What is Ecology in Catholic Social Teaching?

by CAPP-USA

The Church Speaks of ‘Integral’ Ecology

Ecology means the relationships between living things and their environment. When the Church speaks of ecology, she is referencing the relationship between us and our physical environment and our human environment.

“We are faced…with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental.” (Pope Francis, 139)

Both our ‘common home’ AND our human family are under threat. “Our duties towards the environment are linked to our duties towards the human person“. (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)

“If an appreciation of the value of the human person and of human life is lacking, we will also lose interest in…the earth itself.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 13)

What is the Human Environment?

We all know what we mean by the physical or natural environment. The Earth, our “common home”, is a precious gift of God. But the human environment is not given the same level of attention despite experiencing its “more serious destruction“. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)

Our human environment consists of “the moral structure with which [man] has been endowed.” (Pope Francis, 115)

“The Church is not only committed to promoting the protection of land, water and air…above all she…works…to protect mankind from self-destruction.” (Pope Benedict XVI)

The Need for a Human Ecology

Most of us are reminded daily by the media of climate change and the need to care for nature. But environmental issues go much deeper than rising temperatures and natural disasters: “We are called not only to respect the natural environment but also…our human family”. (Pope Francis)

Our “ill-considered exploitation of nature” (Octogesima Adveniens, 21) is a symptom of “rampant individualism,” and “connected with today’s self-centered culture of instant gratification.” (Pope Francis, 162)

What this means is that every time the Church calls us to “respect the will of the Creator” (Pope St. John Paul II, 4) and to “to protect our common home” (Pope Francis, 13) the Church is calling us to “struggle with these deeper issues“. (Pope Francis, 160)

“The deterioration of nature is in fact closely connected to the culture.” (Pope Benedict XVI, 51) “When ‘human ecology’ is respected within society, environmental ecology also benefits.” (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)

The call for an “ecology of the human person” involves issues of the social structure in which we live. These structures can either help or hinder our living in accordance with the truth, and it is here that Catholic social teaching begins to integrate issues of life:

“I readily encourage efforts to promote a greater sense of ecological responsibility which…would safeguard an authentic ‘human ecology’ and thus forcefully reaffirm the inviolability of human life at every stage and in every condition, the dignity of the person and the unique mission of the family”. (Pope Benedict XVI, 12)

Uniting Concern for the Physical and Human Environment

Pope Francis has made the urgent need for an integral ecology crystal clear. “There can be no renewal of our relationship with nature without a renewal of humanity itself.” (Pope Francis, 118)

“The analysis of environmental problems cannot be separated from… how individuals relate to themselves.” (Pope Francis, 141)

“[T]he book of nature is one and indivisible: it takes in not only the environment but also life, sexuality, marriage, the family, social relations: in a word, integral human development.” (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)

“We need to see that what is at stake is our own dignity” and, “leaving an inhabitable planet to future generations”. (Pope Francis, 160)

An Integral Ecology is the Answer

“Taking up this challenge seriously has much to do with an ethical and cultural decline which has accompanied the deterioration of the environment.” (Pope Francis, 162)

“The decisive issue is the overall moral tenor of society.” (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)

“There can be no ecology without an adequate anthropology.” (Pope Francis, 118)

“Man too is God’s gift to man. He must therefore respect the natural and moral structure with which he has been endowed.” (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)

“If these issues are courageously faced, we are led inexorably to ask other pointed questions: 

• What is the purpose of our life in this world?
• Why are we here?
• What is the goal of our work and all our efforts?
• What need does the earth have of us?” (Pope Francis, 160)