CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- With Pope Francis\u2019 encyclical on ecology and the environment to be released next week, the U.S. bishops are reflecting on possible themes of the upcoming document.<\/p>\n\t\u201cWe can be sure that concern for the poor will be a central theme throughout this encyclical,\u201d Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami said June 10. He suggested Catholics should approach ecological topics \u201cwith our hearts aimed to the glory of the Creator, and our eyes wide open to the need of our brothers and sisters, including those who come after us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tBishop Oscar Cantu of Las Cruces, N.M. likewise reflected on the encyclical\u2019s prospects for providing a global perspective that helps the poor.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cThe Church has come to understand that the health of the global family is dependent on the health of its weakest members,\u201d he said. \u201cPoor nations need to develop in order to reduce poverty, but we must help them to follow a more sustainable path to economic development than the one we took.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tPope Francis\u2019 encyclical, \u201cLaudato Sii,\u201d will be published on June 18.<\/p>\n
\tThe two American bishops discussed the upcoming encyclical\u2019s likely themes at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops\u2019 general assembly in St. Louis. Archbishop Wenski chairs the U.S. bishops\u2019 Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, while Bishop Cantu chairs the Committee on International Justice and Peace.<\/p>\n
\tArchbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, the U.S. bishops\u2019 conference president, introduced their presentation. He said that the U.S. bishops welcome the \u201ctremendous opportunity\u201d to help the faithful receive the encyclical in \u201ca thoughtful and prayerful way\u201d and to help \u201celevate the conversation\u201d above ideological and partisan divides.<\/p>\n
\tArchbishop Wenski said the U.S. bishops can help ensure that Catholics hear Pope Francis.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cLet us work to create space for people of good will to consider the Holy Father\u2019s message. He has a voice that will transcend the partisanship that has characterized much of the debate on climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tThe Miami archbishop expected the encyclical to address concepts like \u201cintegral ecology,\u201d which explains \u201cour care for one another and for the environment are intimately related.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tHe suggested that the Pope will criticize actions that \u201ccasually discard people and the gifts of the earth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tCooperation with God\u2019s design applies both to people\u2019s relationship to the natural world and to their relationships with one another, Archbishop Wenski explained. People should resist the \u201cthrowaway culture\u201d in favor of a culture of \u201csolidarity and encounter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tBishop Cantu said an integral approach to ecology links \u201cthe welfare of God\u2019s people and God\u2019s creation, of rich and poor, of our nation and the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tHe expected the encyclical to offer a global perspective. He noted Pope Francis\u2019 repeated calls to counter the \u201cglobalization of indifference\u201d with global solidarity.<\/p>\n
\tThe encyclical could also reflect on the link between ecology, human security and health.<\/p>\n
\tBishop Cantu noted problems like the growing geographic range of tropical diseases, intensifying storms, and rising sea levels that threaten low-level countries and islands.<\/p>\n
\tPoorly regulated mining operations, especially in Latin America, have had \u201ccalamitous\u201d public health consequences including birth deformities and premature deaths due to environmental degradation.<\/p>\n
\tThese situations can increase violence and pressures to migrate northwards.<\/p>\n
\tIn Africa, climate shifts have also worsened drought and desertification, creating pressures that lead to violence, extremism and death.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cDrought in a place like Africa could very well result in the starvation of thousands, if not millions, of people,\u201d Bishop Cantu said.<\/p>\n
\tThe bishop also noted the need to protect natural resources to feed humanity.<\/p>\n
\tHowever, Bishop Cantu criticized what he said is a \u201cfalse linkage\u201d between ecological problems and population growth. He rejected aggressive population control efforts in developing countries and noted that some ecological problems, like massive greenhouse gas production, are mainly produced by a \u201csmall portion\u201d of the world\u2019s population in advanced countries.<\/p>\n
\tHe said the real issues in ecology are consumption and waste of resources and unsustainable practices.<\/p>\n
\tUnsustainable practices mean \u201ceveryone will suffer from climate impact,\u201d while renewable energy sources and sustainable technology will benefit everyone.<\/p>\n
\tAlthough there is no advance copy of the encyclical, Archbishop Wenski suggested its outlines can be found in Catholicism\u2019s \u201crich tradition of teaching about stewardship in creation, rooted in scripture.\u201d He noted precedents in the writings of St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis.<\/p>\n
\tThe archbishop said Catholics have a significant responsibility to ensure the care for creation while resisting a \u201cculture of waste,\u201d working to protect the poor and respecting the \u201csanctity and dignity of life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tArchbishop Wenski compared the pollution of waterways to problems like \u201cthe pollution of young minds through pornography, or issues like the redefinition of marriage.\u201d These all have effects on \u201chuman ecology,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\tFor their part, the U.S. bishops have issued a statement on the environment in their 1991 statement \u201cRenewing the Earth.\u201d They also issued a climate change statement in 2001: \u201cGlobal Climate Change, a Plea for Dialogue, Prudence and the Common Good.\u201d
\n\t\u00a0<\/p>\n
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St. Louis, Mo., Jun 10, 2015 \/ 04:18 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- With Pope Francis’ encyclical on ecology and the environment to be released next week, the U.S. bishops are reflecting on possible themes of the upcoming document.<\/p>\n
\t“We can be sure…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-us"],"yoast_head":"\n
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