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Catholic Statements
on Environmental Justice
As concern for the welfare of the Earth and its
people has become more urgent and widespread,
Catholic leaders have entered the public discussion.
Recognizing the work that has already been done,
the complexity of the issues, and the range of
expertise required, they nonetheless believe that
the Catholic Church has something to contribute
to the conversation.
Respect for human dignity, justice for the poor
and marginalized, regard for the common good,
economic development that is sustainable and serves
authentic human needs — these and other
values enshrined in Catholic social teaching,
they insist, must be part of any response to environmental
problems.
Their statements, addressed to “all persons
of good will” as well as to Church members,
have added a distinctively Catholic voice on these
issues. Moreover, they have provided charters
for Catholics to take an active role in promoting
environmental justice in their parishes and communities.
The two statements that serve as the foundation
for the Environmental Justice Program of the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
are Pope John Paul II’s 1990 World Day of
Peace message and USCCB’s 1991 pastoral
letter, “Renewing the Earth.” The
Pope has spoken on the environment often, as in
his 2001 General Address, “God Made Man
the Steward of Creation.”
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Bishops in several
parts of the country have also issued statements
applying Catholic theology and social teaching
to the problems afflicting the land, waters, and
people within their own dioceses. And shared concern
for the state of creation has prompted joint statements
with Eastern Orthodox and Jewish leaders.
John Paul II, “World
Day of Peace Message,” December 8, 1989
Also known as “The Ecological Crisis: A
Common Responsibility,” and “Peace
with God the Creator, Peace with All Creation.”
When the ecological crisis is set within the
broader context of the search for peace within
society, we can understand better the importance
of giving attention to what the earth and its
atmosphere are telling us: namely, that there
is an order in the universe which must be respected,
and that the human person, endowed with the
capability of choosing freely, has a grave responsibility
to preserve this order for the well-being of
future generations. . . . The ecological crisis
is a moral issue.
Read the complete statement.
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