Catholic Social Teaching:
Caring for God's Creation: Stewardship of the Earth
We show our respect for our Creator by our care and stewardship of all creation. The goods of the earth are gifts from God and are intended by God for the benefit of everyone, in every generation. We have a responsibility to care for these goods as stewards and trustees, not as mere consumers and users. The whole earth proclaims the glory of God!

Would Jesus Hug A Tree?

According to the U.S. Bishops, “The goods of the earth are gifts from God, and they are intended by God for the benefit of everyone. There is a “social mortgage” that guides our use of the world’s goods, and we have a responsibility to care for these goods as stewards and trustees, not as mere consumers and users. How we treat the environment is a measure of our stewardship, a sign of our respect for the Creator.”

When you gaze across Lake Michigan, with the satiny, smooth sand under your feet, the towering dunes behind you, and that endless expanse of blue in front of you - you feel it.
When you experience majestic mountains and canyons, thundering waterfalls, deep green forests, or prairies of gently waving grasses — you feel it. You don’t even have to leave home. When you marvel at a glorious sunset, blazing autumn leaves, or beautiful flowers, or experience the unconditional love of a pet — you feel it. You feel God’s presence among us.
And you know, with a certainty seldom experienced, that the beauty of nature is God’s handiwork and proof positive of His overwhelming and abiding love for us.

This is why “Caring for God’s Creation: Stewardship of the Earth” is one of the major themes of Catholic Social Teaching. We have only one earth and we have a choice. We can preserve and cherish it so that future generations can enjoy not only the beauty, but also clean air and clean water. Or we can selfishly take what we want; do what is most convenient, do what is the most financially rewarding — and leave a blighted and damaged earth to our descendants.

According to the U.S. Bishops,

“The goods of the earth are gifts from God, and they are intended by God for the benefit of everyone. There is a “social mortgage” that guides our use of the world’s goods, and we have a responsibility to care for these goods as stewards and trustees, not as mere consumers and users. How we treat the environment is a measure of our stewardship, a sign of our respect for the Creator.”

The bishops understand that God did not give this earth to one generation, one nation, or one economic class. God gave us the earth to SHARE — black, white, rich, poor, American, or
African — and it is up to us to figure out a way to do that.

How we treat the environment is also a life issue. If we value the life and dignity of every human being, we do not allow them to breathe polluted air, drink contaminated water, or
eat toxic food. We may never know how many people a year die because their asthma turned deadly from air pollution, or because long-term exposure to toxins in water, air, soil or food
triggered a disease process that would not have existed otherwise — but we do know that the environment affects life and quality of life in many ways.

Beyond polluted water and air, Hurricane Katrina showed us another way that neglect of the environment costs lives. The Free Press, and numerous other news organizations, reported that the destruction of coastal wetlands was a major factor in the damage done by the hurricane. Over the past few years, numerous laws were repealed that had kept wetlands
from being drained and developed.

The wetlands that for millennia have acted like a giant sponge and natural buffer against hurricanes were gone because human arrogance decided that we did not need them — but that we did need the profits that development could bring.

What can we do? We can educate ourselves so that we understand the laws that are being passed or repealed — and what impact these laws will have on our planet. We can let our
elected representatives know that we care about the environment, and we are watching how they vote on environmental issues. We can be conscious of how we affect the environment. Sterling Heights does not pick up recycling for us — but we are all just a short drive from a recycling center where we can recycle paper and cardboard, aluminum, plastic, tin cans, glass, batteries and (in some locations) used motor oil. Make it a personal goal to see how small you can make your trash pile each week!

Most importantly, we can change our attitude. We can look at taking care of our earth as something that God calls us to do. It is not an option, or a matter of political affiliation, or
something just for fanatical people who throw themselves in front of bulldozers. This is our world — we cannot leave it for another one if we ruin it. If your father gave you a priceless
heirloom, you would protect it and cherish it. Our Father has given us a priceless gift — should He expect any less?

It’s Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature: Part One — The Facts

Our knowledge of how humanity is changing the global climate has expanded even in the short time since Justice and Peace first ran this article. The idea that man has the power to destroy the earth - and the power to save it - is now accepted as fact by most climate scientists and most governments - including ours. Al Gore's movie, "An Inconvenient Truth" (showing at the AMC Forum and Royal Oak Main), powerfully lays out the case for taking action now to save our planet. Justice and Peace strongly urges you to see this movie - and decide for yourself.

Monster hurricanes. Giant tsunamis. Widespread flooding. Killer heat waves. Searing drought. What is going on? Lately, we can’t even comprehend one major natural disaster before the next one comes along and knocks it out of the headlines.

Welcome to our warmer — but definitely not kinder or gentler — earth. The earth is in a warming cycle — this we know for sure. The Sierra Club notes that ten of the hottest years on record have occurred in the last fifteen years. Experts say that if this trend continues, the earth’s climate could warm three to ten degrees in the next one hundred years. When you
consider that droughts, floods, super storms, and melting polar ice caps have been the result of a one-degree average increase — it is easy to believe that three to ten degrees would
be catastrophic. The question is — is the warming of our earth the result of natural cyclical climate fluctuations? Or, is this warming the unnatural result of human activity?

While there may never be universal agreement on this topic, the vast majority of climate experts now believe that human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels, is contributing to an accelerated warming of our planet. They also believe that, unless we reverse this pattern, we may be headed for global catastrophe.

