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Laudato Si’ Can Change the World
The Carmelite NGO has created new curriculum on Laudato Si’: Laudato Si’ Can Change the World. It is meant for grades 9-12 and also includes an adult study guide meant for study groups or college classes. The program is available to purchase on their website. -
Laudato Si’ Reflection Resource
This reflection on Laudato Si’ is a resource from Ecospirituality. It highlights important quotes and offers additional resources related to creation care. Suggested actions are listed in addition to the weekly reflection program. -
Prayers of the Faithful
Prayers of the Faithful is a selection of Catholic prayers from Season of Creation that can be used during mass or other religious services for the Season of Creation Month. The following is an excerpt from one of the prayers:
"United by our Catholic faith and respect for all life, including the life of unborn generations,we pray that the human family takes action to transition to clean energy and keep climate change in check. Let us pray. With a shared sense of responsibility to care for God’s beautiful, live giving creation, we pray that the goals of energy transition, reduced global warming, and protection of life for all are attained. Let us pray." -
USCCB President's Refelction and Prayer During Coronavirus
The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Archbishop José H. Gomez offers his statement regarding COVID-19 to bring comfort to those affected by the virus and to pray for recovery. He offers prayer to healthcare workers and civic leaders helping fight against the virus and calls for solidarity among the congregation.
He leads a prayer to the Virgin Guadalupe for protection and healing, and for compassion and patience in the church.
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Catholic Response to Outbreak of Coronavirus
Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace and Bishop David J. Mallot, Sean Callahan the president of Catholic Relief Services, and Sr. Mary Haddad, RSM, the president of the Catholic Health Association of the United States offer a statement in the midst of the Coronavirus outbreak. The statement applauds healthcare workers and calls on governing bodies to work together to combat the virus. The statement also recognizes the U.S. for sending 17 tons of medical supplies to China, an example of how compassion and teamwork is needed at this time. A part of his address contains the following:
“The Catholic Church in the United States stands in solidarity with those affected by the coronavirus and their families, health workers who are valiantly trying to diagnose and treat patients, and those under quarantine awaiting results of their screening for the virus. We offer our prayers for healing and support those organizations, both domestic and international, working to provide medical supplies and assistance to address this serious risk to public health." -
A Prayer for Protection in Time of Pandemic
A prayer for those who are sick, vulnerable, and/or have passed away due to illness, to Mother Mary and Son Jesus; Adapted from the prayer of Pope Francis, provided by the Knights of Columbus. -
Church Hall Sustainability Guidelines at St Francis of Assisi, Columbus, OH
This is a one-page list of guidelines created by the Creation Care Team at St Francis of Assisi to provide guidance for sustainable use of the parish hall; includes instructions about recycling, food waste, utensil use, energy use, etc. -
Prayer for Creation
This Prayer for Creation reminds us to give thanks for the basics of living that nature provides us and to ask for forgiveness for the times that we have taken the Earth's resources for granted. It is also a reminder that the vulnerable often do not even have regular access to clean food and/or water. -
Bulletin Insert on Laudato Si'
This insert provides reminders for some of the salient principles of the Laudato Si' encyclical, including: caring for our common home as we are all connected; remembering the poor, who are more affected by environmental impacts; and protecting life in all it's forms. It also focuses on courses of action one can take to support these critical issues. -
Parish Recycling Guidelines for St Francis of Assisi, Columbus, OH
St Francis of Assisi parish has created a guideline sheet to assist members with the recycling program, located in the parish hall. There are three different colored bins to separate out paper, plastics, and metals. Some commonly used items that can be recycled include soda bottles, cardboard, junk mail, and aluminum cans. Some commonly used items that can not be recycled include Styrofoam, aluminum foil, batteries, and clothing. -
Creation Care Tips Winter 2020
This Creation Care bulletin insert provides a message from Pope Francis on how even small actions on a daily basis can impact the earth and fellow humans in great ways. It focuses on reducing waste by composting, cutting back on purchases, and recycling. -
Laudato Si' Adds Catholic Voice to Diverse spectrum of Religious Creation Care Views
Here are some links to the encyclical and related educational materials and statements that have been developed by different religious communities, including a letter of support from over 400 Rabbis, and a new Islamic statement on the environment:
Laudato Si’: Praise Be To You: On Care for Our Common Home: (html)
Laudato Si’ study guide from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops: (pdf)
National Catholic Reporter Reader’s Guide to Laudato Si: (pdf)
The Shalom Center with its history of ecological practices: (url)
Announcement of the Rabbinic Letter on the Climate Crisis: (url)
Islamic Declaration on Global Climate Change: (url)
United Methodist Bishops Pastoral Letter: God’s Renewed Creation: Call to Hope and Action: (url)
Lutheran Study Guide to Pope Francis’ Letter on Climate Change: (pdf)
Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation: (url)
National Association of Evangelicals 2015 Call to Action on Creation Care: (url)
A Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change: (url)
Buddhist Climate Change Statement to World Leaders 2015: (url)
Black Church Climate Statement: (url)
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Origins Publishes Full Text of Cardinal Turkson's Ohio State Speech; Highlights Link to COP-21
The Catholic News Service publication “Origins,” which is delivered to Catholic bishops, clergy, and diocesan staff across the country, recently gave front page attention to the full text of Cardinal Peter Turkson’s November 2 address at The Ohio State University (OSU). This prominent placement has provided a broad, national reading for the speech that Turkson delivered to a live audience of nearly 1,500 at Mershon Auditorium and several hundred other live stream viewers across Ohio. The remarks published in Origins also include some expanded text beyond what Cardinal Turkson was able to present in his evening program at OSU, which can inform further dialogue and response at OSU and beyond.
