Why Does the Church Care About Global Climate Change?
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. (Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence and the Common Good, US Catholic Bishops, 2001)
Read more…
Laudato Si’ Parish/Group Resources:
“The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, God’s boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains – everything is, as it were, a caress of God.” (84)
Praise be, Laudato Si’! In this encyclical, Pope Francis urges all people to reflection, dialogue and solidarity in the Gospel call to care for our common home, “…so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” (49)
In Laudato Si’ (also known as “On Care of the Common Home”), we hear Christ’s call to a sacred web of right relationship: with our Triune God, with our own human nature, with one another, with our global neighbors facing poverty and exclusion, with local growers/farmers and farmworkers, and with all of creation.
Linked below are helpful encyclical resources for your family, parish or school use (such as an inspiring video reflection, two-page insert, discussion guide, and more)!
- Laudato Si’ full text (via Vatican website)
- 6-minute Laudato Si’ Vatican video reflection
- USCCB 2-page bulletin insert (overview and prayer)
- USCCB Laudato Si’/environmental resource page (resources for liturgy, preaching, action, prayer and an excellent group-discussion guide!)
- Laudato Si’ bulletin/website image and quote
- Catholic Relief Services Laudato Si’ resource page
- Pope Francis – Prayer for Our Earth
- To receive updates, go to: Catholic Climate Covenant
The WAM Catholic Commission can assist with resources, programs and ideas for your parish or school. Contact Jeff Campbell at jcampbell@ccdocle.org or 330-263-6176.