Unprecedented threats of climate change and environmental degradation exist in the world today. Aside from the frequent reports one hears about this topic from a science perspective in the news and in published articles. The Catholic Church has addressed this topic from a spiritual standpoint in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, articles written by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, encyclicals written by Pope Francis and a number of other venues.

Due to the importance of this issue in today’s world, over the next three weeks, we will address Catholic Church teaching in this regard and then follow-up with monthly bulletin articles as well as weekly blogs on the Holy Martyrs website. These future blogs and articles are called Green Junction, short segments written by Dr. Julie Peller, addressing many different environmental topics.

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

•  In God’s plan, man and woman have the vocation to subdue the earth as stewards of God. This

    sovereignty is not to be arbitrary and destructive domination (373). 

•  Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance

    in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within

   limits that are honorable (1809).

•  Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past,

   present and future humanity. Use of mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe

   cannot be divorced from moral imperatives. Man’s dominion over inanimate and other living

   beings granted by the creator is not absolute. It is limited by concern for the quality of life of his

   neighbor, including generations to come. It requires a religious respect for the integrity of

   Creation (2415).

We are stewards of God’s resources and cannot abuse them simply because we have an ability to do so. God asks us to conserve our use of His gifts for everyone and for generations to come.

By Deacon Tom Gryzbek