In these remarks, Turkson highlights the role of the encyclical, Laudato Si’, in calling attention to the great environmental challenges of our time, sparking individual and political commitment to address climate change and other challenges, and inspiring an “ecological conversion” towards an “integral ecology” that joins natural, social, and spiritual dimensions to effect positive change. Within this integral framework, Turkson highlights several issues that receive particular attention in Laudato Si’, including: the relation between the poor and the planet, the interconnection of everything, a critique of the new “technocratic paradigm,” the value of all creatures and the importance of humans to ecology, the need for “forthright and honest debates,” the serious responsibility of international and local policy, the “throwaway culture,” the need for new lifestyles, and an “invitation to search for other ways of understanding economy and progress.”
The full speech closes with a short overview of the six chapters of Laudato Si’ and looks forward to the hope that the encyclical will inspire real dialogue and meaningful political action at the COP-21 negotiations in Paris that began today. -
Trees for the Earth
The Catholic community is joining with the Earth Day Network to help reach the goal of planting 7.8 billion trees by 2020. This would equate to one tree per person on earth. Pope Francis's recent encyclical, Laudato Si, focuses on the importance of trees and their benefits to the environment as well as human kind. -
Fasting for Climate Justice
Fasting for Climate Justice is a resource from Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM ) on the practice of fasting for climate action through two initiatives: meatless Fridays and monthly fasting. The GCCM encourages abstinence from meat on Fridays as a way to reduce one’s negative impact on global climate change. The GCCM also promotes fasting for the climate which takes place the first day of each month. -
Catholic Climate Covenant: Earth Day 2018
Catholic Climate Covenant has created their 2018 Earth Day with the theme of reducing waste. Titled Beyond a Throwaway Culture: Reduce Waste- Grow Community, the focus is on single-use disposable plastics and how they contribute to land and marine pollution. The program includes prayers, readings, actions, and a video. -
Climate Change: A Matter of Faith
Climate Change: A Matter of Faith is a list of talking points created by Blessed Tomorrow. The talking points are meant to be a starting point for faith communities providing a prophetic voice to inspire others to work towards a healthier and safer world. The list also offers possible counterpoints and how to respond. -
Sustainability at Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe, a Catholic parish located in Seattle, Washington, has recently undergone the transition to become more sustainable. With the help of Energy Star, city grants, and their own agenda, this parish has implemented changes that help the environment as well as cut costs to their budget. New buildings have been constructed and old ones have been retrofitted to reduce energy consumption as well as teach people about sustainable living. -
ESA Baltimore Religion-Ecology/Faith Justice Links
Here are live links and further speaker information for OOS44 and OOS56, two organized oral sessions on Religion and Ecology that were presented at the 100th Anniversary meeting of the Ecological Society of America in Baltimore, MD, in August of 2015:
OOS 44: Ecologists and Faith & Justice Communities: A Journey from Antagonism to Earth Stewardship Partnerships for the Next Century
(Wed. 8/12, 8am-11:30am; 337, BCC; primar organizer: Greg Hitzhusen; co-organizers: Leanne Jablonski and Terry Chapin)
David Lodge, Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, ESA President-Elect. Ecology, Environmentalism, and Religion: A Nexus in Flux.
