Pope John Paul II, 1990 World Day of Peace Message, no. 16
Background
"Care for the earth and for the environment is a moral issue. Protecting the land, water, and air we share is a religious duty of stewardship and reflects our responsibility to born and unborn children, who are most vulnerable to environmental assault. Effective initiatives are required for energy conservation and the development of alternate, renewable, and clean energy resources." Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, 2007, 87.
Action
- Examine your own lifestyle and see how your family can be a better steward for God and the environment
- Plant a garden in your parish and help feed the community
- Recycle
- Use reusable shopping bags
- Use public transportation
- Host an environment workshop at your parish, school, or ministry
Resources
Catholic Wisdom on the Environment
Protecting Human Life and Caring for Creation DVD Study Guide
Links
USCCB: Environmental Justice Program
Children's Health and Environment Initiative
FCC: Environment
Repeated Social Teaching
We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of God’s creation. Care for the earth is a duty of our faith and a sign of our concern for all people. We should strive to live simply to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We have a moral obligation to protect the planet on which we live – to respect God’s creation and ensure a safe and hospitable environment for human beings, especially children at their most vulnerable stages of development. As stewards called by God to share the responsibility for the future of the earth, we should work for a world in which people respect and protect all of creation and seek to live simply in harmony with it for the sake of future generations. Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, 2007, 54.
