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Care of Earth
"Faced with the widespread destruction of the environment, people everywhere are coming to understand that we cannot continue to use the goods of the Earth as we have in the past. …a new ecological awareness is beginning to emerge… The ecological crisis is a moral issue." (Pope John Paul II, The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility (Dec. 1989) This call to reverence and cherish our earth calls us to examine our choices, especially those related to the purchase of products for our daily use. Do we attempt to “buy green” — non-toxic cleaning products, recycled goods, local fruits and vegetables? What kind of water do we drink? Is it from our local taps or from a source that may be depriving indigenous peoples of water? Being cognizant of my own personal consumption of the Earth's resources is an initial step; conversion is a journey: "In a consumer society, personal habits of overconsumption and waste have adverse environmental and social impacts. While some of us consume more than we need, others do not have enough to sustain life. The waste and pollution we create and the challenge of equitably distributing the earth’s resources are fundamental matters of environmental and social justice. The true costs of our common habits of material consumption must be examined." (A Pastoral Letter of the Bishops of the Boston Province) Mid-Atlantic Community Response
Click here for 50+ tips to Go Green
Mercy Environmental Guidelines (from the Sisters of Mercy Web site): Suggested Actions • Pray the Earth Day Novena |
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To reverence earth and work more effectively toward the sustainability of life and toward the universal recognition of the fundamental right to water. 