Including insights from the book Religion and the New Ecology; Recent essay in Nature: http://www.nature.com/news/faith-and-science-can-find-common-ground-1.18083
Mary Evelyn Tucker, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, CT. Global Perspectives on the Vital Relationship Between Ecology and Religion. Director, Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology: http://fore.yale.edu ; see also related podcast
Leanne Jablonski, University of Dayton, OH, Marianist Environmental Education Center. Pope Francis’ Environmental Encyclical, Catholic Environmental Social Teaching, and Implications for Ecologists (co-author: Dan DeLio, Catholic Climate Covenant); http://meec.udayton.edu.
George Middendorf, Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC. Skeptical Scientists Approaching Religion on Common Ground of Earth Stewardship. Related research: behavioral ecology and population demographics of lizards; race, ethnicity and gender in ecology and STEM
Cal DeWitt, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Evangelical Contributions to Earth Stewardship: Laudato Si’ and Stewardship as Con-Service. Paper available at: http://faculty.nelson.wisc.edu/dewitt/
Kerry Ard, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University. Social Science Perspectives on Ecology and Religion: Implications for Environmental Justice and Ecology (co-author: Greg Hitzhusen, Ohio State University)
The Most Reverend Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop, The Episcopal Church. Comprehensiveness and the Middle Way: Anglican Perspectives on Religion and Ecology. http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/katharine-jefferts-schori-biography.
Terry Chapin and Carl Safina; University of Alaska, Fairbanks; Safina Center. Religious, But Not Necessarily Theological. http://terrychapin.org; http://carlsafina.org
Munjed Murad, Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University, MA. Islam and Nature Today: Insight Into Traditional Discernment. Related work: http://hds.harvard.edu/news/2014/09/23/conversation-on-sustainability-and-religion# ; http://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/seeing-god-everywhere.
Ron Trosper, American Indian Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, for Nigel Haggan, Interdisciplinary Studies, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Creative Justice: Restoring Art, Indigenous Spirituality and Religion to Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecosystem-Based Management. http://www.fisheries.ubc.ca/students/nigel-haggan ; http://courses.ais.arizona.edu/people/ronald-l-trosper
OOS 56: Ecologists and Faith & Justice Communities: Evaluating Opportunities and Challenges for Outreach and Partnership for the Next 100 Years
(Wed, 8/12, 1:30pm-5:00pm; 341 BCC; primar organizer: Leanne Jablonski; co-organizers: Greg Hitzhusen and Kellen Marshall)
Shantha Ready Alonso, Executive Director, Creation Justice Ministries. The American religious environmental landscape: Opportunities and challenges for ecologists. Creation Justice Ministries serves 38 member Christian denominations; its 2016 Earth Day Sunday study and prayer resources will focus on biodiversity and endangered species. (co-author: Cassandra Carmichael, National Religious Partnership for the Environment)
Indigenous perspectives on ecology, justice, ways of knowing, and the Earth
(Gail Woodside CANCELLED) Speakers to be introduced Dorothy Boorse, Professor of Biology, Gordon College, Wenham, MA (see Boston Globe coverage). Loving the least of these: Lessons from the climate change report of the National Association of Evangelicals; available at: http://nae.net/loving-the-least-of-these/; see also God and Nature
Dan Misleh, Executive Director, Catholic Climate Covenant, Washington, DC. Growing catholic engagement and voice in climate change, environmental justice and policy: From St. Francis to Pope Francis to people and planet.
Lisa Benham, Insight Garden Program, San Quentin State Prison, CA; Department of Environmental Studies, San Jose State University, Buddhist Eco-chaplain. From longing to belonging: Combining mindfulness practice and ecological understanding in prison rehabilitation; Related research: From utility to significance: Exploring ecological connection, ethics, and personal transformation through a gardening and environmental literacy program within San Quentin Prison: http://gradworks.umi.com/15/67/1567980.html
Kellen Marshall, Department of Biological Science M/C 066, University of Illinois at Chicago.Ecological equity and spatial assimilation: A justice paradigm for 2nd Centennial ecologists.
Jacqui Patterson, Director, Environmental and Climate Justice, NAACP. Lessons for ecologists from the NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program. Related Research: Just Energy Policies: Reducing Pollution, Creating Jobs
http://www.naacp.org/blog/entry/naacp-just-energy-policies-report-released;
Equity in Resilience Building for Climate Adaptation Planning: An Indicators Document:
http://www.naacp.org/blog/entry/equity-in-resilience-building-for-climate-adaptation-planning.
Jessica Lewis, Right to Housing Alliance, Baltimore, MD. Working at the intersection of water, housing, and economic and environmental justice
(co-authors: Vicente Lara, Daisy Gonzalez, Colin Bailey, Environmental Justice Coalition for Water).
