Why are Catholics and the Catholic Church concerned about climate change?
The Scriptures in Matthew 7:12 share the law par excellence of charity: “Therefore, whatever you would have men do to you, do also to them.”
God’s question to Cain is also imperative for our times: “Where is your brother?” (Gen. 4:9).
The Catholic Church worries about climate change because its effects have repercussions on all living beings, most seriously on the most vulnerable.
The call is to act and enter into the communion of the Spirit for the well-being of our brothers and sisters in every corner of God’s creation. It is also necessary to contribute our part in the preservation of our common home.
Although, as human beings, we are made in the image and likeness of God, this does not make us superior to the rest of creation. Rather, this makes us responsible for it, since we are endowed with the intelligence to guide all things for good and thereby give glory to God.
The vision of nature as an object of profit is erratic in that it prevents us from feeling part of it, thus, we have allowed ourselves to cross its limits in the name of progress or particular interests. This has created all kinds of imbalances with the consequences that we’re seeing all over society and throughout the world.
As Catholics, we are called by faith to care for creation, for it is a reflection of God’s greatness and power, a power that is ceaselessly renewed.
“In the Bible, the God who liberates and saves is the same God who created the universe, and these two divine ways of acting are intimately and inseparably connected” (LS 73).
From the beginning there was a salvific plan for humanity. In the same way, through the Scriptures, we see that God has taken it upon himself to make known to us the immense dignity that each of His creatures has.
“Can you not buy five sparrows for two pennies? And yet not one is forgotten in God’s sight” (Lk 12:6).
“Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (Mt 6:26).
Catholic Church and climate change: Why Catholics care about climate change
School Resource for PCP 2021 (pdf)
Climate Justice 2021 (pdf)
“It is time to rise above the partisanship & controversy over climate change
& heed the moral imperative to act now”
Pope Francis
