Respect for life, and above all for the dignity of the human person, is the ultimate guiding norm for any sound economic, industrial, or scientific progress.


-Pope John Paul II

January 1, 1990, Vatican City

It's hard to believe that speech was given when I was only 5 years old and the story is unchanged today. I guess you could take the positions that we have been warned about the consequences of human interference with the environment for the last several decades and nothing has happened yet, so why believe a word these "liberal scientists" say now. But that would make you like the person who says, "I've smoked my whole life and I haven' t had a single major health issue ever." The science is proven that cigarette smoke is unhealthy and the science is also proven that man made carbon emissions have done irreversible damage to the atmosphere and overall stability of the planet. Just because the climate change issue has been morphed into a partisan issue (which it's not) doesn't mean you must challenge the science behind it (without doing your own real research) because the majority of the those who backup the climate change science may not share your faith in God.

I find it interesting when snow falls in the mid-west during the early spring months that climate change deniers come out of the woodwork with their Facebook posts like, "global warming huh? That must explain all this snow we're getting in March" I get it, snow and the phrase global warming don't fit inside some peoples simple mind so they use it as an excuse to use as many resources as they want because it's their right and so on. But let's not ignore all the (un)natural disasters that are happening all around the world every month.

I'll simply suggest that we all consider our individual impact on God's creation. Let's examine what we consume everyday out of sheer habit and see if there is anywhere we can simply consume less. I think you'll find it freeing. Every dollar we spend is like casting a vote, change happens a lot quicker when we vote with our money then when we watch the "talking heads" on the television tell us how to live and think.

I know this fight isn't for everyone but please don't write it off for the wrong reasons. I promise, when you start to take a real look at the issue you'll find there are a lot more "right" reasons to care for the creation.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

-Mathew 7:13

We (Christians) don't do things differently from the world because it's cool or fun to be different, but because we're called to. I read somewhere that during Jesus' ministry he never used a mode of transportation other than walking except for once.... the day he road a donkey into Jerusalem while the crowds shouted, "Hosanna in the highest!" A far cry from how a typical king in that day would have rolled into town.

- Trey