Greg Hitzhusen, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University. Ecologist dialogue and outreach with faith communities: Lessons from experience and study in the Ecological Society of America (co-author, Leanne Jablonski, University of Dayton).
Fred Scherlinder Dobb, Rabbi, D.Min., representing Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation (www.adatshalom.net); Interfaith Power and Light (www.gwipl.org); Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (www.coejl.org). Old-time religion and cutting-edge climate: Jewish and interfaith intersections with ecological science;
available at: https://scherlinders.wordpress.com/2015/08/10/esa-presentation-august-2015/. -
In 'Laudate Deum,' Pope Francis presents a compelling climate crisis apologia
"With a degree of urgency appropriate for the planetary catastrophe we face today, Pope Francis' latest apostolic exhortation, Laudate Deum, 'to all people of good will on the climate crisis,' builds on the important insights of his 2015 encyclical letter 'Laudato Si', On Care for our Common Home.' That the pope has explicitly described the current state of the climate as a 'crisis' could be viewed as affirming what climate activist Greta Thunberg said in her 2019 address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland: 'Our house is on fire. I am here to say, our house is on fire.' " -
Prayers and Meditations for UNCOP28
"Our invitation to you and request of you on behalf of the ILC? We encourage people of all faiths to offer their prayers and meditations towards a beneficial UNCOP 28.
Our prayer and meditation around the world has helped the previous COP’s .This was the feedback we have received. The picture above is of Prayer and Meditation at COP26 in Glasgow. Not pictured are those who offered their spiritual practice at that time from many other places in the world. Our invitation is that we continue what we have begun with a renewed sincerity of commitment." -
Critique of Religious Patriarchy
"This supplement is about transcending religious patriarchy in order to foster integral human development and a healthy mutuality between humans and the human habitat. Some meditations are proposed on the mysteries of the creation, the incarnation, and the redemption. They explore the Christian understanding that all men and women are consubstantial in one and the same human nature, and are consubstantial with Jesus Christ as to his humanity. The meditations are based on a layman's reading of the Sacred Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the Theology of the Body as they pertain to the consubstantial complementarity of man and woman, which transcends the patriarchal binary of mutually exclusive male-female opposites. This understanding of the "complementarity in consubstantial unity" of man and woman applies to all the sacraments, sheds light on the great nuptial mystery of Christ and the Church, and would seem to support the ordination of women to the ministerial priesthood and the episcopate. The meditations are preceded by recent news on patriarchy in religion, society, and human ecology, and are followed by articles and research notes, a summary of points for discernment on the ordination of women, an annotated timeline of religious patriarchy in the Judeo-Christian tradition, and links to relevant literature, substantive research, and the synodal process of discernment currently underway in the Catholic Church." -
Evolution of the Collective Unconscious
"The collective unconscious is made up of experiential knowledge, symbols, and imagery that humans are naturally born with (no tabula rasa) and are rooted in ancestral experience and shared by all persons in all cultures. After millennia of evolution, the current collective unconscious of humanity would seem to include human exceptionalism, patriarchal hegemony, short-terminism, delusions of grandeur, illusions of unending growth, and the idolatry of technology. As the planet becomes overloaded with industrial civilization, our collective mindset seems to be unwilling to think long-term and face the realities of ecological overshoot. It remains to be seen whether our collective mindset can evolve to voluntarily refocus human agency toward contraction of the human enterprise, simplification of lifestyles, and peaceful resolution of conflicts before it is too late to prevent a chaotic collapse of industrial civilization." -
Care for Creation - Catholic Conference of Ohio
"The Catholic Bishops of Ohio invite you to study the issues related to the stewardship of God’s creation. Care for the environment is a fundamental principle within Catholic Social Teaching. We applaud efforts already underway in many Catholic homes and institutions that help conserve energy, protect the environment, and advance a greater understanding of faithful stewardship. We hope that Catholic families and institutions around the state will continue in such efforts."
This resource includes a statement calling to care for God's creation and contains information and links to several other resources related to religion and environmentalism. -
Green Corner Bulletin (St. Camillas Parish, Silver Spring, MD)
St. Camillas periodically issues their Green Corner Bulletin, in support of their stance on creation care as indicated on their website:
"Our preaching and liturgical music deepens our love of creation. Moreover, St. Camillus Church evangelizes by offering the adult faith formation programs on care of creation to parishioners, promoting various activities around Earth Day that spur people to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle, and doing advocacy for policy and legislation.
Our parish community is undertaking an effort to “green” our campus, reduce our energy consumption, and eliminate practices that are wasteful and destructive to God’s creation."