Even the U.S. Senate, historically under heavy pressure from industry to deny the role of human activity in global warming, finally issued a statement acknowledging it as a reality. On June 22, 2005, the Senate passed the “Sense of the Senate on Climate Change” resolution which states: “Congress finds that :

1. greenhouse gases accumulating in the atmosphere are causing average temperatures to rise at a rate outside the range of natural variability and are posing a substantial risk of rising sea-levels, altered patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation, and increased frequency and severity of floods and droughts;
2. there is a growing scientific consensus that human activity is a substantial cause of the greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere; and
3. mandatory steps will be required to slow or stop the growth of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.”

After passing the resolution, the Senate voted down the Climate Stewardship Act, which would have enacted some of those mandatory steps — but at least they are on record as
accepting the reality of human-induced climate change.

Does the Church take a stand on global warming? Back in June of 2001, when the role of human activity in global warming was more controversial than it is today, the U.S. Bishops issued a statement on global warming.

In “Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good” the bishops state

“While some uncertainty remains, most experts agree that something significant is happening to the atmosphere. Human behavior and activity are, according to the most recent findings of the international scientific bodies charged with assessing climate change, contributing to a warming of the earth’s climate. Although debate continues about the extent and impact of this warming, it could be quite serious. Consequently, it seems prudent not only to continue to research and monitor this phenomenon, but to take steps now to mitigate possible negative effects in the future.”

Why does the Church care about global climate change? Why is this a moral issue? How does it relate to Catholic Social Teaching? In our next article, the St. Blase Justice and Peace Committee will look at the bishop’s document and attempt to answer these questions.

It’s Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature: Part Two: Our Bishops Speak

Global climate change is not just a scientific issue. Protecting life and the dignity of life is a moral issue. Working for the common good and the solidarity that binds us all together is a moral issue. Understanding the extra stress that climate change places on the poor, and making the needs of the poor a priority in our policy-making is a moral issue. Protecting
and preserving this great gift of creation is a moral issue. Global climate change is clearly a moral issue — and living a moral life is what we are called to do as Catholic Christians.

The bottom line is this — if our atmosphere can no longer support human life, what else matters? Can anyone think of a single issue that outweighs the importance of protecting the
earth that our God created specifically to sustain us? When the air is no longer breathable, the water not fit to drink, the climate so extreme that we can’t survive — will our views on taxes,
welfare, war, or even abortion — matter? Will it matter who voted Democrat and who voted Republican? It is crucial that we foster an awareness of what we risk when we ignore the
evidence or argue against action until we can be one hundred percent certain. One hundred percent certain may be too late for us all.

The Church considers global climate change to be an issue that should concern all people of faith. In the 2001 statement “Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence and the Common Good”, the U.S. Bishops address the issue. The bishops state:

“At its core, global climate change is not about economic theory or political platforms, nor about partisan advantage or interest group pressures. It is about the future of God’s creation and the one human family. It is about protecting both “the human environment” and the natural environment. It is about our human stewardship of God’s creation and our responsibility to those who come after us.”

Although the bishops acknowledge the controversy surrounding the role of human activity in global warming, they argue that prudence (defined as “intelligence applied to our actions”) requires that we take action. They also believe that the scientific consensus is strong enough to justify action. The bishops specifically accept the findings of an organization called the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and include a long section at the end of the statement outlining the scientific evidence in support of human activity as a major
cause of global warming.

The bishops lay out the arguments in favor of acting to curb global warming by using a number of the major themes of Catholic Social Teaching. Here are some of the themes referenced and what our bishops have to say:

• The Universal Common Good
  “The earth’s atmosphere encompasses all people, creatures, and habitats. The melting of the ice sheets and glaciers, the destruction of the rain forests, and the pollution of water in one place can have environmental impacts elsewhere. Responses to global climate change should reflect our interdependence and common responsibility for the future of our planet.”
• Protecting the Environment for Future Generations
  “Passing along the problem of global climate change to future generations as a result of our delay, indecision, or self-interest would be easy. But we simply cannot leave this problem for the children of tomorrow. As stewards of their heritage, we have an obligation to respect their dignity and to pass on their natural inheritance, so that their lives are protected and, if possible, made better than our own.”
• Caring for the Poor and Issues of Equity
  “Working for the common good requires us to promote the flourishing of all human life and all of God’s creation. In a special way, the common good requires solidarity with the poor who are often without the resources to face many problems, including the potential impacts of climate change.”

You can read the entire bishops’ statement “Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good” by going to www.nccbuscc.org, click on “Church documents”, then “Bishop’s statements”, and then scroll down the alphabetical list to the document.

Recycling in Sterling Heights

We are fortunate that the City of Sterling Heights offers us a recycling center so close to our parish buildings. The recycling center is on the south side of Fifteen Mile, next to the Fire Station. This makes it convenient for many of our parishioners to practice recycling. Clear glass, plastic containers 1 or 2 (look for the number in the triangle, usually on the bottom of the container), batteries and newspapers can all be recycled. Recycling is a small way that we can be friendly to the earth, reduce needless refuse in landfills, protest against a throwaway society and reuse valuable resources. It does take a little organization in separating what can be recycled from our household rubbish. However, one quickly gets the hang of it and, because you come to St. Blase at least once a week, it is easy to make a quick stop before or after to deposit your recyclables. Fr. Randy Phillips

Justice for the Earth Is Justice for Us All

It can be easy to think of "social justice" only in terms of human beings and their socioeconomic relationships. However, Catholic social teaching reminds us that mindfulness of
the needs of Planet Earth is essential to a proper understanding of what it means to live justly. We cannot afford to see ourselves as separate beings in competition with creation and each other. Instead, God calls us to exist in harmony with all around us. To live justly means working for all creation, including the environment in which we live.

Oh God,
open our eyes to your resplendent world,
that we may care for the earth as our companion
in creations. May the pure song of air, water, and
trees broaden our minds, lift up out hearts,
and guide us to you. (by Thomas Berry)